Parishoners Boycott Mass in Response to Parish Priest Being Removed After Admitting 22 Year Sexual Relationship with Female Parishoner
For the past 22 years Fr. Leaon has been sexually involved with a female parishioner and while he admits what he has done (and continues to do) has hurt The Lord, he also believes that his relationship “has brought real fruits to The Church“. In support for Fr. Leaon who has been sanctioned and can no longer say Mass, the parishioners have been boycotting the Mass with their new priest for the last three weeks.
The BBC article reads more like a soap opera review than that of a sad and tragic story of a Roman Catholic priest and parish who had lost it’s way. While Fr. Leaon appears to acknowledge what he has done has been hurtful to God, there’s evidence to him, in his own mind that what he is doing is o.k. because he see’s the “fruit” of his sin. How typical is it in some of us who struggle with sin, to find anyway possible to justify doing what we do, because we hold on the appetite of our sins, and in someways, fear the thought of letting them go.
.jpg)
It’s sad that people are refusing Mass and the Eucharist, because of an irrational attachment to a specific priest. It’s reminiscent of the folks who would protest the closing of their specific parish or church by refusing to go elsewhere. Hey folks, Jesus is waiting for you, no matter what church building you go to, and no matter who the (validly and licitly ordained) priest is.
Comment by St. Jimbob of the Apokalypse — May 18, 2007 @ 12:48 pm