Don't Despair Over Bad Bishops -- The Suffering They Inflict on Faithful Priests will Bring Graces Flowing on Our Poor Church

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

Irish Priest Punished after Pro-life Homily

After reading this article, I left the following comment:

One more example of bad bishops undermining the faith. Priests can attend pride marches and shill for same-sex marriage like Fr. Martin and be lauded and given Vatican posts. Faithful priests get the cross and the nine inch nails. That's why I don't despair. The blood of the martyrs (even white martyrs) is the seedbed of the faith. This persecution is the Good Friday that will bring the Resurrection! I'm praying for Fr. Larkin and exposing this rot on my blog with an address for the bishop. May he hear from people all over the world about this injustice!

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin removed Fr. Larkin from his pastoral assignment forbidding him to say any public Masses or have any contact with former parishioners.

Why?

The draconian order was apparently due to a homily in which Fr. Larkin told parishioners those who voted "yes" in the recent abortion referendum should go to confession. Horrors! What an unpastoral action -- to admonish the sinner and urge repentance.

Of course they should go to confession! Enabling the murder of the innocent is a mortal sin. Another Irish bishop, Kevin Doran, said exactly that. However, like so many of his cowardly brethren, his response was tepid and he would not say that they should refrain from receiving Communion. They should follow their own conscience. And how many in today's world have a well-trained conscience to follow? He might as well say, follow your feelings. If you feeeeeel close to the marshmallow Jesus come and receive Communion. He's too nice to ever actually condemn anyone to hell (which probably is empty).

Bishop Doran illustrates the problem. Cowardly bishops! Canon 915 is clear. Those guilty of grave sin receive Communion to their own condemnation. Those guilty of public grave sin should be refused Communion. Refusing them is a mercy for them. They do NOT benefit from the sacrament. It plunges the into deeper depths of sin.

How many Irish Catholics are committing sacrilege every time they receive Communion? Furthermore, those who publicly supported the yes vote who continue to attend Mass and approach for Communion without publicly retracting their positions are a grave scandal to the faithful. How many others will believe supporting the murder of the innocent is no big deal. Hey, we're thoroughly modern Millies and will do exactly as we please with our bodies. Keep your rosaries off my ovaries!

That's true in our own country as well. How many Catholic politicians who every day take the metaphorical reed to slam the crown of thorns more deeply on Our Lord's head approach for Communion on Sunday? How many walk down the aisle greeting their constituents as preparation for receiving the Body and Blood of Christ?

And how many good priests who stand up for the truth and follow the Scripture to say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no will get the mailed fist and hobnailed boot from their bishops?

I urge you to write a polite letter to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin asking why he abruptly removed Fr. Larkin from his parish. His contact information:

Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin
Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop’s House,
Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Ireland

And even more urgently do I request prayers and letters of support to Fr. Larkin c/o of the Archdiocese. Imagine the impact of hundreds or even dozens of letters arriving internationally for Fr. Larkin via the diocesan mailroom. Spiritual bouquets would probably bring him solace! That's what I'm doing.

Fr. James Larkin

C/O Archdiocese Of Dublin
Drumcondra Road Lower,
Dublin 9, Ireland.