TALK ABOUT A WAKE UP CALL! A NUDE PRIEST JOGGING!
1980 My First Communion--"Accidentally Flippin' the Bird"
Already Questioning Authority!
My Side: There are More Pervert Priests Than You Think
I grew up in a strict Midwest Catholic household. Although I did go to public school, I was forced to endure an hour long sedative Sunday Mass EVERY week. In addition to that I had to attend "CCD". I don't even remember what it stands for, basically because I never cared. It's the equivalent of "Sunday School"; but an hour on Wednesday nights for the public school kids...until 11th grade! Ugh....
However, there was a particular priest that was VERY popular. I'll call him Father "Bob". All the kids loved Father "Bob". He was so open and friendly, warm, inviting. No one ever had a bad thing to say about him. He talked about when he worked in Chicago with young boys on the wrong side of the tracks and how he helped mentor them. Of course all of us, including the adults thought, "Oh...that is so noble of you." He was our "Father Flanigan".
He was with our parish for a very long time, and after I graduated high school I heard that Father "Bob" abruptly left the Church. None of the priests or anyone in the Church gave an explanation. Father "Bob" didn't say goodbye to anyone. He literally vanished into thin air.
Fast forward a couple years...a friend of my mother's (who was also a member of our church) was visiting Chicago and took her family to the Shedd Aquarium. To her surprise Father "Bob" was working there as an employee taking tickets. My mom's friend's first instinct was to run over to him with her kids in tow, hug him and say hello! But as soon as their eyes locked Father "Bob" looked away, didn't acknowledge her and then M.I.A...just as abrupt as how he left our church those few years back.
Sound suspicious to you? It does to me.
I am glad to say that not I am no longer with the Catholic church. Because of the unresolved and secretive issue with Father "Bob", I and my entire family endured many other bad experiences. These things contributed to me leaving the Church and just being a good person on my own.
The irony of it all is the day before I was "confirmed" my parents announced their divorce (which is against the "rules"), the next day after I was confirmed, and the day after that I officially left the church for good.
Now to the Latest Pervert Priest:
Father Robert Whipkey, 53, faces an indecent exposure charge after an off-duty police officer saw him jogging in the nude on a high school track (A HIGH SCHOOL track no less? Hmmm...) about an hour before sunrise back in June. He told officers that he didn't think anyone would be around. You see, he must jog naked because he has a profuse sweating problem. While in the same breath he stated, "I know what I did was wrong."
This incident occurred in June...it is now August.
This guy remains an active priest!
This guy remains an active priest!
If convicted he would have to register as a sex offender.
EXHIBITIONISM--AN ACTUAL MENTAL ILLNESS
According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition, where all psychiatric illnesses are represented as numerals to avoid confusion, exhibitionism is classified as 302.4, and many psychiatric definitions of exhibitionism broadly define it as "sexual gratification, above and beyond the sexual act itself, that is achieved by risky public sexual activity and/or bodily exposure."
In psychiatry, exhibitionism is only considered a paraphilia once the practice begins to interfere with the quality of life or normal functioning capacity of the individual.
(Source)
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18 comments:
It is sad to see that people are leaving their Catholic faith, because of examples of a few bad priest's behaviors...I guess I should pull my daughter out of school, because their are lesbian or gay teachers that might influence my children.
Michelle, it is sad to see that you walked away from your Catholic faith, because of some examples of a few bad priests... I guess I should remove my children from school if they are taught by gay or lesbian teachers because they might influence the gender selection later in life..
Actually the PUBLIC school I went to had about 50% lesbian teachers. NO LIE. I have no idea if they "were out" because it was in the 80's, and I didn't even really know what gay was anyway and my mom didn't talk about it. It's only looking back when one realizes. Those teachers nor any priests make me choose. I am presented with information which makes me decide not to associate with blatant hypocrites. That doesn't mean I'm against religion!
As for a teacher (gay or not) or anyone else being an influence on a child..this is my opinion:
I think a child's greatest influence is their PARENT.
Me too, I did not go to church that often. I have found peace in my work. I wrote my thoughts on old computer printouts, newspapers, flyers. I'll circle some words on the old newspapers or ads. One time, I remembered I circled a word "good" next to another word "priest".
Somebody was "baptised" four or five times from church to church by different pastors and ministers. He did not feel good and confirmed at all because he still did not get a feel of Jesus. Then he decided to be a good man by himself all his life. So far so good.
If you don't try to commit a religious organization, you will be fine. You won't feel pain and guilty if you decide to disappear. Spiritual food is something people need from time to time. Something that sometimes money can't buy. Roam on the Net or locate some real places of worship. I like big crowds. If I see some sparse parking lot ouside a church on Sunday, I'll stay away from it. Worse, someone kissed profusedly each other on the steps of the church building on Sunday morning facing the morning sun. I think it's kind of aweful. I just drove away.
The Catholic church could not express how much they missed you. They were so sorry that you were taken from the annual confirmation dinner after just a few short months. You will always be welcome back. You are not a mean person. You are our beloved little Michelle angel. But you had to nailed down your stubborness and disbelief. Ate anything that Mother Vigin Mary revealed to you in your dream. The amazing part is your Ex will always love you. He missed you and his little sweet energetic son crazy. He regularly attends the Catholic church now, and you will find him there if you want to. Your Ex's fierce loyalty and limitless affection to you will never evaporate. He remembers your warm body on cold winter nights. There will never be another Michelle.
Aaah...okay?
ooo.. that is creepy
Michelle, I am sorry to hear of your experience. I have had my ins and outs with the Catholic Church over the years, and I'm not too thrilled with it right now. However, I have attended other churches also, and worked in another denomination's regional office for two years. NONE of these places were without hypocrites. I'm not saying leaving the Catholic Church was a bad idea - but don't expect perfection from anyone; it's not there. Whether you call it sinning or making mistakes or bad choices (not necessarily interchangeable terms), it's a fact of being human.
That being said, the Catholic Church - as well as others - need to get this crap out in the open, acknowledge it, and deal with it appropriately, including legal prosecution.
One only has to watch Dateline, to see that Clergy-pedifiles are not exclusive to Catholic priests, and I am disappointed that your entire life experience with Catholocism was such a negative one. Mine, was not. I went to Catholic schools in Brooklyn (Elementary through High School) and recieved an excellent education, really. Nothing could be spoon fed, as in New York State, we had to take the N.Y.State Regents, nobody knew from year to year what would be on them. ( H.S. was 4 yrs of English and History and 6 years of a foreign language, 3 of French, 3 of Latin, every year to be tested by the state Board of Regents) What does that prove, I don't know, but I was certainly prepared to study and do research when I got to college.
Be that as it may, yes, there probably were many priests pedifiles who went to their graves with their secrets...and those who were hidden by superiors and their victims' families paid off to keep silent are surely as heinous as the criminals of the Inquisition.... But, let's not forget the Mother Theresas, Pope John Paul the II, St. Peter Clavers and all the others who have worked as clergy of the church of Rome and their deeds, truly their Sainthoods, have gone unknown!!!
Thanks for the insight auntiem...that incident certainly wasn't "the" moment when I decided to leave the church. There were many, many other reasons. I just used that story as an example on how this is a problem not just today, but years past...and no, it is not subject to Catholics only...yet Catholic Priests are the only ones that cannot marry. Maybe if some of the rules were changed we would have more parishioners, priests and nuns coming to the church instead of leaving.
Ah, yes, now there's a start! Let priests marry, change some of these stupid man-made rules.... Jesus certainly never laid down any of these rules, we don't even know if he was married....it matters not!!! Who will the Church attract into the priesthood, a handful of truly devout, holy, dedicated men, and who else??? Quite a question when one truly stops and thinks about it. (a lot of us can guess the answer)
Another question, who wants to go to marriage counseling to a "celibate", unmarried priest?
You certainly have stated valid points for changing "rules", most likely made up during the 12th - 14th centuries, and even more likely during the reign of Pope Gregory (don't know the number, but he is the one who was so "female" threatened, he decided to deem Mary Magdalene, dear friend and follower of Jesus, and most likely His beloved Apostle and wife, a converted "prostitute" (which, I believe is NOT true). But Jesus was an Equal Opportunity Employer, who treated women Equally to men, and the Church could not HAVE such nonsense, ergo...they put her in a position of a "forgivin" rather than a "Chosen".
Yes, Michelle, there were a lot of "men" in the many centuries between Jesus and today...men are fallible, ( dare I say, the Pope is a man, not God/man as Jesus...and the Pope too, is fallible......but still does trace his "roots", albeit a circuitous path, with many detours, to St. Peter, into whom Jesus intrusted both His Mother and His Church....So I will continue to remain Roman Catholic, and follow the teachings of Jesus, that have been preserved, or somehow survived, and I will ignore the man-made laws.....that make no sense, or Jesus would have taught them...and He never bothered to....
But, whatever path you have chosen, the one that is comfortable for you, that's good, too! Just, please don't judge all who stay...Some of us simply refuse to let pedifiles, liars, and distorters to "take" what we consider ours.... In case you haven't noticed, when I believe in something, I will fight for it, tooth and nail, no evil doers, past or present will take my religion....no evil-doers will take the Twin Towers, they live in the hearts of every New Yorker...
OMG, I thought it was reserved for the young to believe that they could "conquer the world"???
P.S. Don't forget, if (God forbid) you ever do go missing, you got this crazy NY Catholic comin to find ya, and I will!!!
Thanks for the post. You are very "schooled" at this and know what you are talking about.
Yes, the whole gender inequality institution was in full gear...and 'not-so-overtly' still is the case.
Lutheran pastors can marry...I'm sure it's happened, but you don't really hear much about Lutheran pastor pedophiles...maybe because they have a wife at home? Who knows...but I'm talking BIOLOGY.
I don't condone any of those priests actions, but men have a different "make up" than women...and I find it hard to believe that one can be so true to God that absolutely NO sexual feelings ever cross their mind. To me that is just not biologically plausible.
Auntiem, I NEVER judge...especially when it comes to religion. (Unless you are an Islamic terrorist..hee hee). I admire those that have great respect for their faith...that is something that I lack. But believe me, if you knew the stories of the jerks that went to my church... Oh boy, that was pretty damaging to my self-esteem . They stabbed my family in the back and laughed the entire time like complete hypocrites. That is something I DO NOT respect, and I think a lot of that had everything to do with me saying "sayonara".
Besides, I hated confession! ;) Behind the curtain only! Face to face? NO WAY! ha ha..
PS--Yes, if I go missing YOU BETTER find me! But most likely you would find HIM because I'm the "Black Mamba" baby...I'd fight to the death. I'm nobody's victim... That is why I have to stand up for others! :)
Hmmm...where do I start, other than with a prayer?
Well, first of all, married priests. Married priests are not the solution. A Priest is expected to be able to make sick calls at all hour, perform various ceremonies, etc. and it's not just a job, but a calling. A Priest's primary duty is sacrifice, not only during the Mass, but throughout his whole life. How can a priest really be an effective husband to two wives? That's really what a Priest in the Catholic Church is called to be. He stands in for Christ, the Bridegroom, at the altar. The Church is the "Bride of Christ."
Besides, look at the predominant behavior of the offender priests. They were mostly covert homosexuals engaged in pederasty (not pedophilia, which involves prepubescent children) with teenage BOYS.
The ones that weren't homosexuals obviously had issues that led them to use the Priesthood as a cover, perhaps thinking they could get away from their problem. What difference would allowing these closet homosexuals and hetero perverts to marry have made? Zero, zilch, nada. NORMAL heterosexual adults don't look for affection or gratification from teenagers or younger.
There's a basic truth about priests that should be considered: we get the priests we deserve. I can't point fingers, because I've probably been guilty at some point. I sincerely believe that. We have more "Cafeteria Catholics" now probably than ever before. Priests are AFRAID to teach the truths of the Church regarding contraception, abortion, etc... Now, whether anyone wants to listen is another matter, but if you're a Roman Catholic Priest, YOU ARE CALLED to teach ROMAN CATHOLICISM. The priest will be held to more strict standards on Judgement Day than his parishioners. Even moreso the bishops.
Speaking of bishops, St. John Chrysostom (Golden Mouth) said that "The street to Hell is paved with the skulls of rotten priests, and the very floor of hell with skulls of rotten bishops" or something very close to that.
On a lighter note, what if Chuck Norris was a Bishop? http://oxfiles.blogspot.com/2006/03/pope-apoints-five-new-bishops.html
Back to reality...I guess I was lucky. We never had any "pedophile priests" in my Parrish that I ever knew of. Maybe it was the demographics and location. Rural, German Heritage, Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. Shamefully, a couple of weeks ago, the local ordinary Bp. Gettelfinger admitted a diocesan priest had been found to be molesting boys ELEVEN years ago, and it's just now come to light. I'm not a big fan of this particular Bp. and this just nails the coffin. According to bishopaccountability.org, my home diocese has eight priests accused, including 2 convicted of possession of child porn. I know the nephews of one of the accused, who are all three in my Guard unit.
I'm still a Catholic, because Jesus doesn't abandon his Church. "...and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." I believe WE in the Church are called to RESANCTIFY it thru PERSEVERING in prayer and holiness.
I don't think it would be prudent to argue all my points in one post, especially regarding some things auntie em had to say.
Peace
ANTIEM--
If you read this, please email me at michellesaysso@yahoo.com! thanks!
Captain, what is more relevant to you as a Spiritual person, Roman Catholicism or the Teachings and Ways of Jesus Christ?
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth and died in Jerusalem, I don't ever remember him traveling to Rome! Yes Peter, his Apostle is said to have gone there with Mary, to teach His words....but if you study the many Popes that followed Peter you will find much corruption. The Medici's for example, bought the Papacy, there were Popes who were not even priests!
Whoever you are quoting with the Golden Mouth sounds like someone right out of the "Middle Ages"....perhaps one of those inciting the Inquisition!! You make God sound like a mean old man, waiting to roll skulls on Hell's floor....that's not the way I see God, the Father of that gentle, forgiving man who came to Earth over two thousand years ago.
You pray for me Captain and I, in turn will pray for you. Your Spiritual life must be very stressful and devoid of joy.... the joy of praising God and knowing how much He loves us.
Laudetur Jesu Christ!
Dear Auntiem,
Your juxtaposition of Roman Catholicism and the teachings of Jesus Christ is a false dichotomy. Not only that, your point about Jesus never traveling to Rome bears very little in the argument. As a former Anglican, John Henry Cardinal Newman put it: to be deep in history is to cease to remain Protestant.
It makes little difference if Jesus went to Rome or not. His work was in Israel. It would be his Apostles that spread the Word to the Nations.
Yes, Popes are human, and we had some bad ones, but true to His word, the Gates of Hell did not prevail over His Church, try as they might. Church teaching didn't change, though some claim otherwise.
As for St John Chrysostom (Chrysostom is Greek for Golden Mouth) he was the Archbishop of Constantinople in roughly AD 400. He was known as the greatest preacher in the early Church. You would do well to read him. His message regarding the pavement leading to and within Hell was meant as a warning to the priests and bishops that they were responsible for the souls of their flock, and they would be held accountable at a much higher level because of their responsibility.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostom
"One of the recurring features of John's sermons is his emphasis on care for the needy. Echoing themes found in the Gospel of Matthew, he calls upon the rich to lay aside materialism in favor of helping the poor, often employing all of his rhetorical skills to shame wealthy people to abandon conspicuous consumption:
'Do you pay such honor to your excrements as to receive them into a silver chamber-pot when another man made in the image of God is perishing in the cold?'"
BTW, John Henry Cardinal Newman described Chrysostom as a "bright, cheerful, gentle soul; a sensitive heart."
Now, my question for you is this: Have you taken up your cross?
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