Fr. James Altman can no longer preach, assist at marriages, or baptize without permission, and he cannot celebrate the Eucharist with anyone else present until further notice from his bishop, according to an excerpt of a decree shared by Rocco Palmo on Twitter today.
The celebrity priest of LaCrosse, who gained notoriety for the increasingly strident far right views he shared in his sermons and online, was removed as pastor in May. He publicly rejected his bishop’s call to resign, and has now had his celebret removed for an indeterminate time, meaning many of his priestly faculties have been removed by his bishop until further notice.
The decree says that Bishop Callahan is taking this action as part of his duty to “protect the diocese against scandal and any civil lawsuits that could have dramatic financial consequences for the diocese.”
A cleric’s privileges may be restricted by an ordinary if there has been a delict (canonical crime) committed and proved, or alleged; or if the cleric in question is involved in a situation that, if he remains in a particular ministry, threatens the common good of the diocese.
The decree against Altman is the latter sort. Such a decree is issued when it will harm the diocese if the priest continues to act as a priest in public. The priest is not accused of having committed a crime, but his involvement in a particular situation is a threat to the integrity of the diocese, and the bishop judges that he is forced to constrain the priest’s faculties until something changes.
While the excerpt that has been shared on social media does not specify how Altman’s presence in the diocese threatens to harm its integrity, it does put the onus on him to remedy the harm. It says that if he does not act himself to remedy the situation, it harms the diocese. It says that the restrictions will be imposed “until the cause has ceased to exist” and that “[i]t is primarily the responsibility of Father James Altman to make sure that this cause ceases to exist.”
The decree bars Altman from leaving the diocese, which his bishop is entitled to do by virtue of the obedience Altman owes to him. It also requires him to go on a thirty day spiritual retreat “to give him the possibility to spiritually heal and recharge and to address the issues that caused the issuance of this decree.” It warns Altman that violations of the decree may result in further restrictions or the imposition of ecclesiastical sanctions.
It is rare for such decrees to be made public, but Altman has not shied away from making public his inflammatory views or his defiance against his superiors. A Twitter account that claims to share messages from Altman today said, “I will not be silenced by any arbitrary decree, nor will I be cowed by any action against my priestly faculties.”
Altman has not yet exhausted his chance to appeal the decree, and may now plead his case before the Signatura, the final canonical court of appeals for issues other than marriage nullity. The Father Altman account today has Alman characterizing himself as “a voice of Truth” whom the “corrupt” hierarchy “boldly continues to cancel.”
When Altman was removed as pastor, a group calling itself Caritas in Veritate launched a fundraiser for his legal defense, claiming he was the subject of “diabolical persecution.” As of July 8, over $359K has been raised. The fundraiser page said that Altman would donate any excess funds to the handicap ramp fund at St. James the Lesser, but only if he were allowed to remain pastor there.
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More related stories at The Deacon’s Bench
Image: Screenshot from video of Fr. James Altman “You Cannot Be Catholic and Democrat. Period.”
I’m thoroughly fascinated by this comment section for reasons you might not be expecting.
If I assume the gender of the posters from their screen names, most men seem to be supportive of Fr. Altman while most women seem to be unsupportive of him. I am male and I am in support of Fr. Altman. This reminds me of the electoral maps of at least the two previous US presidential elections (in 2016 and 2020) that showed that if only men voted, Trump would have won by huge landslides, while if only women voted, the Democratic Party candidate would have won by huge landslides.
I continue to be fascinated by the clear distinction between male and female group behaviors in how they perceive people (and their rhetoric) and policies even in religious matters.
I know dozens of women who support both Father Altman and Trump. And I know plenty of men (such as my husband) who don’t. Not everyone fits into a neat little political box. I sadly felt compelled to vote for Trump based on the issues of abortion, religious freedom and gender issues. And when I say “sadly”, that is an understatement, because I consider him to be both narcissistic and dangerous. My male husband feels the same way. Our extended families see us as ultra right wing conservatives. The pro-Altman/Trump anti-mask/anti-vax supporters in my homeschool group, on the other hand, see us as left wing fascists. The truth is that we are neither. We are faithful Catholics who adhere to Church teaching and oppose bigotry. Like I said, we are the wrong shape to fit into a box, as I suspect many people are.
Naturally, it’s unrealistic to expect every member of a group to fit into a box. Men are on the average physically stronger than women even though there are several women are physically stronger than several men. When analyzing groups, aggregate behavior (e.g. the clear distinction in the votes received by a political candidate when only men versus only women vote) is the important factor, not the outliers.
Trump is narcissistic, but so are most politicians so he’s not unique in that regard. He just doesn’t attempt to conceal his narcissism. As for dangerous, the Biden regime just (February 3rd, 2022) conducted a raid in Syria that killed 13 people, including children and women. The most dangerous thing Trump did was also to attack Syria — he launched air strikes on two separate occasions that killed many innocent civilians — as well as assassinating Qasem Soleimani at the behest of Israel. I don’t find Trump’s words particularly dangerous as some people claim. Having said that, the only legitimate appeal in voting for Trump that I personally had was, like you, his restrictions on abortions. I think everyone is free to decide whether or not to wear masks (probably accountable for wearing one if you’re symptomatic). I think every adult is free to decide whether or not to be vaccinated. I’m outright against vaccinating healthy minors given the negligible danger the virus poses to them. I’m also against mandating the vaccine for anyone.
As you said, trying our utmost best to live as faithful Catholics is the most important issue.
The examples that I cited are not outliers. I agree with you about vaccine mandates and Biden (when I voted for Trump, I was voting for the lesser of two evils, in an election where the choices were dismal). I do not agree that the risks of Covid to minors are negligible, and I think vaccinations for minors are justifiable. See, no box.
Since Biden would’ve won by a landslide if only women voted, women who voted for Trump would be outliers by definition (same as men who voted for Biden using similar logic).
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (because they have plenty of coronavirus data available as spreadsheets — one just has to search for them using appropriate keywords), 7 people aged 16 years and under died in England and Wales in the whole of 2020, i.e. before the vaccine became available (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/13602deathsinvolvingandduetothecoronaviruscovid19inages16yearsandunderinenglandandwales2020). Just SEVEN in the entire country (less than deaths due to suicide, for example)! We also know that most coronavirus deaths occur in people with comorbidity. Not to mention the risks of myocarditis in young males due to the vaccine…
I don’t want to make this comment section about politics and health, but nice chat!
The risk of myocarditis in males is higher with Covid infection than it is with the vaccine. But you’re right, this is not the place for that type of debate. This column is about Altman, and I was making the point that faithful Catholics don’t always fit into neat little boxes, much as the anti-mask/antivaxxers would like to imply that those boxes should be checked (along with checking the boxes of Trump and Altman support). I didn’t bring that up because I wanted to debate vaccines, or to imply a favorable opinion of Biden. Given how close the Trump/Biden election was, women who voted for Trump were not outliers, and neither are women who support Altman (something that would be impossible to guage based on a small sample like this comment thread). You seem to be determined to put men and women into a box, and you seem to find it interesting and entertaining. Which suggests to me that you have probably decided that there is one way to be a faithful Catholic. And that the male way is superior, since apparently men are more likely to support Trump, support Altman, and be anti-vax.
I’ve seen data that showed higher risk in myocarditis from vaccination than from coronavirus. The Trump/Biden election result was close partly because most men voted for Trump, most women voted for Biden, and the electorates are nearly evenly split between men and women. The *fact* that if only women voted, Biden would’ve won by a huge landslide means that women who voted for Trump where a substantial minority, i.e. outliers. But I’ve made this point before.
As for women who support Fr. Altman, you’re right that the comment sections on this website constitute too small a sample size from which to draw any general trend. I just had a hypothesis from my experiences with male and female behaviors, and the comment section seemed consistent with my hypothesis.
I’m as determined to put men and women into boxes as I am to make lions feed on meat and cows to feed on grass, i.e. I have no control over male and female behaviors. However, I admit that I do find it interesting, perhaps slightly entertaining even, to observe their differences.
Please don’t put words into my mouth. I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a male or female “way” to be a faithful Catholic. I don’t believe that either men or women are “superior”, they are just — as I previously stated — different, and I believe that this difference can manifest in their general attitudes towards a particular politician, priest, or health measure.
And I’ve seen data that supports the opposite. I don’t support mandates, as I mentioned before. But I am an RN who is perfectly capable of interpreting the data and making an informed, intelligent medical decision for my minor child. I do not regret my decision. I only wish I had an absence of regret about voting for Trump…I will say, though, that I give him credit for his recent vocalized support of Covid vaccines (while opposing mandates).
Why do you support Altman, given his human rights violations?
Human rights violations?!?!?
Yes, repeatedly. See the evidence I have compiled here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18kCYphlf7GZ7XtQZKVnqBMwCSCXRbwQJXM5Qepqtsd0/edit
“Human rights violations” are the stuff of the International Criminal Court, not just a list of cherry-picked out-of-context quotes compiled by JoAnna. Never mind that I dispute a number of the assertions. Never mind that Fr Altmann isn’t exactlt my cup of tea either. You cannot accuse somebody of something so heinous as “human rights violations” because you think they said mean things. Please, be more careful.
Wait a second, you think that the church teaches there is no such a thing as human rights violations?
Uhhhh… https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/life-and-dignity-of-the-human-person
How are they out of context? I provided the full context for each and every quote so you could read for yourself.
Also, are you claiming the Nazis didn’t dehumanize the Jews when they referred to the Jewish people as vermin? https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/victims-of-the-nazi-era-nazi-racial-ideology
JoAnna,
There is a specific definition to human rights violations, and they are subject to international prosecution. If you have such evidence, I suggest you bring it to the attention of the Hague.
The rest is your supposition and disagreement. Like I said before: I don’t necessarily enjoy all of Father’s presentation strategies. But you are entirely over the top. And every one of the quotes you have listed is highly debatable. My impression is that you’re creating a supposed traditionalist strawman to beat on, when the Church has actual problems to solve. Are you this critical of the Papacy, for instance, or the German Bishops, or scandalous American Cardinals like Cupich, or just this one now-canceled American priest?
ARTICLE 1
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Is it acting in the spirit of brotherhood to call people “vermin”?
ARTICLE 5
“ No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Isn’t it degrading treatment to refer to other people as “vermin”?
ARTICLE 12
“No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
It is certainly an attack on one’s reputation to be referred to as “vermin.”
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Where does the church teach that it is permissible to refer to our brothers and sisters in Christ as “vermin”? Can you please cite the catechism?
None of which are “human rights abuses.” Again, if you have record of Father committing such crimes, the UN, the Hague, and the ICC are all recourses. If not, then he is guilty at most of a venial sin. And while I know that some old ladies who commit venial sins can hold up a confession line as if they *were* confessing Human Rights Abuses from a bygone war, I’m hoping that the conversation on such a thread might be a bit more… informed.
You don’t think dehumanizing people is a mortal sin? It definitely could be.
Are you under the impression that every instance of human rights abuses have to be brought before the Hague. Abortion is a human rights abuse – are we for bidden to try and make it illegal in our country? Is our only recourse international human rights courts?
Why do you think it’s OK to call people vermin, especially when a Catholic priest does it?
I like Fr. Altman because it’s refreshing to hear a priest speak very candidly and fiercely on important issues regarding the faith. What are the human rights violations you claim he committed?
He doesn’t speak truth. See the list I have compiled here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18kCYphlf7GZ7XtQZKVnqBMwCSCXRbwQJXM5Qepqtsd0/edit
Words do not constitute human rights violation.
Jesus told the Jews that were trying to kill him “You belong to your father the devil…” (John 8:44). John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7).
Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6). This could very well be applied to people who tempt others by dressing inappropriately for Mass.
I simply do not see any evidence of anti-Semitism or racism in the sources you provided. I see you’re so perturbed by Fr. Altman’s words that you consider them on par with human rights violations. It is my opinion that women, in general, are affected more significantly by words than men are. I don’t think that’s a sexist statement. Likewise, I don’t consider Fr. Altman speaking in general terms about women’s consciousness about their appearance as sexism.
Is Fr. Altman perfect? No one is. Could he have mistakenly disseminated wrong information? I’d be surprised if he never did, given the quantity of information he’s disseminated to date. But words, harsh as they might be, do not constitute human rights violations.
A core tenet of Catholic doctrine is that all human beings have inherent worth and dignity.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY.
This inherent worth and dignity is never removed or stripped from us.
It remains even if we sin.
It remains even if we sin HORRIBLY.
That is what “inherent” means. Our human dignity is intrinsic. It is part of our nature as human beings. It is not something that is granted to us by the government. It isn’t something that is given to us upon baptism. It’s something that is a part of us from the very beginning of our existence as a human being. This is a teaching of the Catholic Church and requires the assent of all Catholics (see https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/life-and-dignity-of-the-human-person).
Adolf Hitler was a human being with inherent worth and dignity. He deserved to be arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned for his crimes. His horrific crimes and human rights abuses did not strip or remove his human dignity from him.
He and his government referred to the Jews, whom they oppressed and persecuted and murdered in massive numbers, as “vermin.” They dehumanized their victims, because they knew the best way to perpetuate human rights violations was to convince their followers that their victims were not human, but pests that could and should be eradicated.
We see the same strategy with abortion rights advocates who refer to unborn human beings as “parasites.” (Example: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/parasites-rights-abortion-sign/)
It’s much easier to get abortion laws passed when you convince your followers that the humans you are killing are not actually human, but rather pests who could and should be eradicated.
Given the above, those who support Fr. James Altman need to ask themselves why he repeatedly refers to other human beings as “vermin,” and teaches his followers to do the same.
I will only say this: even if some people use harsh languages to describe others with the intention of dehumanizing them before murdering them, the crime lies in the act of murder and not in the language used. The usage of harsh language is not intrinsically immoral, as it serves various purposes, and it is a mistake to ascribe a motive without knowing the intention. The intention can be corrective or admonitive, just as in the case of Jesus and John the Baptist using languages like “children of the devil” or “brood of vipers”.
Dehumanizing language isn’t just “harsh.”
Were the Nazis merely “harsh” when they referred to Jewish people as “vermin”?
Here’s the bulletin from his church in which he spreads dangerous lies about vaccines. Vaccines which our holy father has encouraged to slow the spread of a deadly pandemic. This alone is reason enough for him to step down if he won’t repent.
https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/28828/bulletins/20210418.pdf
So where was the lie? If you think he has to repent, what was the lie in his bulletin? I think the only sin he commits here is his typesetting, which looks more like a conspiracy theory website (minus the flashing text and bright yellow background) than a Church bulletin.
This is the lie, copied and pasted from the bulletin:
“covid-19” injection is NOT a vaccine, PERIOD. It is NOT
an injection of a lesser version of the illness but rather an experimental use of a
genetic altering substance that modifies YOUR BODY – YOUR Temple of the Holy
Spirit. It is NOT a vaccine, and the use of that word bears False Witness to the
Truth.
Here is the lie, copied and pasted from the bulletin I linked too. I have to wonder why you have returned to ask a question/start a debate about a comment I made almost 6 months ago.
“covid-19” injection is NOT a vaccine, PERIOD. It is NOT
an injection of a lesser version of the illness but rather an experimental use of a
genetic altering substance that modifies YOUR BODY – YOUR Temple of the Holy
Spirit. It is NOT a vaccine, and the use of that word bears False Witness to the
Truth.
It’s all lies. The vaccine is not experimental, there have been numerous safety studies conducted on it, and his assertion that if the vaccine worked we wouldn’t need masks is also ridiculous. The vaccine does work to prevent serious illness, but with the new variance it does not always work to prevent transmission. However the fact that the vast majority of people in the hospital with Covid are unvaccinated it’s proof that the vaccine does in fact work.
Dear Bishop Callahan:
I am writing in response to your recent decision to suspend Father James Altman. As you probably know, Fr. Altman first gained public notoriety when he publicly proclaimed the evil of abortion and made a video declaring that Catholics cannot vote for Democrats. This simple restatement of obvious reality upset many Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
While we can expect the secular humanists in society to block, censor and shame Fr. Altman for defending Christ and His social kingship, we should not expect this from Catholics or any Bishop who claims to believe and teach what the Church does. However, now it appears you have jumped on that bandwagon, which is sad and warrants strong feedback from the faithful.
Let me explain to you what Fr. Altman means to me as a faithful Catholic. While I have never met Fr. Altman, he represents exactly what Christ is asking of all of us in the face of an overwhelming, demonic fueled onslaught designed to bury and, if necessary, persecute faithful Christians. Standing up in a courageous way to the forces of evil in this society—i.e. those who want to cut up and slaughter little babies in the womb or shut down the sacraments over a chest cold—without fear of repercussion or counter-attacks is exactly what our culture and the Church needs at this very time. Fr. Altman should not only be commended for this effort, but he should be given a special place of honor and protection within the Diocese so that he can continue his mission while still serving his flock.
And yet, does he get the support, backing and aid from you and the Diocese? No, he did not. Instead, he was thrown under the bus and treated like a psychopath, much to the pleasure and amusement of the secular forces of evil in your Diocese I have no doubt. Whether you intended to or not, it appears you have openly sided with the forces of abortion, sin and evil to the detriment of a good, faithful and holy priest just trying to defend babies, the sacraments and the Kingship of Christ in the public square. There can be no doubt the anti-Catholic media in your diocese were happy and pleased with your decision.
By removing Fr. Altman from active ministry for an undetermined amount of time, this cowardly act of surrender to the culture does not hurt Fr. Altman so much as it hurts the rest of us and the faithful in the Church who are desperately battling the forces of evil in society.
When we see our own shepherds cut a faithful priest off at the knees for simply speaking Catholic Truth in a public way, this demoralizes and insults the rest of us who also seek to defend Christ and His Kingship in this spiritual warzone known as American culture.
I know it is easy to get caught up in administrative squabbles, answering to secular media types and probably worst of all having to deal with those other gutless and faithless Bishops who may make your life difficult because you have an outspoken priest under your authority. But tough times call for tough men, and so I hope you will reconsider your efforts to silence the Truth and speak up instead in defense of Christ, the authentic teaching of the Church and those (like Fr. Altman) who are doing their best to defend the Gospel during these dark times.
Steve, please cite the relevant CCC passage where is says we may dehumanize others.
Bishop Callahan and Fr. Altman are good men who love the Lord and seek, in their respective ways, to be consistent in their respective ministries to uphold Deposit of Faith–the heritage of the Gospel. But they are committed to this in different (one might say, radically different) ways. Fr. Altman, like all preachers, needs to exercise prudence in his preaching, given the truly awesome power that goes with stepping into the pulpit. It is not a matter of “naming names” or–worse still–referencing unproven or (at best) exaggerated claims on the hard-right about contemporary American culture or society. It is about the authenticity of the Gospel. But it must likewise include a fact-based drawing of lines and the calling-out of sin, a calling-to repentance–but balanced with a practical message of mercy, joy and hope for the faithful to take home long after Mass has ended. This requires an incredible amount of foresight, authentic knowledge of the subject, knowledge of the audience and avoiding anything which unnecessarily smacks of secular partisan politics, especially on the extreme end. (This applies to both Right and Left–and some respondents have already correctly noted that outrageous remarks made from the pulpit by the latter, more often than not, get a free pass from their ecclesiastical superiors!) This must include diligent avoidance of jingoistic-like sentiments and bromides that advance neither the Gospel message, nor the way it is consistently lived.
In other words, and more specifically,the preacher must be very mindful to separate potentially divisive personal opinions that, ultimately, don’t move the–the proclamation of faith–forward.
At the same time, it must be plainly admitted that today’s pastor-preacher cannot sit on the sidelines, avoiding any critique of the deficiencies and, yes, evils, present in varying degrees throughout Western society. But there is a right, smart way to do it. Having heard Fr. Altman in his own church, he (basically) accomplished this. But like the story of the “wheat and the tares” (Mt 13: 24-30) much of his good pastoral theology and analysis was, sadly, needlessly and inextricably mixed with the extremes from the likes of outlets like Breitbart…or worse. As a formerly-practicing attorney and family court judge, Fr. Altman has perhaps borrowed some of his homiletic technique from the courtroom. In that arena, the idea is to push–and push hard–until you win, saying what is needed (until overruled) or warned by the bench.
But at the end of the day, the church is not a courtroom. It is not about “winning” to achieve an outcome, but inspiring congregants to love sincerely, detest what is evil, hold to what is good (Cf. Rom 12: 9), nourished by Word and Sacrament.
My prayerful hope is that, in the end, Fr. Altman will be soon returned to normal ministry to share his considerable background and talents for the service of the People of God and the advancement of His kingdom–integrating the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance–AND fortitude.
please cite the relevant CCC passage where it says we may dehumanize others.
Fr. Altman was not silenced for “telling the truth.” Priests from one end of the country to the other tell the truth every day-they just don’t hit some people’s favorite culture warrior notes: masks; “wokeness;” critical race theory; whatever. He was silenced for being an ideologue, a fanatic, and a racist. Yes, I said the r-word. Deal with it. He defended lynching as “capital punishment.” and proposed the absurdity that “they” don’t want you to know how many Union soldiers died in the Civil War. If this sermon discussed by Rebecca Hamilton were his only offence, it would be enough to warrant sanctions. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/publiccatholic/2020/09/lacrosse-wisconsin-catholic-priest-belittles-lynching-in-racist-homily/?fbclid=IwAR3liCeuWgSq_F9m51sNf2q6UuHUqekWO_W4hRQk50ooWyp0QmwHI4aJyOI
He also published the fake graphic (complete with “scary black man!”) being debunked in this Politico article in his parish bulletin. (It was last year. so it can’t be accessed on the parish site.)
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2015/nov/23/donald-trump/trump-tweet-blacks-white-homicide-victims/
As far as Fr. Altman being a hero for standing up to anti-Christian persecution during the pandemic-forget it. The Church was not persecuted. The point at issue was whether religious organization should have to follow the same rules as other facilities, or whether they should be included among exempt facilities, like grocery stores. Most states granted religious institutions partial or complete exemptions. Some did not. Being denied an exemption is not persecution. Churches in states that denied religious exemptions also had the option of suing, and some of them won. That’s not exactly persecution either. Here’s some information.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/27/most-states-have-religious-exemptions-to-covid-19-social-distancing-rules/
Well said, Charlotte.
Are you all kidding me? Priests all over the world have been spewing heresy for decades unpunished and unwarned and we are worried about Fr. Altman’s tone of preaching or his worries about the vaccines, etc….. ? The Popes before Vatican II would never have been worried about a Fr. Altman! In the end, we deserve the leaders we get and should be concerned when valiant ones like Fr. Altman are silenced. But as Shakespeare says so well, “I remember that I am in thus world where to do evil is laudable but to do good is accounted as dangerous folly.”
please cite the relevant CCC passage where it says we may dehumanize others.
GOOD. Wrong is wrong. I’m glad this bishop, at least, is doing his job.
Father Altman is standing up to the truth, and the ones who don’t are cowards! It’s very simple, evil is evil, and wrong is wrong. Father Altman is totally right. And will be rewarded in heaven.
It is a sad day when a Catholic or any Christian would think of Fr Altman as being “totally right.” Have you listened to his sermons? Have you read the gospels of Jesus Christ? Have you read the bishop’s reasons for silencing him? This priest might be innocent in the eyes of God (due to mental illness?) but that doesn’t make him “right.”
You might want to try actually reading the letters and decrees you are reporting on. In the letter Fr. Altman wrote to his Flock, he said ‘Though I am being forced to leave you, my beloved family, allow me to leave you with a designated gift from these royalties of $12,000. It is a restricted donation that cannot be taxed by the diocese and is to be used for a lift-chair access to the choir loft, and ramp access to the main floor. I had hoped to accomplish those goals this summer, but now hand those needs on the parish administrator.’
The actual letter in Fr. Altman’s own words says he is donating that money from his royalties of his book. I suggest you do more research before you comment on one of the only priests we have left who is standing up for the truth and the lives of our unborn children. The fact that this is happening should be terrifying. Good men are being quieted and blocked because they are trying to take care of their flock.
We briefly had a priest like Altman here. The (mild mannered) pastor told him to hit the road. Bishop Barron backed up the pastor. The guy was the hell and brimstone type with a history of getting people riled up. The right wingers who hated clapping in church wanted to clap in church.
The last thing I heard, a couple of the church ladies are supporting him in some flyover state.
It’s kind of a perfect arrangement. Lol.
I’m really glad that Bishop Barron backed up the pastor. (Do you live in Bishop Barron’s diocese? If so, you are really blessed!)
Bishop Barron just confirmed my sixth kid, Xavier! We loved it. So grateful. The mass was on the SB Mission steps, and it was gorgeous. My son John Paul was Xave’s sponsor. He lingered a bit when we were packing up our lawn chairs in the car, and we saw that he was still chatting with BB. My son and I had been arguing about hell a couple of nights before (JP is more to the right than I am Ha!) So I was suspicious and asked him if he was interrogating BB about hell. He said, “oh no Mama, I was asking what I could do to help my (protestant) girlfriend become Catholic (!)
Anyway please pray offer a prayer for them, my son is over the moon for her, but her Dad told her that Catholics aren’t Christian 🙁 …
That’s an awesome story Anna Lisa! I will pray for your son and his girlfriend, especially that she does not adopt her father’s negative views about Catholics.
Thank you Claire!
The Dad is a Seventh Day Adventist. His other child, a son, is dating JP’s (Catholic)cousin. The Dad finally cracked and told them a bunch of bunk that sounds like it came from the last century. You would think they’d get tired of trotting out all that Mary-olatry garbage.
What’s funny is that 7th day adventists aren’t supposed to get piercings or tattoos. But both of his kids ran out and did both things when they turned 18, AND
wait for it–
His son got a GIANT tattoo of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on his chest.
Hahahahahahaha. No wonder the Dad couldn’t take it anymore.
Oh yes, those Seventh Day Adventists are very anti-Catholic. I bet that Sacred Heart tattoo put him right over the edge!
^^^We’ve been wondering where Susan from the Parish Council had gotten off too. She’s back. Amem.
Oh, why thank you (blushes, and bats lashes)
But I’m totally not the parish council type. No pew cred either. My kids were the ones climbing everywhere and breaking the missal holders. My sixth baby was the one doing the cha cha in the center aisle with the cute blonde toddler. Everyone was wondering why I wasn’t on birth control or something. And I just didn’t have the heart to spank the last six so they were all basically criminals before they reached the age of reason.
But thx for noticing. I work at a Catholic school now and get paid for going to mass on weekdays with the cutest kids on earth –(apart from my own and Simcha’s of course) (Jesus and I high-fiving each other) I really don’t know what to do with myself summers, so I surf the net and make an unending stream of food for all of these Covid refugees that I’ve squeezed from my loins that don’t think I’ve done enough for them, and want to summer next to the Pacific ocean. First world problems, eh?
Well that colorful story aside, your original comment literally read like the political flip-side of Altman’s comments. I’m surprised you didn’t notice that, or the general nature of your remaining vitriol:
“The right wingers who hated clapping in church wanted to clap in church.”
>>That’s got nothing to do with right-wing-nuttery and everything to do with respecting the liturgy and the Church interior. It’s not only in a bad taste, but thoroughly offensive to do so.
The last thing I heard, a couple of the church ladies are supporting him in some flyover state.
>>That sounds like a statement from a woke college student attending Brown University, not a Catholic mother of six. What makes this statement different than anything of the edge that Altman presented? At least be consistent.
Well, I wouldn’t call it vitriol. I’m just poking fun because I remember all of the silly little things that would trigger that bunch. (I used to be part of that bunch too.) They were like the mean girls of the parish that thought they were better than everybody else. Iwas just tired and embarrassed all of the time. Breastfeeding mothers with teenagers and college students. are. tired.
After a while you just give up trying to be perfect, and get a little mad about all of the old people who have it easy, don’t have perfect resumes as Catholics themselves, and think that they can guilt everybody into what they are now to atone for their sins of the past.
Tired of it.
You’re such a good natured person Anna Lisa; I have never seen any vitriol in any of your comments. Even when other people direct it at you.
Claire, that is SO kind of you to say. Thank you. I’m trying.
You have always been such an inspiration to me. You are faithful and steady on the narrow path, have well thought out comments rooted in reason, and go the extra mile not to offend.
xo
Wow Anna Lisa, I just noticed that you’re up to 12 kids now! You should have gone on birth control after the first two! My image of you as a liberal Catholic is shattered! (This is sarcasm , by the way, in case there’s any doubt…, underscoring the rad trads who try to paint people like you and Simcha as nonfaithful Catholics.)
!@???? Not 12! Oh heavens no. I’ll have to check what I wrote to see what gave that impression…
Just 8 living ones, but no menopause (Lord have mercy) It aint over till the fat lady sings. And yes–perimenopause really wants me to eat lots of tacos.
It probably wasn’t anything you wrote; I probably just skimmed too quickly and jumped to conclusions.
Still, 8 living children is a lot for someone who is supposedly such a liberal Catholic. You mean it’s possible to be pro-life but not a huge fan of Father Altman? Maybe there’s hope for me!
Well… I don’t believe people like Father Altman are good fathers–liberal or conservative. (Remember that poor priest I told you about that went out of his way to humiliate my family?–He wasn’t conservative.)I think that a fair amount of priests go into the priesthood craving for more than just being a humble servant of God.
It was a very conservative priest that worked on me long enough to understand that being inflexible with souls wasn’t a sign of holiness–nor does it bring happiness or well being into a family.
Some of my kids would have fallen away if I’d remained on my soapbox all of the time. Also, they witnessed some of the antics of the supposed “pro-lifers”. They heard the table conversation and it was often *anything* but Catholic or Christian for that matter. Some of them take pleasure in (trying to) destroying their enemy. Who can love guns, border walls, the death penalty and a man with the moral fibre of Trump without looking like a complete piece of work? (–Who refuses to wear a mask in the off chance that it might save a life??) If God had summed it all up for me by bringing me into the future I would have believed it was a vision from the devil to utterly discourage me about the moral fibre of Christians.
Antichrist–that’s what it is–with the bells and smells of traditionalism– and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
*”some of them take pleasure in…” (the pro-lifers, not my kids!)
Agreed.
I am not a fan of Fr Altman’s style. He strikes me as pompous. And a 30 day retreat will probably do him good. Nevertheless, even unlikable pompous people can be right. The bishops have been cowards. Many priests and laity have been cowards. ‘Fr altman rose to fame by saying it was absurd that wisconsin allowed a thousand people in walmart, but only 10 in church. That this wasn’t science but persecution. And the bishops let it happen.’ He wasn’t wrong. I wish he would be a less easy target for reprobation… but people probably say the same thing about me. Even on our best days we are all imperfect vessels trying to point people to the Lord. That’s a lot easier to do when bishops stop locking down churches and act like sacraments matter.
Which part of his preaching is right? His description of lynching as “capital punishment”? His claim that Warsaw Jews deserved the Holocaust? His asinine and deadly pronouncements on vaccination and sane public health? He is a deadly threat to body and soul and should be laicized.
He only speaks the truth, the people who don’t know the truth, father Altman’s words offend them.
And the “devout” bishops stayed SILENT throughout the decades of sexual abuse. They totally disregarded the “financial” concerns on that one, but consider this situation as dire? So sad.
I have never listened to Fr. Altman. The only thing I know of him is headlines, so not very much. But based on those, I think I would not like his preaching at all. And I am a trad, but I would much rather hear preaching about how I can grow spiritually instead of how other people (people who are probably not even there to hear) are sinners. And maybe he does preach about that but it doesn’t make headlines? Based on the people I know who love to listen to him, though, I think not.
With that said though, this is very frustrating. My husband has worked for the church in various capacities for years, and there are PLENTY of left leaning priests who spout all sorts of nonsense publicly, but aren’t punished. Some are well known. Some preach politics constantly. So this just gives people who already feel (perhaps usually unjustly) persecuted more reason to feel that way. And I think it’s important to do the right thing in all circumstances regardless of the consequences, but this feels like one side is singled out for punishment. And I know with certainty it’s not just one side that’s the problem.
It’s just sheer hypocrisy. For years more conservative and traddy types have been calling for rogue priests to be punished – but they are shouted down for being unmerciful, judgemental, all they want to do is shame, etc. But here we find out that punishment is fine, if you don’t like the person being punished. Passing judgement is fine, again as long as it’s against the right person. And it’s bad and harmful to shame people, and conservatives and trads are awful for doing it – until it becomes useful. And then it’s the right thing to do.
Again, I’m already weary of the “we’re being persecuted!” cries coming from the people who love Fr. Altman. It’s obnoxious. But in this case the double standard isn’t helping.
See the priests who bless homosexual unions. Nothing.
I personally don’t dig the good Father’s style and presentation, but he said nothing untruthful and certainly nothing to deserve such a heavy-handed response. So really, the idea that cowardly heterodox men are persecuting those who are stridently orthodox is not obnoxious – it seems a simple fact. I mean, look at the glaringly strident style of Fr Phleger in Chicago, tolerated for *decades* to the point where no single Cardinal seemed able to remove him. Look at a Fr Martin and a Fr Horan now, who are building similar legacies. The Bishop had every right to tell Fr Altman to “take the edge off of your word choices”, certainly. But such a public whipping? That shows whose side this Bishop is really on.
Also loves to declare who God “damns to hell” which, of course, he can’t know.
[edited at request of commenter – SF]
Perelandra, I did a (very quick!) Google search for some of these things you (and others) say Fr. Altman has said. I cannot find where he said getting the Covid vaccine is a mortal sin. I’ve found where he criticizes it, and criticizes those trying to compel others to get it. Do you know where he said that?
I am not sure if the bulletins have been modified, or if I am mis-remembering altogether. I thought I read it in one of the bulletins. The bulletin from May 23rd is closest to what I remember—it says experimenting on the body is a sin. Of course, in context, we know what he’s talking about. However I don’t see the word “mortal” as I thought I recalled.
There is another priest I know of doing similar “work” who recently made a questionable declaration about mortal sin, and it’s possible I’m mixing the two up. Absent evidence, I will have to retract the bit about “mortal” and offer my apologies to Fr. Altman and any I may have unintentionally misled if, indeed, I am mistaken.
Perelandra, thanks for this. I do appreciate it. I have seen a lot of accusations against Fr. Altman today, including people calling him a heretic. So I’m just trying to figure what he actually said.
I know people who really like him. They have driven LONG distances to go to his Masses.
I know this Sunday I’m going to hear a lot about all this. And I should probably try to have something intelligent to say. I find the whole thing frustrating, as I said above.
I hear you E. It is so frustrating when priests are allowed to preach against Church teaching. I have no idea what this particular bishop’s track record is in that regard. It could be a case of the fact that Father Altman is so defiant and inflammatory with his comments that they are hard to ignore, as he publishes them far and wide? He is so incredibly attention seeking that even when he is preaching the truth (which he isn’t always), he does it in a way that draws attention to himself more than anything else. And he feels the need to incorporate insults into whatever truth he’s preaching. But I do agree that priests who disrespect Church teaching on other important issues should also be sanctioned.
I suggest actually listening to Fr. Altman’s sermons and videos before commenting about them. They are truth bombs, no questions. People saying that the ‘manner and tone’ are problematic are the problematic ones. Why did we end up here? Why is he even having to make these videos? Because people are afraid of voicing the truth and standing up to injustice. He has to make is videos as such to get peoples attention and wake them up!!
Just because you agree with it doesn’t make it “truth.”
I don’t know about you, but I consider church teaching to be the truth. That is what he is preaching. He might not be nice in his delivery, but we don’t need nice anymore.
Um, no. He is regularly preaching antivax nonsense, including that receiving the COVID vaccine is a mortal sin. That directly CONTRADICTS Church teaching. He regularly preaches political views about which good Catholics can disagree. And they do disagree. And some have been suffering silently in his pews while he abuses his power.
It is possible that I confused Fr. Altman with someone else and must retract the word “mortal” from my comment. I cannot find proof of what I thought I remembered reading.
FACT: over 60 million innocent children murdered since 1973.
As Fr. Altman has truthfully pointed out, 10,000 killed every Saturday. He never said the Jews were responsible for the holocaust, he merely pointed out that this travesty cries to heaven for justice. Sister Faustina warned us the time for Mercy is now. But a day is surely coming when God will bring justice. If Abel’s blood cried to heaven for justice, how much louder is the chorus of these unborn souls? How could Germans ignore Auchwitz? How can “good catholic” Americans ignore Planned Parenthood “clinics”?
The heavy-handed attempt to silence Fr. Altman is a stark contrast to the “look the other way” with McCarrick’s DECADES of abuse and Fr. Martin’s heretical teaching that the Church should embrace the LGBT rainbow. God send us Holy Priests and Religious and deliver us from Faithless Shepherds!
Different bishops do different things. It makes no sense to compare examples from different diocese. People should be applauding Altman’s bishop for doing his job and taking care of a priest who is abusing his power.
Silenced for speaking the truth. Evil flourishes when good men do nothing. Shame on Bishop Callahan for giving in to evil.
You’re in a cult Karen, give up your devotion to a man who is leading you astray and come back to the Church.
This is not “The Church” if a Fr Altman is silenced and a Fr Martin is promoted. Open your eyes.
THIS^
Yes Mark!
Oh, they have the same bishop?
HIS “truth” not THE truth. He’s running around telling people they are mortally sinning when they are not. He was raised in an antivax household and now wants to tell people that vaccination is a mortal sin. Just one example of his abuse of power.
Simcha, if you see this, could you delete my previous comment? I can’t find evidence to back the “mortal” part. I seem to have made a mistake, or the evidence went away. In any case, I can’t back it and don’t want to bear false witness. Sorry.
I edited it to take that part out, noting I had done so.
Thank you so much. I know you have better things to do. I feel like a big jerk.
You’re not a jerk at all Perelandra. You made an honest mistake and had the humility to admit it and rectify it. Given some of the outrageous statements Father Altman has made, it’s not surprising that you mixed him up with a priest who made similarly outrageous statements.
Good news. Thank you for the update.
Good news, you say? Why? Altman is a good and orthodox priest by all reliable reports, and has said nothing wrong. Would you also say “good news” if Priests like Martin and Horan were silenced for their heterodoxy and strident support for far left views?!?
Many reliable reports have revealed major concerns about Altman. I am not familiar with Martin or Horan, but yes I would say “good news” if any priests were silenced for going against Church teaching.
They can’t see it.
It’s astounding.