Helpful Links
Canon and Civil Law
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Apostles of Jesus Christ Priest and Victim
Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Standing With Peter (no site)
Standing With Peter is an organization that was founded by Fr. Lawrence Michael to offer support to inactive and active priests who are loyal to the Pope and to the teachings of the Church. Standing with Peter is for priests who are isolated or threatened because of their loyalty to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church.
From their announcement: Fraternal support group for inactive priests who left the active ministry for worldly pursuits but whose hearts have turned and now desire to support the Holy Father and Magisterium. Our membership consists of spiritually wounded inactive brother priests. It also includes active priests, both those who are tempted to take the same unfortunate path and those who simply wish to help us in this apostolate. We extend fraternal help to each other in our struggle to live the life of grace and to love the Church. Retreats
Priests who might be interested may write to Standing With Peter, P.O. Box 2230, Brattleboro, VT 05303. cumpetro@adelphia.net
Porn Addiction
Unwanted Same Sex Attraction
Related posts
Resources
Canon and Civil Law
Catholic Counselors
General Support
Apostles of Jesus Christ Priest and Victim
Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Standing With Peter (no site)
Standing With Peter is an organization that was founded by Fr. Lawrence Michael to offer support to inactive and active priests who are loyal to the Pope and to the teachings of the Church. Standing with Peter is for priests who are isolated or threatened because of their loyalty to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church.
From their announcement: Fraternal support group for inactive priests who left the active ministry for worldly pursuits but whose hearts have turned and now desire to support the Holy Father and Magisterium. Our membership consists of spiritually wounded inactive brother priests. It also includes active priests, both those who are tempted to take the same unfortunate path and those who simply wish to help us in this apostolate. We extend fraternal help to each other in our struggle to live the life of grace and to love the Church. Retreats
Priests who might be interested may write to Standing With Peter, P.O. Box 2230, Brattleboro, VT 05303. cumpetro@adelphia.net
Porn Addiction
Unwanted Same Sex Attraction
Related posts
A Priest Needs Your Prayers
This morning, Joe Maher of Opus Bono Sacerdotii sent me this kind note:
Suzanne, a priest contacted me after seeing your site. Thank you again and may Our Lady of Priests be your health and your protection! ~ Joe
Please pray to Our Lady of Priests for this particular priest throughout Holy Week but especially on Good Friday:
Stabat mater dolorosa
iuxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.
At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.
O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!
O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.
Quae moerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.
Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?
Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?
By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.
For the sins of His own nation,
She saw Jesus wracked with torment,
All with scourges rent:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.
She beheld her tender Child,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.
Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?
Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.
O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.
Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:
Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.
Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.
Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:
Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.
Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.
Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.
Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;
Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;
Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.
When my body dies,
let my soul be granted
the glory of Paradise. Amen.
Related posts
Catholic Therapists: A New Direction for Psychology
By now we’ve all heard the stories of whistle blower priests being bullied into checking into the diocesan-approved treatment center for “evaluation.” Or perhaps the seminarian or diocesan priest branded a sexual deviant, by the shrinks hired to screen him, for opposing women’s ordination or the Lavender Mafia. More recently, priests who have been falsely accused of misconduct and removed from ministry without due process find themselves bullied into the diocesan gulag for evaluation.
Here’s an entry from the Opus Bono Sacerdotii FAQ:
22. I have a priest friend who is looking for some counseling help, but he is scared to death to go to the bishop or any other brother priest, especially any one associated with the diocese. He, and I agree, is afraid that the minute you let the bishop or diocese in, he’ll/they’ll, remove the priest and his name will be disseminated all over the media and elsewhere. Furthermore, treatment centers are just as bad since they report to the bishop and are paid for by the diocese and I’ve heard some real sad stories about these places. Do you have any advice on him seeking counsel? Are there any good priest psychologists that can be trusted and are loyal to the teachings of the Church and the Holy Father?
There are very few priest psychologists/psychiatrists available. Many qualified Catholic mental health professionals help priests in this country. To find a Catholic therapist in your area who share your convictions in integrating the truths of the Catholic faith into their practice we highly recommend visiting www.catholictherapists.com.
Residential treatment is rarely indicated unless a priest is suicidal or severely incapacitated. We have priests go to psychologists from other parts of the country, take hospitality near a counselor’s center and participate in intensive 4 day per week outpatient psychotherapy. Also many priests are treated on the phone from different parts of the country and this has been very succesful. The most common conflicts in priests are those of loneliness, low male confidence, anxiety and mistrust. I’d recommend priests read the article our advisor Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons wrote in The Priest on resolving loneliness in priestly life which can be found at www.maritalhealing.com/ResolvingLoneliness.pdf.
It’s no wonder that many priests in crisis are apprehensive about seeking help for depression or anxiety triggered by the intense trauma of being falsely accused. Some commit suicide.
Follow Fr. John Zuhlsdorf’s commentary and discussion on the abuse of psychological screening by the Lavender Mafia to keep REAL MEN out of the Catholic priesthood:
Fr John Zuhlsdorf: Holy See on use of psychology in priestly formation
As Joe Maher mentioned in his FAQ at Opus Bono Sacerdotii (read about them here), the most common conflicts in priests are:
- Loneliness
- Low Male Confidence
- Anxiety
- Mistrust
joemaher(at)opusbono(dot)org
Fr. Joe’s Blog featured a great post referencing the gulags:
Retrospective on Clergy Child Abuse
Related posts
Fr. Benedict Groeschel on What to Do When You Have Been Left Alone
I have been reading accounts of priests adjusting to their life on administrative leave without due process. Those recently suspended may still be reeling from the implications of being accused of misconduct and tossed out onto the street.
If you are one such priest, I urge you to contact Joe Maher with Opus Bono Sacerdotii immediately. All his details are on this Priests in Crisis site. There is no cost to you.
Some of you have stabilized your situation. You now have a place to live and food on your plate. You have the help of a canon lawyer and with your legal process thanks to Joe at OBS. Your anxiety and strong feelings of disgust and mistrust now take center stage.
If your anxiety about your future is becoming unbearable. I encourage you to contact one of the Catholic therapists located under the Catholic Counselors section to the right. If you don’t live near one, many now offer counseling over web cam. Fr. John Mulvey is one who offers this. If you can’t afford a therapist, contact Joe at OBS.
One thing I do recommend for all priests removed from ministry is to connect with your brother priests in the same situation. A support group of priests is coordinated by Opus Bono Sacerdotii. Just email them confidentially for moral and spiritual support:
priestnetwork(at)opusbono(dot)org
Then there are those of you who have grown weary waiting for news about your case. Disgust and contempt for your situation just requires too much effort now. You may be in your fourth or fifth year of waiting. Intense loneliness has set in.
These resources are for you. Your immediate needs have been met. Now perhaps your mind has quieted down enough to find solace in the Divine once more. Perhaps more so than at any other time, you are able to join your suffering with Christ’s.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the classic Arise from Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, priest and psychologist for priests. This book covers all the bases for the accused priest deprived of due process:
- When Friends Fail
- When Our Security is Threatened
- When the Church Let’s Us Down
- When We Are Our Own Worst Enemies
- When Death Robs Us
- When Everything Falls Apart
Well I’m going to be a spoiler and reveal the Epilogue: The Remedy That Always Works. Ready for it?
Get out of yourself and help somebody else.
During the June 6, 2008 episode of Sunday Night Live, Fr. Groeschel discussed what to do when you are left alone and you don’t want to be alone. He also took calls from people in this difficult situation. It is worth a listen:
What to Do When You Are Left Alone
Next time, I’ll post on Catherine Doherty mentioned by Fr. Groeschel during his broadcast.
Related posts
What It’s Like
- Read these letters sent to Opus Bono Sacerdotii mostly by priests. They allow us into their hearts and minds as they suffer through this wintertime of the Church.
- Follow this imprisoned priest’s fight to clear his name and expose abuse payout scams.
- Read Carol McKinley’s blog as she uncovers the shameful treatment of our priests.
- Follow this “chartered” priest’s dark night through his series of posts, Living in the Catholic Gitmo.
- Listen to Fr. Benedict Groeschel on How to Deal with Injustice on a Personal Level
If you have been unjustly removed from ministry,
know that you keep good company.
John 16: 1-4
1 I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.
John 15: 18-27
18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 It is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; 27 and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 6: 67-70
67 Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him.
John 16: 20-33
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. 24 Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
25 “I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 33: I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Related posts
Articles
Selected Blog Posts by Fr. Arthur Joseph
I believe the time has come to challenge Bishops, Priests, Laity, to look at the repercussions of the Dallas Charter and the abusive way in which priests are denied due process, the poisoned atmosphere where allegation becomes fact, where indeed, though not as visible as the one in Cuba, we have within the Church our own Gitmo. Throughout the world those priests condemned to life in this Catholic Gitmo numbers in the thousands. ~ Fr. Arthur Joseph
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 1
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 2 – A Three Day Reflection
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 3 – A Blessed for those denied due process
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 4 – A Post for Suffering Priests
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 5 – Towards the Thin Place
Living in the Catholic Gitmo: 6 – Crawling Towards the Thin Place
Out of the Swamp of Darkness – scroll down
Administrative Leave Issues
The Civil & Canonical Rights of Roman Catholic Priests in Boston by Carol McKinley
Fr. Christopher Buckner Support Blog
Catholic League July/August 2009: Due Process for Accused Priests by Fr. Gordon J. MacRae
The Father Gordon MacRae Case Site
Priest sues bishop, fellow priests over harm to reputation by Rachanee Srisavasdi
Priest in Exile: Fr. Joe Baca & the Fresno Diocese
Now where do I go to get my reputation back? by Diogenes of Catholic Culture
Diocese says book by suspended Baraboo priest should be destroyed by Capital Staff Writers
On the Removal and Transfer of a Parish Priest by Auxiliary Bishop Porteous of Sydney
Fr. Eduard Perrone on Opus Bono Sacerdotii
“Nightline” Guilty of Injustice and Hypocrisy by The Catholic League
Helping Accused Priests is His Calling by Sue Ellin Browder
Ousted Priest Wages Battle to Clear Name, Return to Ministry by Gail Besse
Collared-Falsely: Not Every Priest is Rightly Accused by Rod Dreher
Accused Priests Given Unique Right of Appeal by Simon Caldwell
Fighting Back, Accused Priests Charge Slander by Sam Dillon
What to Do with the Priests in Chicago by Amy Welborn
Persecuted Priests: A Growing Problem in US by Mary Ann Kreitzer
Some Canon Lawyers Say Due Process Limited for Accused Priests by A. Bono
The Protection of the Canonical Rights of Priests by Msgr. Michael Higgins
Due Process for Priests by Walter R. Hampton, Jr.
Bishops Must Give Priests Due Process Says President of Priests” Council by Michael Kelly
Due Process for Accused Priests by Msgr. Harry J. Byrne, JCD
U.S. Cardinal Says Priests Are Denied Due Process by The New York Times
Priests Want Due Process by Gary Stern
Due Process for Priests? by Brian D. Sabin
Abuse Survivors Finding Peace
A Victim’’s Defense of Priests by Terry Donovan Urekew
True Healing from Abuse Starts in the Heart by John Everett
Loneliness
Identifying, Resolving Loneliness in Priestly Life by Richard P. Fitzgibbons
Reform of the Renewal
Liturgical and Sexual Abuses by G.C. Dilsaver, PsyD, MTS
Priests and the Importance of Fatherhood by Paul Vitz & Daniel Vitz
The Sacred Priesthood by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
The Gay Priest Problem by Fr. Paul Shaughnessy
Priestly Identity: Crisis and Renewal Part 1, Interview with Fr. David Toups
Priestly Identity: Crisis and Renewal Part 2, Interview with Fr. David Toups
The Real Reason for the Vocation Crisis Part 1 by Fr. Michael P. Orsi
The Real Reason for the Vocation Crisis Part 2 by Fr. Michael P. Orsi (See Pt. 4)
A Crisis of Saints by Fr. Roger Landry
The Priest: Icon of Christ, Enabler of Sanctity by George Weigel
Related posts
How to Help
Letter to Opus Bono Sacerdotii:
A huge thanks to you for the superlative job you did for Father’s defense. The full measure in which you both threw yourselves into your work to spare him a life of woe and depression is far beyond the demands of any job. I know that you also did what you did out of your love for the Church, our dear Mother who is suffering so much grief these days. Gratefully, and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Father Eduard Perrone
Step 1
First and foremost, donate to Opus Bono Sacerdotii. If you want your emergency money to help a particular priest,
contact joemaher(at)opusbono(dot)org
Step 2
To counteract the extensive harm done to priests by the current media hysteria, please:
- promote this resource site in all your social media outlets (see icons at the bottom of the page)
- link to us in your blog
- copy/paste posts into your blog giving proper attribution to the original authors
- Stay updated by RSS or email (see bottom of page)
Then when your friends know of a priest in dire need of help, he or she could immediately plug him into a network of emergency resources.
Step 3
Pray the Rosary for the success of this apostolate.
It may seem that evil has the upper hand right now, but it’s no match for the intercession of Our Lady. (read about Bl. Bartolo Longo)
Step 4
Form the proper perspective during this unholy mess. Read From Scandal to Hope by Fr. Benedict Groeschel or listen to his original talk An Urgent Appeal found in this post
“Indeed too without your fraternal affection and prayer, my Brothers and that of so many of the Laity, I might well let go of the hand of the Mother of Priests and then truly would fall – from grace, probably, from life off a bridge or some such possibly, for we all know this is too much, way too much suffering for any person – but NOT too much for Him and He is our faith, HE is our trust, HE is our courage and HE is the reason for our ad sum!, spoken not some yesterday of ordination but in the now of every moment in Him, which is always the graced moment of beginning again!”
~ Fr. Arthur Joseph, Living in the Catholic Gitmo
Related posts
Get Help Here
Suzanne, a priest contacted me after seeing your site. Thank you again, and may Our Lady of Priests be your health and protection! ~ Joe
Opus Bono Sacerdotii (work for the good of the priesthood) is an initiative of the Catholic laity to help priests in crisis throughout the world by providing these emergency services at no cost to the *priest.
For this emergency aid to continue, it is imperative that anyone reading this make OBS known to people who may offer them monetary assistance.
If you are contemplating exposing corruption in your diocese to your bishop, contact OBS first to ensure you have access to a canon lawyer’s counsel. Doing the moral thing can turn out badly for the whistleblower otherwise.
Confidential Email Request for Assistance:
joemaher(at)opusbono(dot)org
If you have been removed from ministry and would like to talk
to brother priests confidentially for moral and spiritual support,
contact: priestnetwork(at)opusbono(dot)org
“It is edifying to see such lay people willing to risk everything to help so many in the ministerial priesthood. It is a privilege for me to be here, thank you.” ~ Jose Cardinal Sanchez, Former prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy - member of the Holy See upon his visit from Rome in October 2007 - offering Holy Mass in Our Lady of Priests Chapel located in Opus Bono Sacerdotii’s offices.
*All validly ordained Catholic priests who are not ministering in a schismatic situation and who desire to be in union with the Supreme Pontiff are eligible for support.
