Monday, December 13, 2010

The Testosterone-Free Church Does Not Appeal To Men...

How many of you have seen the Gregory Peck/Richard Basehart version of Herman Melville's classic novel Moby Dick?  Remember the fiery sermon delivered by the minister who was portrayed powerfully by Orson Welles?  The priests I grew up with (I was a military "Brat"), were of the same sort.  They were men who knew the Sacred Scriptures.  Men who inspired a sort of military-like zeal with regard to evangelization and the spiritual life.

In a previous post, I wrote that, "A testosterone-free Church is not appealing to men.  Effeminate priests and ministers do not inspire healthy young men to consider a vocation within the Church.."  An article which may be found here, is saying essentially the same thing.  The writer asserts (and I couldn't agree more) that, "All of the outward facing disciplines within Christianity, such as apologetics, theology, ethics, etc. are de-emphasized, censored or resisted in feminized churches. There is no place for rationality, moral judgments and boundaries, debates and disagreement, confrontations and persuasion, or other manly Christian practices."

I've personally encountered such resistance toward apologetics and spiritualities which are decidely masculine (such as the Ignatian model).  I'm convinced that the effeminization which has take place within the Catholic Church in this country is one reason I am not welcome at my own parish and have been (like so many other healthy young men who are not homosexual or crippled by effeminacy - see Michael S. Rose's book Goodbye, Good Men) excluded from consideration when expressing interest in pursuing a priestly vocation.

The Catholic Church is plagued by homosexuality and effeminacy.  These cancers are metastasizing and rotting the Church from within.  It is time to remove these plagues from the House of God.


Related reading here.

11 comments:

Andrew said...

I'm not a misogynist. But I'm tired of the radical feminist takeover of parishes in and around the Diocese of Worcester. There are dozens of women floating around the altar and no men in many if not most parishes. The men have (for the most part) left in disgust. I'm tired as well of effeminate clerics who walk and talk like women and who deliver homilies which are banal and New Agey.

One has to wonder when we will be delivered from these abnormalities. I think we need more exorcisms in the Church.

Rory McGinn said...

A totally unrelated comment, but one which is on my mind. Here is a recent press release from NASA. The sun exploded in a previously unimaginable scale in August. What comes to mind are prophecies of "fire from the sky" the likes of which have never been seen. That would make these discussions totally irrelevant, and surely have the banal and the New Agey proponents on their knees ... http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/13dec_globaleruption/
I almost wish God were going to act soon. But I am not ready to face what I see as a coming Chastisement.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Thank you for that link Rory. I believe the Chastisement is inevitable now. But I also believe it can be mitigated. And that Our Lord and Our Lady will provide shelter to those who have recourse to them. See my comment under the post on the Peshtigo fire.

Andrew, the Holy Father has called for more exorcists for a reason. The smoke of Satan has indeed infiltrated the Church and poisoned the air.

TheLastCatholicinBoston said...

A little bird told me...The use of extraordinary Eucharistic ministers should stop immediately. The first American bishop to call for this will likely eventually be canonized.

One 'radical' Islamist on a windy night with a gallon of gasoline could destroy most densely populated american communities.

Peshtigo happened the same day as the Great Chicago fire and is the reason it is little known.

Chastisement will come as a thief in the night. I wouldn't worry about it until people start going through your trash looking for food.

Rory McGinn said...

Paul, I must check in more often, I missed that earlier post (saw something on the Wisconsin fire at Spirit Daily). Thanks for all the posts, which must take a great deal of time.

Julie said...

Hi Paul. I wanted to share something with you that I hope you will find edifying.

Yesterday morning, I read your post about effeminate priests. I thought that it was strange that I'd never heard the word effeminate before. Shortly after that, I left for morning mass and my Divine Will prayer group, where we read a couple of passages from the writings of Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta. This is the excerpt that we read yesterday at our meeting:

Book of Heaven, Volume 7, October 23, 1906

Finding myself in my usual state, my blessed Jesus came, very afflicted, wanting to spill His sorrows upon me. Then, afterwards, He said to me: "My daughter, so much bitterness is given to Me by creatures that I cannot contain it all. For this reason, I wanted you to participate in them. In these times, all is effeminate. Even the clergy have lost the masculine character, and have acquired feminine manners. It has become more difficult to find masculine Priests, since there is an abundance of the effeminate ones around. Oh, in what a deplorable stae humanity is found in!" After saying that, He disappeared. I myself did not understand the meaning of what He said to me, but obedience wanted me to write this.

That was written over 100 years ago. Can you imagine the condition we are in now? Pray to God for the coming of the Kingdom, that He may deliver us from the evil of this world and that He may purify and cleanse us and make us ready to recieve Him. Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Julie, thanks for that. And you're right, it is edifying! Here's something troubling to reflect on: the Latin Vulgate (see the Douay-Rheims Bible) indicates that the effeminate will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). But the USCCB online version of 1 Corinthians Chapter 6 omits the word effeminate.

Why do you think this is so?

God love you Sister!

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Latin Vulgate):

9: "Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers:

an nescitis quia iniqui regnum Dei non possidebunt nolite errare neque fornicarii neque idolis servientes neque adulteri

10: Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. neque molles neque masculorum concubitores neque fures neque avari neque ebriosi neque maledici neque rapaces regnum Dei possidebunt."

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

The New American Bible version of 1Corinthians 6: 9-10 posted online by the USCCB:

9: "Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites

10: nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Anonymous said...

...effeminate

A great topic. This phenomenon has driven more men out of the Catholic church in the last 50 years than any other problem.
The most welcoming protestant denominations have completely capitalized on this. Any man can walk into most protestant churches and as a 'new face' be welcomed with a firm handshake, a look in the eye and a 'welcome brother'.
After the service he'll likely get an invitation to a sporting event, Men's fellowship or even be introduced to a potential business customer or associate.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Very true anonymous. Well said. In the Worcester [Massachusetts] Diocese, there is an annual men's conference. But this does not really fill the void. Parishes need to become - once again - places where masculinity is not banished to the fringe.

Site Meter