OceanStateAg said:

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The resignation has already occurred.
The Vicar General announced it at Masses beginning Saturday evening. In short, an inappropriate relationship with an adult, not at St Mary's, a few years ago, came to the bishop's attention recently and Fr McMaster tendered his resignation as pastor Friday or Saturday.

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I hate to admit it, but I am almost relieved it was with an adult. Given the track record of clergy (both Catholic and Protestant) I suspected worse.

It's hard to say. A week ago I would have said that Fr. Brian was probably on the fast track to be a Bishop since the last 2 pastors of St. Mary's have been elevated to be a bishop. There is a possibility for counseling I believe. Since it wasn't a student or a minor it may be likely he wouldn't be laicized, but is really up to the bishop. Considering that St. Mary's has been seen as a model of campus ministry for the whole country, I can imagine bringing scandal to it will not be taken lightly.

It seems that counseling/time at a retreat center would be in order and then a decision made. It's not impossible that he'd be assigned to another parish, given that it sounds like everything was between consenting adults. It's ultimately up to the Bishop.

cavscout96 said:

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PearlJammin said:

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OceanStateAg said:

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The resignation has already occurred.
The Vicar General announced it at Masses beginning Saturday evening. In short, an inappropriate relationship with an adult, not at St Mary's, a few years ago, came to the bishop's attention recently and Fr McMaster tendered his resignation as pastor Friday or Saturday.

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With an adult.

Was the adult another man? I may not have the right to know that answer and some would argue that it doesn't matter. But I would like to know considering the church's position on the subject.

Regardless, the entire situation is heartbreaking.

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Help me understand.

ALL men (ie, humanity) is flawed and imperfect. If we put our faith in men, even clergy, then we have set ourselves up for disappointment.

I can understand disappointing, surprising, or even shocking, but I don't really get "heartbreaking."

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Any person of faith getting fired is heartbreaking. Not hard to understand.

He is flawed. He screwed up. He was a good friend to many and a servant of Christ.

ramblin_ag02 said:

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Not trying to excuse anyone for breaking a vow, but I find the other adult in these type situations pretty disgusting. Who knowingly consents to break a priest's vow of chastity, and one that could drastically affect his life and career? How could you do that to someone you supposedly care about? Even if his self-control was weak, it's still pretty loathesome to take him up on it.

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I extend the same grace to each party. Both knew it was wrong and consented. One isn't worse than the other IMO. Especially when the priest is an authority figure.

point of order.

Isn't the priesthood considered a vocation, as opposed to a career? He serves in his vocation for God's glory and to preach the Gospel, not for his own sake or his advancement, right?

I mean, the term career, applied to any member of the clergy, just seems... weird.

Substitute monk, or nun....

As a lifelong Catholic, I really struggle with the concept of a celibate priesthood. I don't understand how having a wife and kids would make a priest any less holy or any less capable of leading a parish towards Christ. I especially struggle with the idea that this regulation (not dogma) came about around the twelfth century so that priests' land couldn't be inherited by their descendants, rather it would be returned to the church. Christ's apostles were married.

Many protestant preachers that I have known or listened to in person or online seem to be much stronger in conveying Christ's message than some of the priests that I have encountered, despite having wives and kids. I think that one of the primary reasons that the 80% of Catholics no longer practice the faith 10 years after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation is because Christ's message isn't firmly delivered in mass and I think this is primarily because there is a shortage of strong, bold priests leading our churches. I think more men would feel inclined to become priests if they were able to live out that vocation while having a family of their own.

Would this prevent something like what Fr. Brian did? I think so, but maybe not. Maybe he would have just cheated on his wife and broken his vows.

I see both the advantages and disadvantages of a celibate priesthood.

I have seen enough infidelity with married pastors to know that marriage would not have necessarily prevented this from happening.

Saint Pablo said:

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As a lifelong Catholic, I really struggle with the concept of a celibate priesthood. I don't understand how having a wife and kids would make a priest any less holy or any less capable of leading a parish towards Christ. I especially struggle with the idea that this regulation (not dogma) came about around the twelfth century so that priests' land couldn't be inherited by their descendants, rather it would be returned to the church. Christ's apostles were married.

Many protestant preachers that I have known or listened to in person or online seem to be much stronger in conveying Christ's message than some of the priests that I have encountered, despite having wives and kids. I think that one of the primary reasons that the 80% of Catholics no longer practice the faith 10 years after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation is because Christ's message isn't firmly delivered in mass and I think this is primarily because there is a shortage of strong, bold priests leading our churches. I think more men would feel inclined to become priests if they were able to live out that vocation while having a family of their own.

Would this prevent something like what Fr. Brian did? I think so, but maybe not. Maybe he would have just cheated on his wife and broken his vows.

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I would argue that married clergy with children are better examples to follow than those that remain celibate. Life experience aids in guidance. Being able to relate to the layperson.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

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Saint Pablo said:

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As a lifelong Catholic, I really struggle with the concept of a celibate priesthood. I don't understand how having a wife and kids would make a priest any less holy or any less capable of leading a parish towards Christ. I especially struggle with the idea that this regulation (not dogma) came about around the twelfth century so that priests' land couldn't be inherited by their descendants, rather it would be returned to the church. Christ's apostles were married.

Many protestant preachers that I have known or listened to in person or online seem to be much stronger in conveying Christ's message than some of the priests that I have encountered, despite having wives and kids. I think that one of the primary reasons that the 80% of Catholics no longer practice the faith 10 years after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation is because Christ's message isn't firmly delivered in mass and I think this is primarily because there is a shortage of strong, bold priests leading our churches. I think more men would feel inclined to become priests if they were able to live out that vocation while having a family of their own.

Would this prevent something like what Fr. Brian did? I think so, but maybe not. Maybe he would have just cheated on his wife and broken his vows.

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I would argue that married clergy with children are better examples to follow than those that remain celibate. Life experience aids in guidance. Being able to relate to the layperson.

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I agree.

Regardless the man sinned, just as we all do. I hope that he is able to move forward and can continue to serve God within the priesthood.