Author Topic: Is their a rock star syndrome among traditional priests? (Read 5984 times)

Matto · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2013, 01:50:38 PM »

When I met Father Pfeiffer he seemed like a very nice guy. He had lunch with us after Mass. Though I met him before there was a resistance when he was just a normal SSPX priest.

Tiffany · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2013, 02:36:53 PM »

Why did people in the resistance now, stay in the SSPX for the past five or ten years? Supposedly it's been liberal and they have been trying to make a deal with Rome for a while now? Why didn't they have an independent priest come until now?
Secondly why is there so much focus on what the SSPX does? If it's liberal, trying to make a deal with Rome, why spend so much time on them?

Matto · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2013, 02:43:44 PM »

Quote from: Tiffany

Why did people in the resistance now, stay in the SSPX for the past five or ten years? Supposedly it's been liberal and they have been trying to make a deal with Rome for a while now? Why didn't they have an independent priest come until now?
Secondly why is there so much focus on what the SSPX does? If it's liberal, trying to make a deal with Rome, why spend so much time on them?

I did not notice that the SSPX was liberalizing until recently. If it wasn't for the internet I still would not know it was liberalizing because very little has changed at my chapel. Now, I still attend my SSPX chapel, though my eyes are open and I realize that soon, I might have to stay home alone.

The reason there is so much focus on the SSPX is because it is by far the largest traditional Catholic group out there with the most priests and the most parishoners.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2013, 02:45:01 PM »

Quote from: Tiffany

Why did people in the resistance now, stay in the SSPX for the past five or ten years?

At first it was changing subtly and the recent changes have been rapid.

It takes time for a shift in the leadership to make it's influence felt.

The slackening of the laity into relative indifference is the final step.

Charlemagne · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2013, 02:54:08 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

Quote from: Tiffany
Why did people in the resistance now, stay in the SSPX for the past five or ten years?

At first it was changing subtly and the recent changes have been rapid.

It takes time for a shift in the leadership to make it's influence felt.

The slackening of the laity into relative indifference is the final step.

Boy, that seems very familiar for some reason.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2013, 03:05:57 PM »

Quote from: Tiffany

Supposedly it's been liberal and they have been trying to make a deal with Rome for a while now?

Yes, there has been some slowly growing interior corruption in the SSPX for years, it just didn't become public until 2009.

Tiffany · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2013, 03:21:14 PM »

I'm sure I read about the SSPX trying to make a deal before 2009, it was probably 2005 or 2006.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #22 on:** May 15, 2013, 03:29:21 PM »

Quote from: Tiffany

I'm sure I read about the SSPX trying to make a deal before 2009, it was probably 2005 or 2006.

It wasn't as obvious to a lot of us. Unfortunately.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2013, 03:35:25 PM »

A lot of us have had to face the reality that many, many ostensibly traditional priests are not true friends of Tradition. There have been so many spiritual and personal betrayals over the years that it is a severe temptation to be scandalized.

We must avoid cynicism.

Father Pfeiffer, in standing up to Bishop Fellay, undeniably did the right thing.

He's taken a big risk, and he's a kind-hearted soul.

No one is perfect, but we're very lucky to have him.

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #24 on:** May 15, 2013, 04:59:58 PM »

I don't really see any liberalizing in the St. Louis chapel.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #25 on:** May 15, 2013, 05:13:44 PM »

Quote from: Capt McQuigg

I don't really see any liberalizing in the St. Louis chapel.

Decisive changes don't aren't always visible at first. Liberalizing doesn't make a show of itself at first. It's what happens behind the curtains that starts the process rolling.

I've seen enough to be convinced. Ask yourself, what are they not doing.

And also realize they will, just as the NO does, adjust the message to the audience to keep people in the pews.

Matthew · « **Reply #26 on:** May 15, 2013, 05:16:46 PM »

I agree with Mithrandylan -- there's a difference between a Rock Star and a Missionary.

If you've ever met him in person, you know what kind of true missionary he is. He's very human and approachable. He's not a hypocrite, that's for sure. He's very down-to-earth.

Fr. Pfeiffer truly believes he's doing the right thing. He's certainly of good will, whatever his flaws might be.

He's full of missionary zeal and energy. At least he's putting it to action, and doing the best he can with what he has -- again, according to the lights he's received. He's not God, and can't be expected to be perfectly omniscient.

Someone pointed out (rightly) that Fr. Pfeiffer WANTS other priests to join the resistance so that he'll have less to do. That doesn't sound like a narcissistic rock star to me. He just wants to see the Church in as good a condition as possible. He realizes there is only so much he can do alone.

Incredulous · « **Reply #27 on:** May 15, 2013, 05:32:07 PM »

Speaking of international Rock Stars... building empires.

Napoli · « **Reply #28 on:** May 15, 2013, 07:33:39 PM »

This is a silly thread. Priests are not rock stars. They need a certain amount of notoriety to do there work. Rock stars are generallyppursuing an evil lifestyle.

Incredulous · « **Reply #29 on:** May 15, 2013, 07:44:27 PM »

Quote from: Napoli

This is a silly thread. Priests are not rock stars. They need a certain amount of notoriety to do there work. Rock stars are generallyppursuing an evil lifestyle.

Rock star is an exaggeration of course.
Maybe "vain personality" is a better description?

We certainly hope this doesn't happen to our priests, but when there are signs that they've lost interest in souls, something else is going on.

What is best for the multitude of souls?
It sure isn't giving away all your resources to newChurch.