We must make a MASSIVE distinction between condemning Fr Lomasney’s particular actions and judging where his eternal soul has gone to.
We can condemn somebody’s actions in this life – but we have no right to judge their departed souls. That is God’s right and only God’s right.
What sin could be worse than MURDERING GOD?
And if those people on Calvary who did that were forgiven by Jesus as he died, then there is no such a thing as an unforgivable sin.
As he died Jesus prayed:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
As Father Faber’s famous hymn says:
“There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the widenessnof the sea”.
Just before Fr Lomasney died in that chair he could have thrown himself on the mercy of God and asked forgiveness for all the sins of his life.
And if he did that, he was forgiven and went to heaven.
And if he didn’t do that, he is still a beneficiary of Christ’s death on the cross and we can believe, as with all of us, that his sins were washed clean by the blood of Our Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I shall make them as white as snow”.
THE REAL POINT BEHIND THE EXAMINATION OF FR LOMASNEY’S LIFE AND DEATH.
I’m sure that when Fr Lomasney entered Maynooth at the tender age of 18 he was full of faith, hope and love. Im, sure he fervently said his prayers.
I hope that when took his promise of celibacy he did it sincerely – unless something serious or sexual happened to him in Maynooth?
Any man who taked his celibacy promise with his fingers crossed or with a mental reservation would, in my mind, invalidate the sacrament.
And this has happened.
THE REAL QUESTION:
The real question is this: “How did a good, young Cloyne seminarian become so involved in homosexual dysfunctionality that he had sex on an altar?
What happened?
What was the process?
What, or who, led him astray?
A TEMPLATE FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CHURCH:
In itself, Fr Lomasney’s story is not another 9/11.
But it serves as a examination template for what has happened and is happening among the bishops, priests and religious of the church.
What has created the McCarricks, the Maciels, the Brendan Smiths?
In the Irish church what process created the Eamon Caseys, the Michael Clearys, the Richard Purcells, the Ger Fitzgeralds, the Gerry Careys.
What process led to the 2016 Maynooth Summer of Strange Goings On?
What process has led to the decline of the Cistercians, the Dominicans, the Redemptorists and others?
THE ANSWER:
Pope Francis might blame the Devil?
Others might blame Vatican II?
But the real answer must be that the church has become the way it has because it has abandoned Christ, his Way and his teachings.
Because a church, with Christ at its heart could not be involved in financial corruption, abuse of power, total worldliness, sexual dysfunctionality, abuses of all kinds, lies, cover-up, political interference, murder and so on.
The Roman Catholic Church, is not currently a CHRISTIAN church ( in the true sense if the word) – if it ever was?
It has become an international corporation. The pope is the World President. The cardinals are the the International Vice Presidents. The bishops are the regional managers. The parish priests are the branch managers.
The Roman Catholic Church “incorpotated”.
And now, their business is contracting. Their customers are going elsewhere. Their reserves are threatened. Their buildings are endangered. Their income is on the wain.
I wonder. I just wonder, if Hurricane Spirit is gaining strength and coming our way?
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 