I Now Pronounce Thee Laity!

As you all know we have been dealing with the laicization of Eddie Shoback, former priest in the Scranton Diocese.

I have been trying unsuccessfully to learn about the process of laicization. I understand that the indelible mark on their souls remain, and that they can still confect the Eucharist, although illicitly. And that they must offer confesson and absolution to a dying person in case of an emergency.

Here's my question if the above is true.

What makes you think that a former priest would even bother to follow the rules after being dismissed from the priesthood? I mean if they were busy diddling little boys in the sacristy or whatever illegality they were engaged in, what from their past behavior gives you reason to believe they would bother to offer confession and absolution?

I'm just askin'.

It also seems presumptious on the Church to be like "we're dismissing you from the priesthood, but if someone might be dying in front of you, you must hear their confession."

I just hope I dont fall down nearly dead in front of Shoback, who knows what part of my body he might want to give "absolution" to!

Have a nice weekend!

Commentary denied

You may recall this post about Shoback the pedophile who had his priestly faculties removed.

Well, over at the Citizen's Voice there has been some odd going's on.

This morning, there were 20 comments on the story, some of them actually admitting knowledge of abuse of minors, and some people remarked it was common knowledge.

Well, the Voice deleted all 20 of those comments, and never posted my comment, which asked for a criminal investigation, as well as prayers for the perv and his victims.

Over at the Times Leader, there are only three comments. Again my comment did not appear.

I see we cannot count on the local media to pass along our feelings on stories. If they don't really want to give their readers a forum for our thoughts, why bother to give the option? And worse, why censor the feelings once they have been recorded?