Showing posts with label Innocent Priests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Innocent Priests. Show all posts

Thursday, July 31, 2014

From These Stone Walls - On the Fatherhood of Bishops With Disposable Priests

“Has Catholic culture in America become so comfortable with the notion of the last two decades that its priests should be little more than expendable targets with no ability or right for self-defense?” 

I recommend you read this post written by "Father Jim" on Father Gordon MacRae's blog and then share it with others.

 On the Fatherhood of Bishops With Disposable Priests

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Guest Post on Father Gordon's Blog - "I Come to the Catholic Church for Healing and Hope"

Father Gordon MacRae is often in my thoughts.

I used to picture him languishing in prison for over twenty years for a crime he didn't commit. But it is very clear that God does work to do good things out of really bad situations.

Father Gordon could easily ended up feeling sorry for himself and becoming a hardened man in the prison. Yet, he chose to put his trust in God. even though there were many times I am sure that he must have wondered if he had been abandoned by God.  He continued to exercise his priestly duties as best he could.   In that prison, he was forbidden from ministering through the sacraments.  In fact, there in prison he is just another prisoner who claims to be innocent. The others cannot even address him with the title that rightfully belongs to him...Father. Yet, with his kindness, compassion and sense of humor, (as regular readers of his blog These Stone Walls know well), he has managed to earn the trust, admiration and love of some tough guys, his fellow prisoners.

One such prisoner should also be familiar to Father's regular readers and that person is Pornchai.  He has written a very touching guest post on Father's blog.  I hope you take the time to read it.  It is touching because Pornchai teaches the reader compassion and understanding for the men locked away while telling his incredible story of conversion.

Father Gordon is in prison through no fault of his own. Yet, imagine all the good works that would have gone undone, had he not been sent to prison!  It is an awesome thing to contemplate.

But please keep Father in your prayers as his appeal is currently in the courts.  God willing he his conviction will someday soon be overturned.

And, please pray for Pornchai and the other friends of Father in the prison and for prisoners everywhere.

These Stone Walls: I Come to the Catholic Church for Healing and Hope.

Lastly, in the event you missed it, there is a very good article in Marian Helper magazine about Pornchai and buddies recent Marian consecration. You can read it HERE.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Innocent Priest was sentenced to die in prison

Please take the time to read Ryan A. MacDonald's newest blog post: Judge Arthur Brennan Sentenced Father Gordon MacRae to Die in Prison

 You will wonder why hasn't Father MacRae's conviction been overturned.

 Please pray for him and all innocent priests.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Father Gordon MacRae's 30th Anniversary of his Ordination

"Mass of St. Gregory" by Adrien Isenbrant

Picture source Please join me in praying for Father Gordon on this the anniversary of his ordination. Be sure to read his post: Marking 30 Years of Priesthood: If I Knew Then What I Know Now!

  Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father Gordon.
Give him a deep faith

a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations, point out to him

that it is through suffering that the soul is purified,
and show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength,
and especially help him
to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Amen.
John Joseph, Cardinal Carberry (+1998)
Archbishop of St. Louis 1968-1979
Source

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Fr. Marcel Guarnizo’s Response to the Eucharistic Incident

I would like to begin by once again sending my condolences to the Johnson family on the death of Mrs. Loetta Johnson.
I also feel obliged to answer questions from my parishioners, as well as from the public, about the incident on February 25th.
Here are the facts: On Saturday February 25th I showed up to officiate at a funeral Mass for Mrs. Loetta Johnson. The arrangements for the Mass were also not my own. I wish to clarify that Ms. Barbara Johnson (the woman who has since complained to the press), has never been a parishioner of mine. In fact I had never met her or her family until that morning.
You can read the rest of Father Marcel Guarnizo statement here

Friday, January 06, 2012

"The Truth about Falsely Accused Priests"

The accused are often presumed guilty until proven innocent, while the media distorts the narrative of child abuse in the US.

The Catholic World Report article can be read HERE

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Articles on Father Gordon MacRae


Thought I would share these with you before Father posts his new article tomorrow.

1. A Ram in the Thicket's Touch of Deja Vu: Case Against Rev. Gordon MacRae

Very interesting...

2. Mary's Father Gordon MacRae: Removing the Scales from Our Own Eyes

I hope that with Ryan and Mary...and also Karinann speaking out writing in Father's defense, Father will focus on the light at the end of his very dark tunnel.

3. Father Gordon's A Priest and His Wounds: Padre Pio Under Investigation.

This one tore at my heart when I read that Father was convicted on Padre Pio's feast day. God's ways are not our ways... Anyway, as usual, a very good read.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Message from Father Gordon MacRae


Friends: Just to show you how much your participation in the Novena means to Father Gordon, I am sharing his recent email he sent to me.  I may have had the inspiration from the Holy Spirit to start the novena, but it was really special having all of you join in.  Wow!  So, even though Father thanks me in the email, know he is very grateful to all of you too.  I do have his permission to post it here.

Please continue to pray for Father and also for his good friends Porchai and Donald. Mahalo!

Dear Esther,

I have had so many people contact me with comments that they are joining your Novena that it has been overwhelming and I thank you. At Mass on Sunday night, I told Pornchai and our convert friend Donald about the Novena and they were both very grateful to you. So am I. It was a wonderful gesture, and I think it worked! Bill Donohue's comments on EWTN were evidence of its power, and yesterday there was a minor miracle. I was interviewed for 2 1/2 hrs. by an independent filmmaker doing a documentary on falsely accused priests. To my great shock, and his, the prison officials allowed him to bring in a camera crew. It was unheard of here, but it went very well. Charlene helped to orchestrate it, and she too had joined your Novena. She nagged me to grow some hair for the filming, but that was just impossible. I lost all my hair in prison, and now I look like Kojak.

With thanks and blessings,
Fr. Gordon

--
Sent on behalf of
These Stone Walls

Monday, August 15, 2011

St Sophia’s Priest found Not Guilty of Hawaii sex assault tells his story

On Monday, August 8, 2011, Rev. Bohdan Borowec from Winnipeg was acquitted of all charges of kidnapping and sex assault.​

The defense produced evidence at trial that demonstrated the complaining witness fabricated the charges and was seeking attention with intent to obtain money from the church. Prior to trial, the prosecutor suppressed evidence regarding the complaining witness’s mental health history and prior false allegations. ​

Father Borowec has been detained in Hawaii for six months pending trial. The support and prayers from around the world have greatly assisted him during this difficult time. ​
Read entire article here. Be sure to read "What Really Happened"

The news media did not do their research before reporting. Please pray for Father Bohdan Borowec! Poor Father!

The Borowec Innocence Project

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Spiritual Lessons: Priests in Prison

Picture source

I just finished reading Father Gordon MacRae's recent post. It involves a recurring dream he has and a priest who was his good friend. I found it very powerful

These Stone Walls: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Father Sean Coyle wrote a wonderful post about another priest in prison, one who was imprisoned for his faith, François-Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán.

Association of Catholic Women Bloggers: Preaching Hope from Prison: François-Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán

Both priests were falsely imprisoned. Both priests are/were imprisoned for a very long time. Both priests never gave up hope.  Both priests showed the power of forgiveness at work.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Regarding Father Gordon MacRae


I left a comment on Father's most recent post letting him know that some people leave not-so-nice comments when I try to enlighten readers on Father's innocence. These comments are anonymous and I therefore delete them.

In response to my comment, Suzanne, one of the lovely ladies who is Father's right hand with regard to his blogging, send me the following comment. I have her permission to share it with you.  Mahalo, Suzanne and Jeremy!

There is a lot more to the story of Father Gordon MacRae than you know. I want to tell you about the real Gordon MacRae. I spent five years in prison with him, but we didn’t know him as Father anything. Just G. I was 19 years old when I went to prison and most people thought I was 16 or 17. Every young kid in prison is very aware of predators and prison is filled with them. A tiger can’t change his stripes and a man who is a predator on the streets can be a monster in prison.

G is far from a predator. He was the only person any of us could trust. He treated with nothing but care and respect and challenged us to leave prison better than when we came in. In all those years I never saw, heard, or felt anything that made me believe G ever belonged in prison.

There’s something else you need to know. There was this big, tough man on our cell block who everyone feared. I was a pretty tough kid and could handle myself , but one night this guy told my roommate to be somewhere else. Then he came in my cell and demanded something despicable from me. When I refused he dragged me from my bunk and started beating me. I fought but was no match for him and he pinned me to the floor. All the upstanding convicts fled to their cells and blocked their ears.

Then the beating stopped and i realized someone else was in the room. It was G. The man stood up and demanded that G leave. G just said, “I don’t jump on your command.” Then this beast just lunged at him, but G stood there and didn’t move. When this guy saw that g wasn’t backing down he walked past G and left. G made sure I was okay. This man never came near me again. He never even looked at me again.

I am out of prison today because of G. All I learned about courage and integrity and honor I learned from G.
Jeremy

Monday, June 06, 2011

Anniversary of Father Gordon MacRae's First Mass Celebration and Prayers for His Release


The other day I forwarded to Father Gordon the email I received regarding the first anniversary of the Beatification of Father Jerzy Popieluszko. I sent it to him because part of the litany reads: "...Unjustly accused, pray for us..."

Father Gordon wrote via Charlene: ...thank you for the Novena information. June 6 is also the anniversary of my first Mass...

I told Father that I would be praying for him through the intercession of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko. If possible, I would ask that you join me in praying for Father's release from prison with the following prayer.

God, source of all good, I thank you that in your love you have endowed Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko with the dignity of the priesthood.

You sent him to ardently proclaim Your word, dispense the holy sacraments, courageously act in Your name and be close to every human being, calling for forgiveness, unity and peace. You endowed him with the grace of martyrdom through which he came to resemble Christ along the way of the cross.

We adore and thank you, Lord, for this great gift to the Church, especially because you have made him an intermediary in the dispensing of grace. In Your infinite mercy, deign to include him in the communion of saints and through his intercession grant the grace of Father Gordon MacRae's release from prison where he has been unjustly and wrongly imprisoned for so long, for which I trusting implore You. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.



(Information on any grace received should be submitted to:

The Postulancy of Blessed Jerzy Popie³uszko

ul, Hozjusza 2

01-565 Warsaw, Poland)

Bl. Jerzy Popieluszko Anniversary June 6th

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Vacation Rerun: Saints Alive! Padre Pio and the Stigmata: Sanctity on Trial


Picture source

Father Gordon MacRae is reposting some of his popular posts. Since today would have been Padre Pio's birthday, Father posted this one.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Happy Birthday Father Gordon MacRae


Picture source

As I mentioned the other day today April 9th is Father Gordon's birthday. He is marking his 58th birthday as he has for the last 14 years, in a prison in New Hampshire. 

We offer the following prayers for Father's intentions.


Picture source

Prayer to St. John Vianney for Priests

Saintly Pastor of Ars
and splendid model of all servants of souls,
you were considered not very bright
but you possessed the wisdom of the Saints.

You were a true pontifex, a bridge-builder,
between God and his people
as countless penitents streamed to your confessional.
Inspire all priests to be dedicated mediators
between God and his people in our day.

Since Father writes his blog to bring the truth out about this unjust imprisonment, let us pray to St. Francis de Sales for his intercession.

Picture source

Prayer to St. Francis de Sales for Writers

Most loving and lovable Saint,
you preached to thousands with the pen,
introducing them to "the devout life."
You wrote sublimely about God's love
and made countless converts by your Christlike kindness.

Make writers realize the power of the Press
and inspire them with your zeal fro spreading truth.
Help them to write honestly no matter what the subject,
so that they will really contribute
to bringing about God's Kingdom.

We pray also for those imprisoned with Father Gordon, his fellow prisoners...some of whom we are getting to know well from stories Father shares with his readers:


Picture source

Prayer to St. Dismas for Prisoners:

Dear St. Dismas
you cooperated with the grace that was yours
in suffering the same fate as the Divine Master.
You repented for your sins and believed,
and you heard the Savior say:
"Today you will be with me in paradise."

Obtain for prisoner the same grace
to repent of their wicked ways,
and obtain the same reward--
eternal life with Christ.

Finally a prayer for Father's lawyers...and all lawyers and judges involved:

Young Thomas More by Hans Holbein
Picture source

Prayer to St. Thomas More

Dear Scholar and Martyr,
it was not the King of England but you
who were the true Defender of the Faith.
Like Christ unjustly condemned,
neither promises nor threats could make you accept
a civil ruler as head of the Christian Church.

Perfect in your honesty and love of truth,
grant that lawyers and judges may imitate you
and achieve true justice for all people.

Source: New St. Joseph People's Prayer Book

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Father Gordon MacRae - The Scandal of Catholic Abuse of the Catholic Abuse Scandal

I am sharing Father's latest post with you here. It gets tiring when individuals ask  "Well, how do you know he's innocent?"  when referring to priests like Father Gordon.  It is only after these individuals read Father's story  and those he shares about other innocent priests that they start to believe that maybe there is more to the story than has been reported in the press.  Maybe, not all priests are guilty as charged. Well, it is progress, I guess.

The mainstream media and special interest groups like Voice of the Faithful may continue to ignore the truth about the "Priest sex scandal". But here at this blog, I will do what I can to get the word out about falsely accused and imprisoned priests like Father Gordon.

The Scandal of Catholic Abuse of the Catholic Abuse Scandal.

See also: Where's the Media? L.A. Att'y Declares Many Abuse Accusations Against Catholic Priests Are 'Entirely False'

Friday, January 07, 2011

In Memoriam: Cardinal Avery Dulles and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus


My friend Father Gordon MacRae has a moving tribute to Cardinal Avery Dulles and Father Rich John Neuhaus over at his blog here. Those of you following Father Gordon's story of injustice know of the support given to him by Father Neuhaus.

Additionally, one of the prisoners at the prison with Father, converted to the Catholic faith recently. Father shared a link to his heartbreaking story with the light at the end of the tunnel, which he shared with the Catholic League in 2007.  Father Neuhaus send him a letter of support which you will also read at Father's blog post.  Please be sure to read it. More importantly, please be sure to remember Father and Pornchai in your prayers.

Friday, October 29, 2010

New Series by Father Gordon MacRae - When Priests are Falsely Accused

St. Maximilian Kolbe
Picture source

I ask that you not only read each one of Father Gordon's posts but also share them. Please help make others aware of the plight of falsely imprisoned individuals, especially our innocent priests.

Part One: The Mirror of Justice Cracked

Part Two: Why Accusers Should be Named

Part Three: The High Cost of Innocence

Wednesday, July 07, 2010