LifePetitions: Stand with Fr. James Altman who’s facing Church penalties for his great video

[Gnarwhal]

I’ve shared Fr. Altman’s videos on here “you can’t be a Catholic and a democrat” and “liberal Catholics are wolves in sheep’s clothing”. Bishop Callahan of the Diocese of La Crosse released a statement after the first video not outright condemning it but criticizing Fr. Altman’s “tone” (oh brother). He also seems to have prohibited Fr. Altman from live-streaming his Masses going forward, which is in a way censoring him beyond his parish. Thats significant considering his footprint has grown a lot in recent weeks with an international following.

The petition reflects what a lot of us believe: we Catholics are in desperate need of good shepherds, Fr. Altman is one of those and the hierarchy is trying to deprive us of him and punish him.

If you feel compelled to do so, check out the petition below that’s put out by LifeSite to express support for Fr. Altman.

PETITION: Stand with priest who faces Church penalties for saying 'You can't be a Catholic and a Democrat.'

 

[Michie]

Will do.

 

[Michie]

Done.

 

[paul1149]

I signed it two weeks ago, when it was at 55k. Not sure why it's not many multiples of where it is now. The man is a treasure to your church IMO.

I wonder what happens in the RCC in a situation like this. Does Altman have the right to move to a different bishopric?

 

[zippy2006]

It's interesting that some are comparing Altman to John the Baptist. John was a desert dweller who was probably not welcome in mainstream Jewish circles. He was imprisoned and eventually beheaded. Altman simply doesn't fit the bill of a modern Catholic priest. He's a prophet, not a Levite, and it's not clear that the Church has a place for prophets. I'm not even saying whether he's a true prophet or a false prophet, but he doesn't fit the clerical mold. I think the bishop is being relatively mild and kind to him. The Church doesn't tolerate such behavior from Her clerics; the bishop is just enforcing the well-known rules of the day. If the bishop doesn't address this today then his head will be on the block tomorrow.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I signed it two weeks ago, when it was at 55k. Not sure why it's not many multiples of where it is now. The man is a treasure to your church IMO.

I wonder what happens in the RCC in a situation like this. Does Altman have the right to move to a different bishopric?

I believe a priest can request a transfer to a different diocese, but a bishop doesn't have to grant it. And if the USCCB wants to silence a priest they might tell his bishop to make him stay put.

There's basically a loophole that Fr. Altman said he will exploit where he'll stream or upload homilies and other content from somewhere off Church property, because then it doesn't technically "count". But he fully recognizes that he's needed right now, and he doesn't want to abandon sheep who need a shepherd. I don't know if he has a desire to leave La Crosse, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's at least considered Bishop Strickland's immediate and vocal support of him and his message.

The Diocese of Tyler would certainly be a more hospitable place for Fr. Altman but I think he also understands how much his flock in La Crosse needs him.