Sorry again

 It's been some time between posts again -- a good friend and faithful reader reminded me.  Thanks, bro.

I have a question, but also an opinion to share.  I would like for you to consider sending me an email with an honest opinion of your own about this subject.

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a Jesuit priest who had a program on public television.  It was not on PBS, but one of the UHF channels.  I remember watching it with mom sometimes.  He was very well educated and a good teacher.  However, I recently found out that he was accused of sexual misconduct a few years after the program was no longer running.  He would eventually even admit to his misbehavior and was removed from ministry.

He was also an accomplished author as he also had a degree in psychology besides his ministry.  As I said, he was removed from ministry and his faculties were taken away.  Yet his books remain on the market as I recently discovered too.

My personal opinion about even priests who are guilty of misconduct (and I am not defending their actions) also did lots of good work during their ministry.  Their faculties are taken from them and they are ordered not to have any connection with children.  I agree and understand that.  Yet, their priesthood ordination was not invalid.  I have had more than a few friends who have made the list of the accused.  Unfortunately, even the many people those men ministered to at baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other functions don't come to the fore to say anything good about them -- or if they do, those testimonials are not brought forward.  They are simply cast to the darkness.  The same thing happens now to priests who are accused of misconduct before it is proven.

Another example of this was not of a priest, but someone who had worked for many years with the Catholic Church.  When an accusation came against him, his contributions to advancing the faith were stricken from any publications.

So here is my question.  While punishment is not a bad thing, why should someone's past follow them?  I am sure those men (and women who had their own weaknesses) did great things for the majority of people they came in contact with over their ministry and careers.  Why should the work they did be practically considered sinful to read or even sing?  In the case of someone like Martin Luther, he protested against the Church publicly.  Who are we to say that someone who performed a criminal act did not help MANY people before they committed their crime?  Is that simply a case where if someone bought their works published before their crime, they would be given the royalties?  And, therefore, be seen as supporting the person who became a criminal?  In the Luther vein, I am sure Martin Luther did plenty of good work as an Augustinian monk.  His punishment for the defiance and protest against the pope's authority was excommunication.  However, that is not the punishment for even those who are found guilty.

I know it's a big question to answer.  My opinion is that I believe we still need to be grateful for the ministry they performed.  That especially goes for the people they baptized, married, or buried.  It gets to be like the Osmonds sang about "One Bad Apple."  One bad act should not define a person, nor should the actions of one person effect the many.  I recently wrote an article likening this kind of thought to the concept of Original Sin.  I understand it.  I subscribe to what the Church teaches about it.  We all incur it, but what did we do to deserve it?  Recently, I was in a group discussion and the subject of belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist came up.  He was giving me things they believe.  OK, but the issue of broken apostolic succession came up that made Martin Luther's priesthood null when he was excommunicated by Rome and why those who baptized in a Lutheran church believe profess the beliefs Luther taught, hence, they should not be receiving the Eucharist in a Catholic Church.  Does it happen?  Yes it does.  And vice versa -- I know Catholics who receive eucharist in a Protestant church.

Was everything Martin Luther taught bad?  Are the people that were baptized by Luther BEFORE his excommunication Lutherans or Catholics?  That is where splitting hairs happens.  That's what I mean about throwing away the past good actions of men who fell and succumbed to temptation.

Any response you may have to this is welcome.  You can send the responses to fathermike1001@msn.com      Please.  I need to know if my thoughts are just plain misguided or not.