Proper Nomenclature
The third Catholic priest to blow our minds with shoddy guidance this week is the Rev. Mark Goring, CC (Companions of the Cross).
So far we have talked about Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life and his support of Mr. Donald Trump’s bid for the office of President of the United States. As the world continues to be affirmed in their disgust of Trump’s conduct, as of 10 October, Father Pavone has only decided to cling on to the candidate with even greater fervor than before. That’s an oddity to consider even before we think about the possibility of half a million dollars going between the 501 (c) (3) Priests for Life, Father Frank Pavone, and Donald Trump as reported over the weekend.
Fr. John Lankeit, the Rector of The Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona, preached on the 2016 elections from “a Catholic perspective” this Sunday (Oct. 2). As we mentioned in our analysis of his homily:
Using this homily, as imprecise as it is, for or against some political trend or candidate or party, knowing its flaws and understanding that more accurate teaching is available, seems insincere, an abuse of Priestly authority, and disrespectful of the Holy Mass.
In the end, Father’s homily lacks much that is easily accessed in other teachings on voting from a Catholic perspective and is not recommended for guidance. A link to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship can be found here.
Now, back to Father Mark Goring, CC.
Father Mark has a youtube video where, while thankfully not a homily – though *cringe* invoking the Lord’s Holy Name -, he insists that a Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who supports the legal protection to terminate a pregnancy – and all that entails. Father Mark has a name for Catholics who think they can do so, they’re “stupid Catholics”. “The blood of these unborn children is on your hands…” Father Mark says in the video (00:45-00:49).
The video was posted on the feast of Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (August 4) 2016, but I’ve only noticed it being passed around on social media in the last day or so.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Father Mark Goring, CC, or have ever met the man.
A bulletin dated 9 October, 2016 names Father Mark as the director of the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston, Texas (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston).
In this video, at least, Father Mark does not mention the names of particular candidates – and veer into Father Pavone land – nor shows him using the dignity of the Priesthood in Holy Mass to imprecisely and incompletely teach what the US Bishops offer us on faithful citizenship – veering into Father Lankeit land.
Sadly, Fr. Goring fails to offer us guidance that is consistent with the USCCB’s, and does not incorporate any of the useful distinctions and options found in simple, easy to find documents like “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” Ultimately, it is an example of how ‘not’ to teach – especially while invoking the Name of Our Lord.
The short teaching, nonetheless, receives the same analysis we made concerning Father Lankeit’s homily:
In the end, Father’s (youtube video message) lacks much that is easily accessed in other teachings on voting from a Catholic perspective and is not recommended for guidance. A link to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship can be found here.
What do you think about this video?
Keith Michael Estrada
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