Bishop Callahan lowers the boom on Fr. James Altman

 

Wisconsin bishop restricts ministry of firebrand priest Fr. James Altman

Jul 9, 2021

by Christopher White

 

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Fr. James Altman, then pastor at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is seen in his August 2020 YouTube video. In the clip, he attacks Catholics who are Democrats. (CNS/YouTube screenshot)

Fr. James Altman, a rogue Wisconsin priest who flaunted COVID-19 protocols at the height of the pandemic, derided liberals as "left-wing fascist Nazis" and warned that Catholics who support the Democratic Party could "face the fires of hell," has been removed as pastor of his parish and restricted from ministry.

According to a new decree issued by La Crosse Bishop William Callahan, Altman is only allowed to celebrate Mass in private and is barred from preaching. He has also been instructed to take a 30-day spiritual retreat to "give him the possibility to spiritually heal and recharge and address the issues that caused the issuance of this decree."

The latest developments come less than two months after Altman announced that he would fight a request by Callahan to resign as pastor of St. James the Less Catholic Church where he has served since 2017.

The priest turned conservative firebrand has made national headlines for his controversial and incendiary remarks in recent months. Altman earlier told his parishioners that the bishop had labeled him as "divisive and ineffective" and in response, he raised nearly $700,000 through online crowdfunding campaigns in support of his appeal efforts.

Nicholas Cafardi, a civil and canon lawyer and a professor and former dean at Duquesne University School of Law, had previously told NCR that under the church's canon law, a pastor has particular rights and responsibilities and in order to be removed, the bishop must have a proper cause and follow a particular process.

"The cause here is for disturbing ecclesiastical communion," Cafardi said, noting that Altman has the option to appeal the bishop's decision to the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy.

The La Crosse diocese did not immediately respond to an NCR query as to whether a new administrator has been named to Altman's former parish.

Despite the efforts of Callahan to limit the priest's public ministry, Altman has received the backing of Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, who has repeatedly praised Altman's ministry and endorsed his viral video claiming faithful Catholics cannot be Democrats.

"Fr. James Altman is in trouble for speaking the truth," Strickland wrote on Twitter on May 24. "He inspires many to keep the faith during these dark days. Let us pray for him."

Both Strickland and Altman have flaunted COVID-19 protocols and voiced opposition to vaccines, while both the Vatican and the U.S. bishops' conference have made repeated efforts to encourage Catholics to get vaccinated.

Despite efforts from Altman's bishop in recent months to rein him in, Altman continued to engage in divisive behavior in public defiance of Callahan.

The most recent Sunday bulletin from Atlman's parish included an image replicating the Black Lives Matter logo, with the text "unvaccinated lives matter'' and a jab at prominent Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin, who recently received a letter of support from Pope Francis for his ministry toward LGBTQ Catholics.

"There are two genders and a wide range of mental disorders," read the bulletin text. "Memo to James Martin: TRUE ministry brings healing Grace, not affirmation in sin."

As for Altman's ministry, he has been instructed by Callahan that he must remain residing within the boundaries of the Diocese of La Crosse and any violations of the decree against him "may warrant further restrictions and may lead to the imposition of ecclesiastical sanctions."

The ongoing tale and controversy of the two Fr. Jameses

 

The Tale of Two Fr. Jameses

FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER

With the news that conservative priest Fr. James Altman has been asked by his bishop to resign, one is faced with the contrast between Fr. James Altman and another controversial priest, Fr. James Martin, SJ.

Both priests have somewhat of a prophetic voice in the Church—Fr. Altman from the conservative side and Fr. Martin from the liberal. Fr. Altman castigates Catholics who voted for Joe Biden. Fr. Martin openly supported Biden. As such, the two Fr. Jameses are poster boys for the two Catholic Churches in America today. Fr. Altman for the traditional, orthodox, strict version of Catholicism; Fr. Martin for the accommodating, relativistic, and subjective version of Catholicism. Fr. Altman: doctrinal. Fr. Martin: pastoral. Fr. Altman: Rational. Fr. Martin: Sentimental.

It is interesting that both priests see themselves as standing up for the true faith and see themselves as speaking truth to power. Fr. Martin campaigns against institutional homophobia and laments the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. Fr. Altman campaigns against a Catholic hierarchy that is in bed with the abortion-loving Democratic Party.

In such situations it is all too easy for folks on one side or the other to throw the “H” words around. The enemy is branded as either a hypocrite, a heretic, or both.
Therefore, it is worth examining the two priests and looking at how they have been treated.

Fr. James Martin is on record for supporting the pro-LGBTQ New Ways Ministry, which has been disciplined by the Church for promoting teachings that are contrary to the Catholic faith. He has lauded the dissident nun Sister Gramick—calling her a saint. In many manipulative and devious ways, he has used his media platform to promote the blessing of same-sex unions and to encourage homosexuality. 

It would seem that Fr. Martin’s sort of “prophetic voice” is beloved of the contemporary Catholic hierarchy. Fr. Martin will not be disciplined in any way. He will not be asked to step down from his prestigious editorship, forsake his celebrity New York lifestyle, or step away from his huge social media pulpit. Instead, he is celebrated and appointed as a communications guru to the Vatican and invited to a personal tête-à-tête with the pope.

Fr. Altman, on the other hand, has fearlessly upheld the traditional Catholic faith and has never come close to preaching anything contrary to the Gospel. His sin? To be “divisive.” Why, may I ask, has no one suggested that New Ways Ministry and Fr. Martin (who have scandalized thousands of Catholics) are divisive?

In addition to questions of content, one might also consider the question of style. Fr. Martin has mastered a sweet and congenial style. Fr. Altman is more confrontational. Which style is most like the Gospel both priests claim to preach? Fr. Martin typifies Jesus the gentle teacher—the pantywaist Jesus with a weak smile and a limp wrist. Fr. Altman, on the other hand, sounds more like the Jesus who called the Pharisees “sons of Satan and whitewashed tombs.” Fr. Martin’s style is “all we are asking is give peace a chance.” Fr. Altman’s is “I have not come to bring peace but a sword.”

The clash between the two churches in America today is reminiscent of the Jansenist-Jesuit conflict in eighteenth-century France. As the faith was under attack from both Protestantism and the Enlightenment, French Catholics fought back with a kind of Catholic Calvinism called Jansenism. Meanwhile, the Jesuits offered an accommodating vision—trying to meet people where they were and adapt the faith to their needs and beliefs.

In his book Rethinking the Enlightenment, historian Joseph Stuart analyzes these two responses—austere resistance fighting and worldly accommodation—and says down through history a third way has been the most positive and fruitful way forward. This is the simple way of radical discipleship…not cursing the dark, but lighting a candle. The answer to the present divide in the Catholic Church typified by the two Fr. Jameses is for ordinary priests and people to eschew the extremes and seek to live radiant, radical, and revolutionary Christianity—doing what they can with what they have where they are.

This is the vision I have set out in my upcoming book, Beheading Hydra—A Radical Plan for Christians in an Atheistic Age. Ironically, this way actually fulfills the desire to fight and the desire to accommodate because the radical Christian life conquers the lies and deceit of the devil while also affirming what is beautiful, good, and true in our society.

Bishop of La Crosse Wisconsin removes pastor who has become a social media maverick

 Diocesan Statement Regarding Father James Altman

Fr. James Altman has recently made public the request from Bishop William Patrick Callahan that he resign his office of pastor of Saint James the Less Parish in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, as well as his intent to decline the request. As a result, the Diocese of La Crosse will respond in accordance to the canonical process as needed for the removal of a priest from his office as pastor.

During the past year, concerns have been expressed related to the ministry of Fr. James Altman, a priest in the Diocese of La Crosse. Bishop Callahan of the Diocese of La Crosse, and canonical representatives have worked to fraternally and privately address those concerns. The process has been pastoral and administrative with a desire toward a just resolution among all parties.

The ministry of pastor was instituted in the Church not for the benefit of the one to whom it is entrusted, but for the pastoral and sacramental care of those for whom it is conferred. The salvation of souls takes precedence over the stability of the pastor in office when these two values come into direct conflict. Although attempts were made to allow Fr. Altman the opportunity to respond to fraternal correction, a resolution of this situation has been unsuccessful.

It is important to note that this is not a penal remedy but a pastoral remedy. Bishop Callahan asks for your prayers for Fr. Altman, for the congregation of St. James, and the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and beyond. While any change made to the ministry of a pastor is difficult, it is done with the hope that God’s work of justice, reconciliation and healing may be realized in the Body of Christ for a positive outcome.

The Diocese of La Crosse asks for the consideration of respect, safety and prayers at this time for all involved.

Looks like Fr. Altman up in Wisconsin is going to receive "fraternal correction" from his Bishop

Diocese of La Crosse
Office for communications / public relations

September 9, 2020

Statement From Bishop Callahan Regarding Father James Altman

Fr. James Altman has become a social media phenomenon and is now a main stream media story. The amount of calls and emails we are receiving at the Diocesan offices show how divisive he is. I am being pressured by both sides for a comment; one side holds him up as a hero or a prophet, the other side condemns him and vilifies him and demands I silence him.

As I review Fr. Altman’s latest video statement of 30 August 2020, I understand the undeniable truth that motivates his message. When we approach issues that are contradictory to the Faith and teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, particularly on abortion and other life issues, we should invite dialogue and heart-felt conversion to the truth. Our approach must never seek to divide, isolate and condemn.

That being said it is not only the underlying truth that needs to be evaluated but also the manner of delivery and the tone of his message. Unfortunately, the tone Fr. Altman offers comes off as angry and judgmental, lacking any charity and in a way that causes scandal both in the Church and in society. His generalization and condemnation of entire groups of people is completely inappropriate and not in keeping with our values or the life of virtue.

Here is the video in question:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7eoTN2vNM

I am applying Gospel principles to the correction of Fr. Altman. “If your brother does something wrong to you, go to him. Talk alone to him and tell him what he has done. If he listens to you, you have kept your brother as a friend. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others with you to talk to him.” (Mt 18:15-16). I have begun this process, not in the bright light of the public arena, but as the Gospel dictates, in private. Canon law indicates that before penalties are imposed, we need to ensure that fraternal correction, rebuke or other means of pastoral solicitude will not be sufficient to repair the scandal (can. 1341).

Most people expect a decisive move from me, one way or another. Many suggest immediate penalties that will utterly silence him; others call for complete and unwavering support of his views. Canonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work. I pray that Fr. Altman’s heart and eyes might be open to the error of his ways and that he might take steps to correct his behavior and heal the wound he has inflicted on the Body of Christ.

Pray for me as I address this issue, and pray for Fr. Altman that he might hear and respond to my fraternal correction. Finally, please pray for the Church that we might seek the truth in charity and apply it in our daily actions.