Fr. Altman: Identifying the Problem is Only Half the Battle

[Michie]

Three weeks ago Fr. James Altmanreleased a video titled, “Bergoglio is not the Pope.” In it, Altman goes through a litany of complaints against the Francis pontificate, from scandal to corruption to promoting heresy. He then concludes that because of this evidence, Jorge Bergoglio cannot be the pope. When Catholics, including me, disputed this conclusion, the most common response online from his defenders was, “Why don’t you show where is he wrong in his analysis? You can’t, can you?”

Now in his most recent video, Altman says that the “best thing we could do would be to throw the great millstone around Jorge Bergoglio’s neck and throw him into the deep blue Mediterranean sea.” Unlike some other commentators, I don’t think Altman is actually calling for the murder of Pope Francis. I think he’s recklessly using Biblical language to make his point. It’s a sensational statement made for effect and to generate controversy. Yet, again, when many Catholics pushed back against this latest video, Altman’s defenders responded, “But where is he wrong in calling out the problems of this papacy?”

This response confuses the issue. We need to note that Altman has done two separate things: (1) he’s identified a problem; and (2) he’s offered a solution. And there’s a long history of people correctly identifying a problem, but being wrong—even wildly wrong—about the solution.

Continued below.

Identifying the Problem is Only Half the Battle

By Eric Sammons - Fr. James Altman is largely correct in identifying today’s problems in the Church, but his cure is as bad as the disease.

crisismagazine.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

Three weeks ago Fr. James Altmanreleased a video titled, “Bergoglio is not the Pope.” In it, Altman goes through a litany of complaints against the Francis pontificate, from scandal to corruption to promoting heresy. He then concludes that because of this evidence, Jorge Bergoglio cannot be the pope. When Catholics, including me, disputed this conclusion, the most common response online from his defenders was, “Why don’t you show where is he wrong in his analysis? You can’t, can you?”

Now in his most recent video, Altman says that the “best thing we could do would be to throw the great millstone around Jorge Bergoglio’s neck and throw him into the deep blue Mediterranean sea.” Unlike some other commentators, I don’t think Altman is actually calling for the murder of Pope Francis. I think he’s recklessly using Biblical language to make his point. It’s a sensational statement made for effect and to generate controversy. Yet, again, when many Catholics pushed back against this latest video, Altman’s defenders responded, “But where is he wrong in calling out the problems of this papacy?”

This response confuses the issue. We need to note that Altman has done two separate things: (1) he’s identified a problem; and (2) he’s offered a solution. And there’s a long history of people correctly identifying a problem, but being wrong—even wildly wrong—about the solution.

Continued below.

Identifying the Problem is Only Half the Battle

By Eric Sammons - Fr. James Altman is largely correct in identifying today’s problems in the Church, but his cure is as bad as the disease.

crisismagazine.com

This is a great article about how you can see a problem but then pose the wrong solution. Altman has lost his marbles, poor man, in a visceral reaction to the mess pope Francis has made. I suspect he would have never come unhinged had pope Benedict continued on. But now he's unhinged, not in the mess he sees all around (he's pretty accurate there) but in his sedevacantist conclusion that just is not warranted from the mess he points out.

 

[mourningdove~]

We all have our breaking points. I'm talking 'real' breaking points ... like mental and emotional breaking points.
I believe what we are seeing is that Fr. Altman reached his.

Other priests have been removed, cancelled.
I think of Fr. Frank Pavone.
And yet, what happened to him did not 'break' him.
He continues on ...
And I suspect Bishop Strickland will not 'break' under the pressure, should he be removed.

But Fr. Altman had a weakness. We do not know what it was, is.
Could have been sin, but also could have been something else, even a genetic weakness.
In any case, the enemy was able to exploit that weakness and take him out of the battle ...

I am not here to defend Fr. Altman. I don't know the man.
But what our priests are having to endure right now has got to be very difficult.
Especially if they know and believe the difference between right and wrong.

Our priests really need our prayers.
Many priests are going to have some tough decisions to make, in the months up ahead.
This Synod on Synodality assures it will be so ...