Father Joseph Clark This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam: September 04, 2005

   slatts.blogspot.com/archives/2 - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/4/2005   Last Visited: 8/18/2006

   [12] And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, [13] and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, [14] and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Aching and Achim the father of Eliud, [15] and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
   ...
   When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; [19] and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. [20] But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; [21] she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
   ...
   Joseph, being Mary's husband, was the legal father of Jesus.
   ...
   The entire account of Jesus' birth teaches, through the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (which is expressly quoted in verses 22-23) that: 1) Jesus has David as His ancestor since Joseph is His legal father; 2) Mary is the Virgin who gives birth according to the prophecy; 3) the Child's conception without the intervention of man was miraculous.
   ...
   Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life. That is why Scripture praises Joseph as `a just man'. In Hebrew a just man means a good and faithful servant of God, someone who fulfills the divine will (cf. Genesis 7:1; 18:23-32; Ezekiel 18:5ff.; Proverbs 12:10), or who is honorable and charitable toward his neighbor (cf. Tobias 7:6; 9:6). So a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping God's commandments and directing his whole life towards the service of his brothers, his fellow men" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 40).
   
   Joseph considered his spouse to be holy despite the signs that she was going to have a child. He was therefore faced with a situation he could not explain. Precisely because he was trying to do God's will, he felt obliged to put her away; but to shield her from public shame he decided to send her away quietly.
   
   Mary's silence is admirable. Her perfect surrender to God even leads her to the extreme of not defending her honor or innocence. She prefers to suffer suspicion and shame rather than reveal the work of grace in her. Faced with a fact which was inexplicable in human terms she abandons herself confidently to the love and providence of God. God certainly submitted the holy souls of Joseph and Mary to a severe trial.
   ...
   Father Joe Clark suspended for correcting deacon!
   
   What happened?
   
   On August 5, 2005 Bishop Paul Loverde suspended Fr. Joseph Clark without notice and without serious cause.
   ...
   On Sunday, July 24 Fr. Clark celebrated the 11:00 a.m. Mass at Holy Family Church in Dale City assisted by a permanent deacon who committed serious liturgical abuses in handling the Precious Blood. After Mass, Father attempted to correct and instruct the deacon who was unreceptive. Father told him in the future he would not permit him to assist if the abuse continued.
   
   How did the deacon respond?
   
   A few days later Fr. Robert Avella, the Bishop's Delegate for Clergy, contacted Fr. Clark to say the diocese received "many" complaint letters. (The pastor, Fr. Donald Planty, received three.) The deacon accused Fr. Clark of "harassment" and threatened to sue. A few days later Fr. Robert Avella, the Bishop's Delegate for Clergy, contacted Fr. Clark to say the diocese received "many" complaint letters. (The pastor, Fr. Donald Planty, received three.) The deacon accused Fr. Clark of "harassment" and threatened to sue.
   ...
   These two letters, which were obtained later, slander not only Fr. Clark, but the "new breed" of young priests in the diocese who are characterized as "critical and mean-spirited," basically for defending the integrity of the Mass. Statements in the wife's letter may explain the deacon's unreceptive response to correction. She wrote, "I am embarrassed to say we are from this diocese because we are known…as a very conservative diocese that can't have girl alter (sic) servers because the conservative priests are not open to it…. We have a group of priests that want to take us back instead of forward." Clearly more is going on here than the incident with Fr. Clark.
   ...
   Fr. Clark was called to a meeting at the bishop's residence on August 6 which he thought was a one-on-one opportunity to discuss what happened. Instead, he found the bishop in the company of the diocesan lawyer and Fr. Avella. When Fr. Clark asked if it was a juridical meeting the bishop said yes. With no discussion or warning, Bishop Loverde presented Fr. Clark with a letter of suspension from active ministry and an order to vacate the Holy Family rectory within five hours.
   ...
   Fr. Clark was not informed of the true nature of the meeting beforehand, was given no opportunity to see the charges against him or have counsel, and was not allowed to defend himself. To add insult to injury, the suspension was dated the day before the meeting. The wording of the bishop's suspension repeats the uninvestigated allegations from the slanderous letter of the deacon's daughter.
   
   What can you do to help?
   
   Fr. Clark must vigorously fight this unjust suspension which could result in his dismissal from the priesthood. He has hired a canon lawyer and plans to fight even to Rome if necessary. He needs your help in bringing this injustice to the attention of congregations at the Vatican. Please send letters asking for Fr. Clark's immediate reinstatement to the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for Divine Worship. Since the accusations relate to abuse of the liturgy, please share any experience you have with Fr. Clark's reverent celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and your concern over abuses to the Holy Eucharist.
   ...
   Fr. Clark has no lawyers, staff, or bottomless basket of donations from people in the pews. He depends on our charity. Catholic Media Coalition (CMC) has opened a "persecuted priests" account to pay Father's legal bills. Because CMC is a volunteer organization there is little overhead. Even the printing of this flyer was donated. Almost every cent will assist Fr. Clark and other persecuted priests.