DNWJWD: Definitely Not What Jesus Would Do

OMM takes a break from taking Jimmy Martin, SJLGBTQXYZ∞ to task, instead taking his Franciscan doppelgänger, Dan Horan, OFMLGBTQXYZ∞, instead.

From One Mad Mom

Are the Franciscans and Jesuits in a race for a coveted “Most Horrible Theologians” award? I know they’re not going for it but, every time I see this sentiment expressed, I give them my own big raspberry award, for sure.

https://twitter.com/DanHoranOFM/status/1355157398370058241

Daniel P. Horan, OFM

You know who never denied communion to anybody? Jesus Christ. In fact, he preferred to dine exclusively with public sinners, betrayers, deniers, thieves, adulterers, and those people that the self-righteous religious authorities of his community disdained. Indeed, WWJD?

You gotta hand it to him. So many things lacking and wrong in one little tweet. Where to begin?

I’m sure the question you all want to ask Fr. Horan is what in the heck do you mean by communion? Do you mean unity? If so, well, of course Jesus didn’t deny “communion” with Him. We get to create that mess all by ourselves. It’s called free will.

On the other hand, do you mean “Communion” with a capital “C”, Father? Are you going to also take time to explain 1 Corinthians 11:29 to your social media followers? Of course not.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.

Now as far as the “public sinners” go… First of all, again, we all are sinners, but I like the fact that Fr. Horan actually flags “public sinners.” He actually does great damage to the little argument he’s trying to make, which is that Joe Biden and other dissenting Catholics who publicly go against Christ’s teachings should be able to receive the Eucharist anytime they like.

So, let me just get a show of hands. Does ANYONE not know that Christ dined with sinners? Anyone at all under the age of ten? Yeah, didn’t think so. This fact never confounded anyone. Fr. Horan, however, fails to differentiate between the catechized and uncatechized, and between the sinner and the repentant sinner. Christ made that quite clear when he said:

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet. Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Matt 10:14-15

So much for “communion” or whatever Fr. Horan is suggesting. Joe Biden is that guy and people need to start shaking the dust in an effort to wake these souls up lest they suffer the fate of Sodom and Gomorrha.

Christ, as been established forever, did dine with sinners. And what did He do when he did so? Did he say “Carry on sinning!”? Or did he teach them God’s laws and urge them to repent? And didn’t He tell his disciples to do the latter? Uh, yes, for another big “Duh!” That should be obvious, but when you don’t want to catechize or tell people the consequences of clutching onto their sin, I guess not? I honestly wonder what motivates these priests to do the bumper sticker catechesis. Don’t they realize they’re going to have some moral culpability in the matter? “Instruct the ignorant” is the first Spiritual Work of Mercy. Guys like Fr. Horan are denying people a boatload of that mercy.

And I’m going to quibble about Fr. Horan’s suggestion that Christ “preferred to dine exclusively” with “public sinners.” What about Joseph of Arimathea? Christ probably dined with him, too, since he’s noted as a disciple. I know, it’s inconvenient because he was rich, a member of the council, and not a thief, prostitute or tax collector, and we know rich people are all bad. How about Mary, Martha and Lazarus? There’s nothing to indicate they were “public sinners.” And before someone brings up Mary Magdelene, read this: http://jimmyakin.com/2021/02/mary-magdalene-and-mary-the-sister-of-lazarus.html So “exclusively’? I think not. Self-righteousness has zero to do with one’s status in life and everything to do with hypocrisy. That’s something of which Fr. Horan might want to take note.

So what WWJD? I’m just wondering who the “J” is he has in mind? Jesuits? James Martin, SJ? Judas? We know what they’d all do. They’d confound, confuse and betray. What would Jesus do with the unrepentant sinner?

Jesus offers forgiveness to all, but few accept salvation because of their own stiff-necks. Can Fr. Horan tell me where in scripture or Catholic teaching does it say that an unrepentant sinner is assured salvation? Christ Himself said that if we do not repent, we will perish, and nowhere does He say anything differently. We can choose the narrow gate or broad path and they lead to two very different places.

A Call to Repentance

And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish. Luke 15:1-5

Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19

To you first God, raising up his Son, hath sent him to bless you; that every one may convert himself from his wickedness. Acts 3:26

And then there’s the public obstinate sinners…

Temptations and Trespasses

And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come. It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him. Luke 17:1-4

Nowhere does it say “Yay! You do you and all is good, because Christ dined with sinners.” It’s misleading and doesn’t call sinners to true repentance. It encourages people to remain comfortable in their sin and on the broad path.