Is Joseph Girzone Really Heretical?
Father Joe
Dear Father Joe,
I found your Website and read a disparaging remark about Fr. Girzone,
calling him heretical. This discourages me.
I don't know much about Joseph Girzone, but I wanted to mention that a
very recent book of his, My Struggle With Faith, served as a real
inspiration to me.
I am 55 years old and fell away from the Church. Because of Fr.
Girzone's book, I went to confession after 30 years and am now on a
journey back to Christ through his Blessed Mother and the Church.
I credit Fr. Girzone with putting me back on track. Now after reading
your comments, I'm somewhat confused.
Please advise me on this.
Thanks so much.
Regards,
W
Here is my response:
Dear W,
Fr. Girzone has the ability in his writing to touch the heartstrings
and to inspire. However, he also seeds a number of his books with
elements contrary to
Catholic faith and witness. This is one of the reasons he got in
trouble with his diocese and retired early for "health reasons". He
used to give retreats, even for priests, but is now generally banned
by most dioceses, at least in any "official" capacity.
He dissents on a whole host of issues: artificial contraception,
abortion, priestly identity, sexual morality, Eucharistic doctrine,
Church authority, Catholic ecclesiology, Biblical inerrancy, etc.
He can be very discrete at times and purposely vague in his writings.
The JOSHUA movie was exorcised of the problematical portions and was
pretty good.
Sorry to tell you what you might not want to hear. There is both good
and bad in his writings, and more of Girzone than Jesus in his Joshua
character. If you
can pick out the pieces that do not fit, then his books may not prove
a problem. My observations are based upon comprehensive reading of
his material and a
candid interview he gave on television.
Base your faith not on men, but on the Lord and his Blessed Mother.
These are your sure guides to holiness and discipleship in the
Catholic Church.
God bless you,
Father Joe
ADDENDUM TO RESPONSE
Girzone has become a dangerous cult figure. No matter what the Bible
or the Church says, he remakes faith and values into his own image.
He also preaches an easy road, NOT "the road less traveled." His
books make light of contraception, and even gives an okay to divorce,
leading people into adulterous relationships. The great heresy of
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM is preached in all his books, with pleas for
a new Catholic Church in the likeness of a passive Episcopalianism and
with the copied fellowship of Reformed Jews who do not take themselves
too seriously while at synagogue. Strong traditionally-minded priests
and, of course the Vatican, are the pharisees reborn and where sin is
most culpable.
Catholics should not be fooled by him. Fundamentalist Protestants
loved the first book, especially when he too shots at Catholicism;
however, in subsequent books, where the Bible is trivialized and
relativized, this approval, especially from ministers, quickly
evaporated.
The attack was not simply upon Catholicism, but upon Christianity,
itself.