Update on Fr. Michael Rodriguez

Father Michael Rodriguez’ saga and sufferings continue.  An article appeared on the Big Bend Sentinel website this weekend discussing Fr. Rodriguez and his recent ransfer to Santa Teresa de Jesus parish in Presidio.  The article includes some comments from Fr. Rodriguez:

A priest who became involved in an effort to recall the El Paso mayor and two City Council members has been reassigned to Santa Teresa de Jesus Catholic Church in Presidio.

According to a report in the El Paso Times by journalist Aaron Bracamontes, the Rev. Michael Rodriguez of San Juan Bautista Catholic Church had challenged Mayor John Cook and council members Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega to debates and had been in the spotlight because of his anti-homosexual advertisements.

The mayor and council members are under fire for voting to restore health benefits to gay and unmarried partners of El Paso employees after voters nixed the benefits in an earlier ballot initiative.  A pastor of the Word of Life Church, Tom Brown, led the recall petition.

Rodriguez became involved in the recall by posting four ads in the Times that referred to Scripture and called the gay lifestyle a sin.  [I would just like to interject, contrary to what Bishop Ochoa and some “gay rights” proponents have claimed, Fr. Rodriguez’ efforts were not overtly political, but were primarily oriented towards formation of the faithful in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Fr. Rodriguez noted that many people in El Paso, including many Catholics in that diocese, appeared to hold very heterodox or incorrect beliefs regarding homosexuality and its relation to the Truth Christ has revealed through His Church.  He attempted to correct those improperly formed beliefs.  Yes, this effort was tied into an ongoing political effort, but his efforts were much more broad than simply addressing one narrow situation.  His efforts were not, then, “partisan.”]

Rodriguez responded to the reassignment in his own press release. “Obedience to my bishop is essential to the priesthood,” Rodriguez said. “My bishop has transferred me to another assignment, and I intend to be obedient. The priesthood is my greatest joy. In the present circumstances, I intend to try even harder to be a good, holy priest.” [I don’t know how anyone could doubt that is Fr. Rodriguez total intent]

Rodriguez arrived in Presidio last Saturday and spoke this week of the changes he plans for Sta. Teresa. Readings and sermons will be both in Spanish and in English according to the Mass being celebrated. He’ll slowly introduce Mass in Latin.

“What I’m planning is to offer a traditional Latin Mass,” he said. “The Mass itself will be different, aside from the Latin language. It will be according to ancient rite, that of the 1962 missal.”

Most Masses are celebrated according to the 1970 missal. When asked why he chose the older rites, he said: “I’m trying to regain Catholic faith.” [I have spoken with several individuals who attended Fr. Rodriguez’ former parish of San Juan Bautista in El Paso.  They all relate that Fr. Rodriguez’ catechesis, celebration of the Mass and other Sacraments, and total commitment to the Faith, the Faith of Tradition, were superlative.  Many locals in the rough neighborhood in which San Juan Bautista is located underwent radical conversions under Fr. Rodriguez’ pastoral care.  Thus, “regaining the Catholic Faith.”

Catholicism has shifted over time, he pointed out.

“We’ve lost a great deal of Catholic faith,” Rodriguez said. “Marriage is looked upon differently. Many young people and children don’t know how to pray. Many don’t know about Judgment Day. A lot of elements have been lost, and that’s what I’m going to concentrate on.”The priest aims to strengthen worship by following older rites.

“I’ll regain worship and the ancient rite,” he said. “Dress modestly – all of these are examples that we have to regain in our Catholic faith in order to move on.”

Those views extend to women’s roles as lectors and altar servers.

“We’re going to try to gradually give a better understanding to everyone of their proper role in Mass. Most importantly, not what you are doing on the outside, but rather truly understanding that we are in the presence of God at the sacrifice of the cross at Calvary. [“Active participation” does not mean everyone must have a “job” at Mass.  You don’t have to be a lector or usher or anything else to “actively participate” in the Mass.  In fact, I would argue that such roles can often times be counter to true active participation – praying the Mass with the priest with numerous devout intentions] The different elements of the old rites are going to help us achieve that. In time people will realize that the proper place of the laity during Mass is not in the sanctuary, but rather in the pews.” [Alleluia!]

There is a reason for that, Rodriguez said.

“It’s a specific function of the priest to offer sacrifice and to proclaim the truth,” the priest observed. “The role of the faithful is to take the truth out into the world.”

Rodriguez didn’t think this belief would cause women to leave Sta. Teresa.

“I will be working with Father Hinojosa, (the parish priest) and he will be in charge. Things won’t change overnight. I will try to win over the minds and hearts of some of the faithful, trying to recover the Catholic faith.”  [Under Universae Ecclesiae, can a pastor rightly prohibit his assistant pastor from offering the TLM?]Fr. Michael Rodriguez does not know how long he is to remain in Presidio.

“There are certain legitimate reasons for my transfer from Sam Juan Bautista in El Paso to Santa Teresa in Presidio. More than that I can’t comment”

I have no idea what the “legitimate reason” he is referring to might be, other than the fact that he is a priest under obedience to his bishop. 

Check out the doors of his new parish: