Father Matthieu, who had managed to capture the attention of a notable audience on social media, recently made what he calls his "spiritual coming out." Yet, behind this claimed transparency, it is crucial to recall some fundamental truths about fidelity to the Church and to highlight the dangers of modern relativism, which is corrupting many minds today.
An Emotional, but Hollow Discourse
In this lengthy video, the man who is stepping away from the priesthood inundates us with emotions. He speaks of his inner turmoil, his unease with the ecclesiastical institution, and his desire to be "transparent" and "sincere." But fundamentally, this type of discourse only reveals a modernist drift where the individual places his personal feelings above the immutable truths of the Church.
Emotion, while it may touch sensitive souls, brings no theological clarity or depth. We are witnessing yet another attempt to justify abandoning a sacrament under the pretext of a lack of "alignment with the institutional Church." What irony, when we know it is precisely this Church, faithful to Christ for over 2000 years, that ordained this priest by conferring upon him an eternal grace. Yet, this grace, given by God, is treated here as a mere professional contract that one could "break" or suspend depending on one's state of mind.
A Self-Centered Interpretation of the Priesthood
The man presenting himself as a "former priest" explains that he remains, in theory, a priest "like someone who remains married despite a separation." But this is a very minimalist understanding of the priesthood. One does not become a priest to manage "missions" or "functions" within a human structure, but to serve God and His faithful in a total and eternal commitment. It is not a question of personal feeling or fit with an institution. The priestly vocation transcends these human considerations. To choose to leave is not only to fail in one's promise before God but also to distort the very nature of the priesthood.
The Rejection of Obedience, a Modernist Tendency
One of the primary virtues of a priest is obedience. Obedience to Christ, to the Church, and to the bishops who are the successors of the apostles. Yet, this discourse betrays a flagrant refusal of ecclesiastical authority. The priest declares he no longer wishes to be a "manager or functionary of worship," preferring to follow his own path, based on his subjective interpretation of what the Church should be. This is the heart of the problem. Modernism pushes souls to turn away from obedience, to follow their own path under the guise of "sincerity" and "transparency." It is a dangerous slope that leads to apostasy, even to a rejection of revealed Truth.
The Scourge of Subjectivism in the Church
In choosing to leave his active ministry, this priest claims he is still in full communion with the Christian faith. But here again, his discourse is riddled with contradictions. How can one claim to serve Christ while voluntarily detaching oneself from the Church, which is His Mystical Body? How does a mission of love and charity, which is at the heart of the Gospel, justify rejecting the sacred responsibilities he freely accepted at his ordination?
This attitude is typical of modern subjectivism, where everyone becomes the master of their own interpretation of the faith, without regard for the teachings of the Church. It is no longer about seeking truth in the deposit of faith, but molding it according to one's own desires and personal circumstances. In reality, this type of discourse, under the appearance of sincerity, fosters a relativistic vision, where everything is centered on the individual to the detriment of Catholic Truth.
A Necessary Hierarchy to Protect the Church
The hierarchy of the Church, which he calls human, a "Church founded by the friends of Jesus, human...," is nonetheless an essential bulwark against chaos and heresy. When this priest asserts that the institutional Church is somehow responsible for his failures, he forgets that it is precisely this structure that preserves the faith from errors and deviations. We know well that the Church, as a human institution, is composed of fallible men. But it is also a divine institution, guided by the Holy Spirit, which guarantees that the sacraments and the faith are transmitted without error, despite human imperfections.
Ultimately, this modernist discourse, which implies that the Church should bend to individual sensibilities and the fashions of the age, shows a misunderstanding of the very role of the Church in the salvation of souls.
Father Matthieu also highlights a kind of media and political elite. And I also believe a caste has become entrenched in the editorial offices of various Catholic media, constituting two influential blocs that dominate the landscape. This group, composed of media personalities and recognized religious figures, forms a caste that limits access to visibility for alternative voices. In this dynamic, two distinct blocs emerge: one centered on the right, and the other anchored on the left, each wielding considerable power over Catholic discourse. This hierarchy of influence leads to the invisibility of many Catholics who struggle to be heard or to exist in the media space.
Conclusion: A Flight Disguised as Sincerity
This "spiritual coming out" is nothing other than a flight from the truth of the Church. By refusing obedience to the hierarchy, by placing his personal emotions above divine demands, this priest is merely following the path of those who, over the centuries, have deserted the battle for equally human reasons. It would be good to remember that Christ promised the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. But it is also necessary that those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders have the strength and humility to remain faithful to it, even in trial.