Father Michel Rodrigue and messages officially in good standing: declaration of his bishop

Statement to the faithful of the Dioceses of Amos and Rouyn-Noranda concerning the messages and prophecies delivered by Fr Michel Rodrigue

My dear diocesans, In September 2020, Mgr. Gilles Lemay, then Bishop of Amos, issued an open letter in which he disavowed the messages and prophecies of Father Michel Rodrigue. Since the beginning of my ministry in this diocese, many have asked me if this disavowal remains current. As your Bishop, I have the responsibility of guiding our two diocesan Churches in the faith received from the Apostles, and I feel it is important that the situation be clarified by this public statement.

First of all, I would like to remind you that in 2020, after the publication of the open letter by Bishop Gilles Lemay, I issued the same cautionary warning to the faithful of the Diocese of Rouyn-Noranda.

As for the current situation, I must point out that Father Michel Rodrigue has never retracted himself from these messages and prophecies, quite the contrary. The warning issued by Mgr Gilles Lemay is therefore still very relevant. If Father Rodrigue has participated in some diocesan celebrations since then, it was because the disavowal targeted only his teachings. He remains a priest of the Catholic Church.

Furthermore, the fraternity/community he founded has no formal recognition in our Church. I therefore ask the faithful to be prudent about joining or otherwise supporting this group. Moreover, I am not in a position to confirm that the teachings in the fraternity are in accordance with those of the Catholic Church.

I invite all of you to prayer and to be vigilant so that only the truth contained in the Gospels be kept at the centre of our lives.

† Guy Boulanger

Bishop of Amos and Rouyn-Noranda

April 20, 2024

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This blog has previously presented an extensive analysis of the September 2020 statement of the Diocese of Amos. My interest at that time was that I saw an entirely unjust and ridiculous condemnation of this priest and thought that such slander should not stand. I have no “standing” other that that I understand the issues at hand better than the slanderer.

And now the present Bishop of Amos and Rouyn-Noranda has decided to speak up again. With all due respect for Bishop Boulanger, in the spirit of doing him a service as well as a service for Father Rodrigue, I take the opportunity to once again discern such a presentation.

• A personal emotion described as “disavowal” is not an ecclesiastical judgment about a person or anything relevant to that person. It is merely a washing of one’s hands. It says nothing positive but also says nothing negative. So, in the end, a “disavowal” means nothing. But we do know that the bishop is not telling us anything more than that about Father Michel or anything relevant to him.
• A “cautionary warning” is what one would expect for anything whatsoever out of the ordinary. It is simply a prudent thing to do by any shepherd. This was true for Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima. We thank the bishop for encouraging us to take caution. Great.
• The bishop says that he has “the responsibility of guiding our two diocesan Churches in the faith received from the Apostles.” We don’t hear much such pious language these days and I particularly appreciate the eagerness the bishop has regarding the faith and the faithful.
• The bishop points out “that Father Michel Rodrigue has never retracted himself from these messages and prophecies, quite the contrary.” That’s good to know. Good for you, Father! Note well that he was never once put under obedience to retract in any way, and it’s not his fault that, to the “contrary”, heaven has continued, allegedly, to speak to him. All good. There is no reprimand here in the least.
• Obviously, the diocese has been besieged by “Karens” throwing tantrums that Father Rodrigue was seen as if he were a priest in good standing, the bishop then responding that Father Rodrigue is, of course, a priest of the diocese. In other words, that’s what’s to be expected of priests in good standing. The “Karens” need to give it a break. What’s the hating all about. I don’t get it.
• The bishop goes on to say that “the fraternity/community he founded has no formal recognition in our Church. I therefore ask the faithful to be prudent about joining or otherwise supporting this group.” Well, of course, such is good advice for any group in the Church. Just because it has not been juridically established doesn’t mean it’s bad and evil. Groups live their charism for years, for decades even, before, if ever, seeking ecclesiastical recognition. That’s prudent. That has to do with self discernment. That’s how it works. They are doing what they are supposed to do. Great!
• The bishop closes by saying that he is “not in a position to confirm that the teachings in the fraternity are in accordance with those of the Catholic Church.” Well, of course not. That’s all been shut down by Cardinal Fernandez. The bishop isn’t allowed to say anything one way or the other. Finally, on that last point, since all that the Church will ever say about such matters from here on out is that whatever is going on is merely to receive a nihil obstat or not, but no longer an approval or not, well well, I would call this letter of the bishop a nihil obstat. This is as “positive” as you can get. It’s carefully worded, but it is what it is. The bishop permits the institute/community to continue, and the bishop permits, as it were, the continuation of whatever it is that is happening with Father Rodrigue. Great.
• In the end, the bishop gives great advice that I wish all bishops would give to all peoples. This is spectacularly good:
  • “I invite all of you to prayer and to be vigilant so that only the truth contained in the Gospels be kept at the centre of our lives.”