A Virginia priest is taking leave after disclosing his past in the Ku Klux Klan
A Roman Catholic priest in Virginia has taken a leave of absence after disclosing he was previously a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
In a column published Monday in The Arlington Catholic Herald, Father William Aitcheson revealed that as a young man he burned crosses as a member of the KKK.
“My actions were despicable,” he wrote. “When I think back on burning crosses, a threatening letter, and so on, I feel as though I am speaking of somebody else.”
The 62-year-old priest said 40 years had passed since he was a member of the Klan, but the violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville reminded him of that time in his life.
“While I firmly believe God forgave me — as he forgives anyone who repents and asks for forgiveness — forgetting what I did would be a mistake,” Aitcheson wrote.
The diocese of Arlington, Virginia, said Aitcheson “voluntarily asked to temporarily step away from public ministry.”
HT/ Art of the Zeal-
Bob Byrd’s body lies a-mold’ring in the grave
His hood goes marching on
Take that, Pete Seeger.
depends on whether he was a democrat or not, right ?
Let’s see proof priest.
Is this guy a Jesuit? If he’s a member of the society of Jesus, then do not listen to him. The Jesuits are the ones who are destroying the Church! Also, notice how this comes out after Charlotte. If he has to perform penance for his prior activities, then why is the Reverend Robert Wright not being shamed for breaking the second commandment?
I smell a rat. After burning crosses at age twenty he suddenly gets a devotion to serve Christ.? He is accepted. No background check? Court case must have being going on while he was in the seminary? Yeah, I smell a rat.
Which is worse, being a pedophile priest or a previous member of the KKK? I’d say being a pedophile.
I was raised a liberal and I know some fine priests who used to be lawyers; true conversions are possible.
People on all sides of religion and politics who are afraid to do their own soul searching and reality checks hate converts because compassion for or conversation with them might require that one question one’s own beliefs.
The real story is the bishop. Pray for all the priests in Arlington Diocese.
Well, you know what this means.
He’s running for the Senate in 2018.
I thought this is why the Catholics have Confessionals.
So you don’t have to tell everybody on the planet.