UPDATED COLLECTION: The Altman file, full coverage, reaction since public condemnation of Democrats
Here's a look at our full coverage since September of Father James Altman's partisan charges against Democrats, his anti-vaccine rhetoric and largely maskless services at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse, the recent diocesan action against him, and some related columns and letters from readers.
(36) updates to this series since Updated
A local priest whose public condemnation of Democrats as “Godless hypocrites” sparked both outcry and defense last fall has now drawn new attention for his anti-vaccine rhetoric and largely maskless services.
Father James Altman, pastor of St. James Catholic Church, La Crosse, wrongly asserts, “You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period.” He adds that Catholic Democrats must repent or “face the fires of hell.”
Well one week from today is Halloween. You know tricks, treats and gangway. Or the poem from your years as a kid “Tonight is the night ,When dead leaves fly, Like witches on switches, Across the sky, When elf and sprite, Flit through the night, On a moony sheen." (Harry Behn 1898-1973). That is for next week though.
James Altman is a Roman Catholic priest in Wisconsin, little known outside his parish until a few weeks ago. Robert Jeffress is the high-profile pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Dallas. They have a message in common for members of their faiths: Voting for Democrats who support abortion rights is an evil potentially deserving of eternal damnation.
In a new video, published by the same far-right media outlet, Father James Altman of La Crosse said he stands by his messages from a past video that Catholic Democrats are impostors, and adds that "hell" is seen in "left wing cancel culture."
"There's the ultra right and the ultra left in the church, and it seems that the gospel message itself is somewhere in between."
"Examine the issues. Examine your values. Examine your hearts," Sister Eileen McKenzie, president of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, said in a statement.
"Here's a memo to clueless baptized Catholics out there: You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period," Father James Altman said in the video.
I have some words of advice for Father James Altman of La Crosse. Read the Bible verse: Matthew 7: 1-5 “Judge not that you be not judged.”
l am writing in response to coverage of Father James Altman from La Crosse.
This is my first, and potentially my last, letter to the editor.
Wow! La Crosse Diocese priest James Altman declares: "Godless Dems Will Go to Hell!"
I am a Catholic in the Diocese of La Crosse.
The Faithful America petition asking La Crosse Bishop William Callahan to fire Fr. James Altman for spreading deadly vaccine misinformation and breaking COVID-19 protocols gathered more than 10,000 signatures in its first 24 hours, the group said.
This letter is in support of Fr. James Altman. He is a hero to thousands of Catholics -- perhaps tens of thousands. He is what a leader used to be in "The Church."
I write in support of Father James Altman and wish to express the thoughts that many faithful Catholics from around the country have with regard to his speaking out against the COVID-19 vaccines and the shuttering of our churches.
Not a good week for the La Crosse Catholic Diocese.. First it gets hit with the start of an investigation by the Wisconsin Attorney General relating to sex abuse and the resulting coverups. Then its alt-right celebrity Father Altman again strikes spewing his deceitful (per the Diocese) and hateful ideas about any number of things from his pulpit and violating local law and church policy on COVID precautions. And, he apparently has become the darling of alt-right hate groups by contributing material to their social media and internet sites. What a guy!
The following is the full statement from the Diocese of La Crosse, sent Monday afternoon after the Tribune published a story on the bishop's request. You can read the story here:
I wholeheartedly support Fr. James Altman, a man following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
I live in the diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin. I am writing in support of Father James Altman once again, to point out the unity that he has achieved worldwide amongst believers.
Father James Altman is an an embarrassment to our city, our state, the Roman Catholic Church and indeed, the whole of Christianity. The mask is a little piece of cloth, not a ball and chain. It’s something decent people wear to prevent others from being sick, in no way is it taking away anyone’s freedom. Our Lord healed the sick, Altman is fine doing the opposite.
Here is the full statement issued by the Diocese of La Crosse:
The Diocese of La Crosse announced Friday that it was removing a controversial La Crosse priest from his role as pastor.
Altman was immediately removing as leader of St. James the Less and barred from "exercising the function of pastor," which he seems to have violated by giving the prayer at CPAC.
Bishop William Callahan, bishop of La Crosse, has asked for the resignation of Father James Altman, Pastor of St. James Church, La Crosse. On May 23, Altman told parishioners that the bishop had labeled him as “divisive and ineffective.”
Considering the latest issues regarding Father James Altman, I would like to take this opportunity to remind the La Crosse community that over the past years there have been two Father Altmans in La Crosse.
The Diocese of La Crosse now has the article from the CNA, which speaks of the Pope's approval of Father James Martin's "ministry" on its official website. The same website in which a letter from the Bishop criticizing Father Altman is on. The irony here is inescapable. At the least, featuring this article on the Diocesan website regarding Father Martin is being tone deaf at this time.
Last week, Bishop William Callahan suspended Father James Altman from public ministry. The primary reason seems to be Father Altman’s preaching about pro-abortion Catholics.
Fr. Altman spoke truth with clarity and charity. Let's review the fruits of his ministry which Bishop Callahan did not publicly share:
A Roman Catholic priest has been removed for preaching what the Church has believed all along.
I spent my childhood on Northside, St. James graduate.
We are praying for Father Altman from Port Fairy, a small country town in Victoria, Australia. I started to listen to Father Altman's sermons when our churches closed and all sacraments stopped, and I have been listening every week since.
A Facebook friend wrote, “Father Altman is ego driven.” After asking him how he knew this, he quoted scripture, “You will know them by their fruits.”
While I am relieved that Fr. James Altman has finally been removed by Bishop Callahan from his role as a parish priest, it is inexplicable in my view that Altman has amassed over $700,000 from supporters who believe that he should remain as parish priest and fight Callahan with a team of canon lawyers.
Webster defines science as "knowledge as distinguished from ignorance." The famous plaque on UW's Bascom Hill states that the U. of Wisconsin ..."should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found." Consequently, if one is not permitted to question it, it is not really science. Can anyone imagine not being permitted to ask a question in math or science in school?
"As the Bishop has stated to me: I am ineffective. So for the record dear family, Bishop Callahan has asked me to resign as pastor as of this past Friday, two days ago, because I am divisive and ineffective," Altman said.
Support — and opposition — continue to grow for Father James Altman, who was asked by the Diocese of La Crosse late last week to resign from St. James the Less Catholic Church.
