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A Priest's Confession of a Mistake

By Marcella Glenn

There was much debate, online and off, about why Father Thomas Euteneuer left his position as president of Human Life International, 2010, in August.

The sudden exit led to official apologies, explanations and defenses of both Euteneuer's past behavior as not only the superstar of the international pro-life movement, but an exorcist for the Catholic Church.

A January 27th medical emergency at HLI's Front Royal, Virginia headquarters described by emergency medical responders as a "medical seizure," and some witnesses depicted "demonic possession" of a past female associate of Euteneuer's.

There were speculations and accusations against the priest, attacks on both the priest's critics and alleged victims.

Euteneuer sliced into the five months of official silence with an admission of one instance of moral failing during his performance of an exorcism.

"The circumstances that led to my departure from HLI were related exclusively to my own decisions and conduct within the ministry of exorcism that I carried out independently from my responsibilities at HLI," Euteneuer in a February 1st post on the web site LifeSiteNews. The "vast majority of my decisions and conduct, both personally and in this ministry, were morally sound and consistent with all standards of pastoral care of persons," Euteneuer explained. "I must acknowledge, however, that one particularly complex situation clouded my judgment and led me to imprudent decisions with harmful consequences, the worst of which was violating the boundaries of chastity with an adult female who was under my spiritual care."

Euteneuer accepted "full responsibility" for his "weakness and sinful conduct," but added a denial of some specific online accusations, such as the presence in a rental room in his parent's home of a woman alleged to have been the subject of repeated exorcisms by the priest.

"The good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not be known or for making use of a discreet language. The duty to avoid scandal often commands strict discretion. No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2489. Emphasis in the original.)," the HLI statement.

Marcella Glenn is a freelance writer, blogger, novelist, and former business editor. She looks forward to hearing from you. Scribble a note to her through NewsBlaze, or her blog at critiqueandwrite.blogspot.com