This is an excellent homily on racism and the history of our country. Worth a listen. The homily starts at the 30:00 minute mark.

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This Post Has 19 Comments

  1. Lisa and Robert Parkes

    Thank you Father for sharing your homilies online. My husband and I look forward to hearing them. Like a breath of fresh air. The first homily I heard was a few weeks ago when the riots had just started. My friend sent me a link to your homily and I could not believe how well you put into words all the things I knew but was not able to articulate so beautifully. Out 14-year-old granddaughter, who was staying with us had been asking me questions about all that was going on and how her friends were sympathetic to the black lives matters. The next morning I had her listen with me to your homily. All of our grandchildren go to a Catholic school run and operated by the Dominican Sisters. I feel they should use this time to teach as you are teaching. the Truth and not hedge. Thank you and we look forward to more sermons online. We live in Arkansas and our grandchildren live in Nashville Tn.

  2. Cindy Barnes

    I recently found Father Altman over the July 4th weekend and couldn’t stop listening to all the homilies on YouTube. Now I can’t go to sleep until I get my Father Altman fix. I love your courageous effort to tie the current events with Catholic beliefs and readings. So much more fitting than the reprehensible statement of Archbishop Gregory.

    I moved to Phoenix, Arizona 7 years ago and attended mass at several different Catholic Churches and
    I’ve felt so empty and desolate. I pray all Bishops and Priests will take a holy lesson from Father Altman and grow a backbone in Shepherding the faithful the way our Blessed Lord instructed them to. It is so refreshing to hear Father Altman speak the truth and talk to us as participating adults in the world today.

    Thank you so much and please keep up the good work!!

    Cindy

  3. Pamela Smith

    Fr James Altman’s homilies are my go-to for true Catholic faith and instruction on how to live in these dark days. He is a true blessing to us who search for the truth not being addressed in our own parishes throughout the world.
    God bless you, Fr James.

  4. Gerry Kelly

    We often look to a lead from our dear American friends and how delightful to hear these wonderful homilies so unlike the timid and ‘safe’ efforts by so many here. Fr James Altman is a real gem a leader a wonderful prophet and a true man of God. We join you our dear American Conservative friends in sharing our faith. We do not like Liberals and Communists who control so much in this Country but love the way you tell the truth without fear or reserve, God Bless America!

  5. Rob

    This guy is a racist nut job.

    STEVE RAY HERE: Rob, You could at least try to be a little more creative. What would people like you do without the word “racist” which applies to anyone you don’t like even if they are the furthest thing from a racist possible. Racist is the accusation that people throw around today to discredit people they don’t like. The word doesn’t even have any meaning anymore as your usage proves. Don’t waste your time posting on my blog unless you want to continue being an excellent example of how irrational some people can be.

  6. Richard DeCamp

    How can we get Fr. James Altman on TV weekly like Fiulton Sheen?

    STEVE RAY HERE: Richard, I think he’d have a huge following!

  7. Bob Degrand

    I'm so relieved and encouraged after listening to Fr Altmans's homily on racism! Sadly, the troubled, hopelessly confused will attack his truth…(eg..Rob). However, the vast majority of us totally agree and support Fr Altman. My concern is that some of the liberal 'bishops of darkness' will reprimand him. With a pope who supports the El Paso priest who knelt in submission to the marxist BLM….a pope who recently sent funding to support transsexuals …a pope who positions homosexual activist Jimmy Martin to a speaker
    at the prior Christian seminar for youth! Such a troubling leader of our church!
    All my prayers to Fr Altman. Beware….there are those bishops who resent him and will never stop to force their pseudo "systemic racism" agenda on the "low information" parishioners !

    STEVE RAY HERE: Agreed Bob! Thanks for your comments.

  8. ignacio

    May the grace, peace, fortitude and blessings of the Holy Spirit be in you, Father Altman always! The Lord certainly loves us and demonstrates His love for us by raising real shepherds up.

    As for me and my family, we will pray a Nine Day Novena In Honor Of The Most Holy Face Of Jesus dedicated to you and we join our prayers to whatever intentions you have.

    I don’t know what exile the Lord has planned for us, but He loves us so much that He is inviting us into a time of reflection and I know He’s with us still. You prophesy His words of edification, exhortation and consolation and for His love and your prophecy I praise His Holy Name and will discern deeply on Jesus’ Most Holy Face.

    It’s not too late to change your name to Jeremiah, but then again God created you and you alone from before time to be Father James and in His wonderful and perfect plan for His creation, He created you for such a time and place as this.

    May the Lord bless you when you sit, when you stand, when you come in and when you go out, when you sleep and when you wake, when you discern and when you speak. May the Lord bless you and keep you in the city and in the country, online and in person.

    You know the fate of prophets: yes, it’s true there is – let us call it “upward mobility” – but here on terra firma as you’ve already discovered, you will be deeply unpopular and you will have visions of terror and violence. Stay strong in the Lord. You likely know no other way and for this, I praise Jesus’ Holy Name.

    amDg ignacio (Jesus-centered, Jesus-first… society should follow)

  9. Fran Keller

    Fr. Altman was called by God to preach the Gospel. It is evident Fr. Altman loves his dear family. He tells the truth! If the shoe fits, wear it. As Fr. Altman has said, there are no footnotes on the 10 Commandments. Fr. Altman makes one look into and examine his or her conscience to really make a sincere and heartfelt confession.
    Thank-you dear Fr. for taking the persecution you are receiving for speaking the truth. He cares so much about our souls. He truly wants us to seek eternal life with God who gave His only begotten Son for us—-all of us. Jesus died a brutal death to save us. He doesn’t ask for much. Dear family, as Fr. Altman would say, fill your lamps with oil.
    Say a Rosary everyday…. a very powerful weapon against evil. Pray for the lost Anarchists. They have so much hate. Why? With prayers maybe they will convert.
    A problem we have today is God is being taken from many of the Democrats. Our country was founded on God—-“In God We Trust”—One Nation under God. Bring Him back into our homes and Country.
    God Bless Fr. Altman and God Bless America. ???????

  10. Clif B

    God didn't create race. Race is a human invention based off people who wanted power over other people for cheap labor.

    STEVE RAY HERE: I think this is a rather simplistic view of race. Man did not invent race as you said. Different parts of the world, different cultures, religions, ways of life, etc. has produced people of different languages, ways of life, levels of “civilization” and more. Racial differences have been exploited but not created.

  11. Jim

    I've listened to this homily carefully, I've compared Fr Altman's remarks with the Naacpp website that he references, I would encourage everyone to examine that website and if you are still supportive of Fr Altman's conclusions, great. I just have to wonder why Father Altman chooses to smooth over the ghastly effects of racism with these false equivalencies. Father Altman quotes some numbers regarding lynching and how there were lynchings of both white and black without qualifying that in many cases whites were lynched for the crime of opposing the lynching of blacks. I've seen Mr Ray speak at Franciscan a number of times and one thing that brings me back to their events is their avoidance of tawdry political notions, Now I hear Priests and teachers espousing US party politics, I don't live in the US but it seems that the denying the blatantly obvious problems with racial discrimination is leading you in to a fairly dark place.

    STEVE RAY HERE: Jim, thanks for writing and sharing your thoughts. What country are you from, if you don’t mind I ask? Thanks for coming to the Steubenville conferences. Sorry this year was canceled. I was one of the speakers. So, I guess we wait until next year.

    First, as a Catholic I form my principles, morals and political ideas from the Truth of the Catholic Faith. Second, as an American I am free and it is even my duty to get involved in the way my country works and who its leaders are. That is the nature of a Democratic Republic. I do and always will speak out on politics and do all I can to keep our country free, prosperous, pro-life and free of racial and social turmoil.

    Third, people assume our country is full of systemic racism because we have had problems, especially in our past, but what country doesn’t. We have done more than any other to correct problems and to make life equal for all. But for those who think Americans are all racists and it is a terrible country to live in, I don’t seee walls going up to keep people IN; rather, there are walls to keep illegals OUT.

    If our country is as bad as many like to claim (and many believe it because they hear it so much and we know that if something is said often enough, people begin to believe it is true) then why are people fighting to get INTO our country?

    Anyway, don’t think the people at Steubenville are apolitical. Talk to any of the major speakers at FUS and you will find they all are very strong in their political points and we all pretty much think alike.

  12. Ronald Lewis

    James Altman
    I know you are pro birth, but since you are supporting the alt right you are obviously not pro life. Your party constantly suppresses help to the poor and sick. Scott the former governor of my state refused $3 million from the federal government to help the poor with health insurance. Just one example of a constant refusal of the regressives (opposite of progressives) to help those in need. I'm not the judge of who goes to heaven or hell, and of course you are not either. Even you may go to heaven, but I doubt it. Matthew 7: 21-23 and Matthew 23: 9. I am amazed that such a 'religious' person as you could support Trump. I've never seen a more Godless President in the history of the U.S. I think Rev. 21:8 is the appropriate scripture for him.
    See all the teachings by Pope Francis on the poor and the sick.
    Sincerely,
    Ronald Lewis, just a Christian

    STEVE RAY HERE: To Ron, "just a Christian", but certainly not a thinker. Ron, I am allowing your post with my comments to show people how really confused some Christians can be. I know you are writing to Fr. Altman, but since he and are on the same page, I am taking your rhetoric and judgmentalism personally and answering for both of us.

    Jesus was not writing to governments. He was writing to individuals. People are supposed to help other people. We are to care for the poor, feed the hungry, bury the dead, etc. This is a command to people as individuals, not to governments to do instead of the people.

    The problem with socialists is they want the government to do everything FOR them and to give everything TO them. You suggest I am not going to heaven because I support Donald Trump and a Free Market government. This demonstrates an utter lack of understanding of Scripture and the popes. Get off CNN, read about the cultural context of the Bible and the words of Jesus and start taking care of the poor yourself, instead of abrogating your responsibility to a nameless, faceless, inefficient, bumbling bureaucracy.

    And one last thing about your judgmentalism and my doubtful ability to make it to heaven because I oppose socialism. Have you had access to my financial records? Do you have any idea how much I give to charities and trustworthy donations and to individual needy people? I not, then be very careful about assuming the prerogatives of God and judgings souls this side of eternity.

  13. Charlotte

    Glad to know this is just "capital punishment", something the Church, of course, embraces:
    From "Mary Turner (1899-1918):
    A mob of several hundred people dragged her to Folsom Bridge, over the Little River, which separated Brooks and Lowndes counties. The mob tied her ankles, strung her upside down, doused her clothes in gasoline and set her on fire. While she was still alive, someone split open her stomach and her unborn baby slid out and fell to the ground. The mob stomped and crushed the baby to death. Turner’s body was riddled with hundreds of bullets. Later that night, the remains of Turner and her baby were buried a few feet away from where they were murdered for the whole story: A mob of several hundred people dragged her to Folsom Bridge, over the Little River, which separated Brooks and Lowndes counties. The mob tied her ankles, strung her upside down, doused her clothes in gasoline and set her on fire. While she was still alive, someone split open her stomach and her unborn baby slid out and fell to the ground. The mob stomped and crushed the baby to death. Turner’s body was riddled with hundreds of bullets. Later that night, the remains of Turner and her baby were buried a few feet away from where they were murdered. For the whole story:
    https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mary-turner-1899-1918/

    STEVE RAY HERE: thanks for sharing. No one denies that there have been tragic problems in the history of our country, especially with slavery and race. All such violence against anyone, black or not, is tragic and wrong.

    But does this somehow justify the looting, killing and violence today, especially in Democratic cities where people are destroying their own communities? Not sure what your point is. If it is to make the point that racial injustice and things that happened in our country are a reason to destroy cities today, I would have to disagree with you.

    And if somehow or you think by sharing that you have debunked the good priest, I think you’re wrong there too. He would agree with you and me as such actions are tragic and tomorrow and to be condemned.

  14. Sean

    I will say my wife and I are blesses to have found a parish in the town we moved to that preaches the Gospel in a similar method that Fr. Altman does. The spiritual faithful needs more truth preached to them to guide their faith and actions, anything short of it coddles the faithful and doesn’t lead them to the fulness of truth, only to have them remain in their relativistic relation to it, vis a vis remaining in sin. If people have a hard time accepting Truth, the problem isn’t with Truth, it is with the person’s relationship with the Truth. Furthermore, when we remove God in any activities we participate, it is an acceptance to sin and we no longer live in the Truth.

    “Judgement of the Lord is true and just.”

  15. lj

    I am new to discovering Father Altman. It is so nice to have a priest not tip-toe around speaking the truth. I am disturbed by the number of people posting here bringing up the idea of “institutional racism”. You cannot judge people of 200 years ago by today’;s standards. It is crazy to do that. Secondly, its hard to accept the concept of institutional racism while being lectured to by multimillionaire black entertainers, actors, and athletes, and billionaires like Oprah. If there was such a thing as institutional racism actually existed, these people would never have found themselves the success that they now are. Our country gave them this opportunity. Then you see how many people of color have jobs in government ( post office, DMV, whatever) and private industry ( like TV commercials). No country is perfect. We have done better than most. I think that the current riots are not doing anything positive for race relations in this country. People don’t like being blamed for things they have not actually done.

  16. Lori Harroun

    1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 24
    And Saul said to Samuel, “I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”

    Holy Bible Revised Standard Version

    Read the whole chapter
    Pray for obedience in doing Gods will for all the priests from the popes down to the baby priest and all the religious and for us

  17. Clay

    Stevie Ray, Did you know the KKK did most of the those lynchings and some of the whites who were lynched were priest and jews?

  18. Corita

    Welp. Anti-catholicism was certainly systemically entrenched when public schools taught Christianity. That was a big part of the reason they were founded in this country: to get Catholic kids to reject the Church and adopt "patriotic citizen" Christianity.

    There are so many errors in Fr. Altman's homily he sounds like a drunk Grandlfather going on at Thanksgiving. But unfortunately he is now using his priesthood as a way to gain adulation and lead members of the Church astray.

    I, too, wish more priests were willing to preach about specific evils, like being self-satisfied in your holiness. And racism. And I want to remind everyone that sometimes the Devil says exactly what we want to hear.

    STEVE RAY HERE: I appreciate Corita sharing her thoughts, but I am humored by her comments. I am moderating this to show so people can see how twisted many Americans are with their opinion on the church and our country.
    Sometimes what looks like "speaking courageously" is just someone saying the evil thoughts we are all too afraid to speak out loud. But that person who says them makes us feel better about our sin.

  19. Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Bauman

    I’m going to repeat what you have heard I can only imagine at least 4000 times or more. We were staving and one day you were there father. After hearing your Homily we prayed a Hail Mary with the Oh Mary concieved without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee! A prayer we pray many times a day. Thank you Mother Mary for your prayers that have been answered. Jesus heard and answered years of prayers, yes that’s not a typo Father. Thank you for paying attention to Jesus’s call to you at the ordination you attended to the ones that you had declined prior times before, oh how great this ordination would be. So thank you father for being a true follower and Priest for Christ. We love you, we thank you. Peace be with you

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