Fr. Francis Mary Stone left EWTN and his ministry last year, explaining that he needed time to discern his life direction and vocation. There was a woman in the picture, a widow he had counseled and her family. I suppose, the truth be said, he had already burned his bridges behind him, but that is for him to say (or not) in the days ahead. I do not know his status, but many priests who leave to marry and/or to support children have to face the cold reality that husbands and fathers have to provide for their families. Continue to pray for him and all involved.
HERE IS A LINK TO HIS NEW WEB PAGE:
http://www.davestoneinc.com/about.htm
Oh my goodness! Is it real? Any chance this could be fake?
Dave is pictured on his website as a promoter for the New Age nutritional drink, Zrii:
http://www.davestoneinc.com/zrii.htm
It is the drink about “taking the first step,” “changing lives,” “discovering your inner greatness,” and “the stars have aligned, it’s incredibly special”. “Opportunity is knocking like never before, this time, will you answer?” Horse hockey!
Sorry, this is all hype, not dissimilar from Amway. The originators promote a blending of Eastern religion and spirituality with the most aggressive of Capitalist advertising.
Living LIFE ON THE ROCK meant a turning to an active Catholic Christianity. The Zrii drink is not the Gospel and not the Church, but it is a a product sponsored by the CHOPRA CENTER:
http://www.chopra.com/
I suspect that Dave is still very much a Catholic and just trying to make a living. My remarks about the drink and its peculiar sponsorship are not meant in any way to be disparaging against him. Given that it is legitimate, I would urge people to help him out.
Under the heading SEDUCTION OF THE SPIRIT, the Chopra Center offers yoga and retreats: “In the comfort of a relaxed group setting, you will truly ground your meditation practice, experience higher states of consciousness and deepen your spiritual connection to discover your purpose in life. Heralded as The Chopra Center’s most profound spiritual experience, this six-day meditation retreat interweaves The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, advanced meditation techniques, daily energy work and yoga practice, all which provide the perfect ingredients for an experience that will create an opening of your emotional and spiritual pathways.”
Drink the drink if you want to do so, but leave the dangerous mumbo-jumbo spirituality stuff alone. It is not capatible with Catholic faith. We do not seek our own greatness or even to find ourselves… we seek Christ and his kingdom.
Father,
Having to provide for children is not a “cold reality” for husbands and fathers. It is a blessing and a gift.
God bless him.
This is really sad. To go from being a priest and bringing people Our Lord to bringing Zrii……
Father:
His primary business, which you neglect to mention, in the hopes, I assume, of presenting him as a wacko, is a business coordinating the provision of home health care.
It is a cold hard reality if you’ve been walking around in a romantic haze. However, is this really true? Is there any chance that it’s a nasty hoax?
The Blogs might be doing the very thing for which he hoped… GETTING THE WORD OUT. His website is brand new and I am sure he is hoping that it will prove profitable for him and his family. He is making no secret of his identity or of his role as a priest on EWTN. Indeed, he is banking on it and has subtitled his page, “Living Life on the Rock”.
In the world of sales it is sometimes said that there is “no such thing as bad publicity,” publicity is publicity.
The only possible exception is one’s own obituary. Dave Stone is putting us on notice that he is not dead yet.
Good luck and good bless, Dave!
DEAR FR. JOE, THANKYOU,THANKYOU, AND MILLIONS OF THANKYOU FOR GIVING US AN UPDATE ON FR. MARY STONE!!! I’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM EVERYDAY AND WONDER AT THE SAME TIME WHAT BECAME OF HIM. THANKYOU FR. JOE FOR THE RECENT UPDATE WHICH IS A SHOCKER TO ME. PLEASE CLARIFY DID HE HAD A CHILD WITH THE WIDOW???? MANY THANKS!!!GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR PRIESTHOOD. IN CHRIST, JESUS
It is worth noting that he is not charging for the talks.
If the fellow has an MBA, I’d guess that starting a business isn’t “cold reality” to him – he probably enjoys it. He doesn’t look unhappy.
This is the link to the site I mentioned (still active) Therese Fox was the woman and you can see Dave as Fr. Frances once morehttp://www.schmalen.com/Therese/media/lotr_020807.htm time.
Sorry, this is the web site Fr. Joe if you want to fix it so it’s seperated correctly:
http://www.schmalen.com/Therese/media/lotr_020807.htm
Does ZRII and chopra have anything to do with the New Age movement?
Please excuse my ignorance.
Thanks. Michael
Who are you to challenge what Dave did? I am glad he saw the light before it was too late. Are you jealous that he has a woman who loves him and that he is a father? At least he will not waste his life like you did. You old fat priests are all the same, hateful mean men who sleep alone and pretend that you are moral and making a difference. You say that you love the church, but at the slightest sign of trouble she kicks you out. That is how much she loves you. No one loves you. You make yourself unlovable. As for being a spiritual father, I bet most of the kids you knew have long forgotten you! They have probably left the church, discovering that you are just old hypocrites and that most of you are gays bashing other gays or child abusers. You cannot stand a real man who decides that he is going to start living as an adult man should. Yours is the harsh reality! You say your boring mass each day for old people who cannot even hear you speak. Sunday you look at your empty pews and have to pretend that people are actually appreciative that you gave up wife and children and a home of your own. Let me tell you the truth, they do not care! It makes no difference to them! Just ask them, they see no value in your celibacy. They lament that priests cannot get married. You will live and die and be quickly forgotten. You will leave nothing behind but dying churches. When the church wakes up and allows married priests, I hope they push your face in it, making you weep over men who can have it all. They will know ministry and marriage. They will really be able to relate to couples while all you can do is tell them what to do. What makes a celibate man an expert on marriage and sex? Nothing! You are sick!
XPRIEST, I will pray for you.
Give your anger over to God.
Wow, xpriest is really angry. Of course celibacy makes sense – it’s called commitment for the sake of something greater than oneself. If celibacy is senseless than so is any effort directed at getting over our selves. The concept of “sin” becomes irrelevant…. Indeed, I think that this is what the popular culture is preaching.
xpriest
I hope that I never received a sacrament from you either, valid or not.
You can rationalize from now until Kingdom come and you will ALWAYS BE WRONG!
It’s good that you’re an xpriest. That’s what Judas was. He betrayed his vocation too.
Oh, and another thing…..
Fr. Joe is more of a man than you’ll ever be.
He knows more about marriage, life and celibacy than you’ll ever know and if the pews are “empty” that’s not his fault. It’s because of disobedient and self-willed people like you.
Fr. Joe,
I do VALUE celibacy…especially YOURS!
Celibacy is a gift to the church, but whiners like this guy will never be able to understand.
No, Father Joe does not have a woman who loves him–but he does have millions of women who love him for the very reasons you do not.
You have chosen to leave the Priesthood to follow your own path–Father has chosen to leave his life behind and follow Christ’s.
Just who are you genuinely angry at, sir, because I doubt Father Joe is the true reason.
Laura, GOOD POINT!
Fr. Joe is under the mantle of the most beautiful woman in creation.
I strongly doubt that xpriest was ever a priest, but regardless, it gets really old hearing those who don’t agree with the Catholic Church belittle her priests and what we believe. All the priests I have ever known in my 40 years as a Catholic have gone out of their way to do everything they can for their parishoners…and basically anyone (Catholic, Jew, Protestant, atheist, whoever) who needs assitance that they can offer. Priests don’t get married because they devote themselves 24/7 to help save our souls and therefore, they don’t have time for thier own families-the parish is actually thier big family. I’m proud of my nephew studying at Conception Seminary in Missouri and of Fr. Joe and other priests like him. In the short few weeks since I discovered Fr. Joe’s website, he has helped me with so many questions and doubts I have had; once again, doing what God called him to do. Keep up the good work Fr. Joe.
Father Joe, I just wanted to chime in again and tell you how very much I love you, with all the love a daughter has for her spiritual father. I feel that way with all of Our Lord’s chosen priests, since He brought me home to being Catholic two years ago. I think that’s why, at least for me, this whole thing about Dave struck something deep: because even though I’ve never met him, never received a sacrament from him, and will likely never meet him in this lifetime, I still considered him my spiritual father. Does that make sense? Talking it out has given me closure, and I’m thankful that this blog has allowed me the privilege to do so.
So Father Joe, this daughter of yours loves you and is thankful for you and the guidance you provide to ALL your children! :)
What I still want to know is: Why a duck? Why-a no chicken?
CHARLOTTE:
Chris,
You made the comment about “asking for a break”, well, have you ever listened to the words of the Lords prayer as you prayed it? As you sit there condemning others for their failings, why don’t you listen to those words. EVERYONE falls. What makes a Saint, Chris? Being perfect? NO! Jesus came for the sinners (which is something YOU should be very thankful for) not the well. What makes a Saint, Chris, is when a person falls and by the Grace of God, gets back up. If you have ever read the bible,, you will also know that “God’s ways are not our ways.” You may not understand God’s will, and it’s not for you to neccesarily understand. What you must do is forgive your tresspassers as you would ask God to forgive YOUR tresspasses. It’s our job as Christians to Help each other to get to heaven. Not condemn each other. Also, if you had an ounce of respect for women (as Jesus did with Mary Magdalen) then you would never use words like that regarding God’s most beautiful creation- Woman. I think everyone already knows that the man has a child. At least he is doing the right thing instead of cowering behind his Bishop and being relocated like a lot of other deadbeat dad priests. I think he should be commended for that. He’s a hero by todays standards. With all the deadbeat men out there, priests or laypeople, leaving women with children and not even caring to see the child that they helped to create, much less support them. I do not understand the mentality of some people who say “Oh poor father. I hope he comes to his senses and goes back to the priesthood. It doesn’t matter if he has a baby. Too bad. He was OUR father first.” Ridiculous and selfish! Selfish, selfish, selfish! People who think like that should not even call themselves Christian. they are totally out of touch. I don’t know if any of you know this, but the Apostles were Married! WOW! Big shocker, huh!? The 12 that Jesus himself called to ministry were married, all but one – John. Do you think Jesus said, “hey guys, dump your family, I have a better deal for you.” I don’t think so. They were married!!! For the first 300 or so years there was a married priesthood. I tell ya what I think. The Church doesn’t want to support the priest, his wife and his 12 kids. It’s easier to pay them 12 k a year and be done with it. And you guys seem to think (and I understand, you were indoctrinated from birth to believe this stuff) that the priest is somehow Your property. Well, he’s not. He’s a human person just like you. Created by God, unique and totally LOVED by God. Only God knows what He has planned for that person.
You Go Dave! I’m rooting for you. God Bless Your New Family! God Bless your new business! Peace out!
FATHER JOE:
[His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.” (Matthew 19:10-12)
“If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)
He said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive (back) an overabundant return in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.” (Luke 18:29-30)
“Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do,….” (1 Corinthuans 7:8)
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10: 37)
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.” (Mark 10:29-30)
Certain feelings and attractions pass between people all of the time. Some are good, some not good.
When I began to date my wife, my dearest priest friend Fr. Angelus gave me this advice. He said: ” Michael, treat her like she was your own sister.” Right!
I try to treat all members of the opposite sex as my sisters because THEY ARE! They don’t have to be blood related to be my sisters.
I see them as my sisters in my real family of God.
He was encouraging me was to practice self-control and respect. Not that he even had to tell me. I already knew this, but his words always remained with me.
” treat her like she was your own sister”
Actually, the first disciples did, in fact, leave their families and friends, to follow Jesus.
And to call this man ‘a hero by today’s standards’ is incorrect. He’s very much a reflection of our times, especially today.
I value all faithful priests and pray for them constantly. Xpriest is wrong – I don’t want them to get married. I love them for being our spiritual fathers. When I am truly hurting inside and missing my father dearly (he died when I was nine), I often go to my pastor, who is my spiritual father. (Yes, he is old and fat and I don’t know what I would do without him and I thank God for him every day.)
Father Joe, thank you for all you do and for being you.
Xpriest, I will pray for you too.
I don’t think myself presumptuous to suggest that Father Joe would understand this situation far better than any of the posters here do.
Everyone is quite rude who does presume to know more than the Father regarding Priestly matters.
Father Joe is perfectly capable of holding his own, as it were, with anyone willing to pick a fight with him. However, all of us should keep in mind that we’re guests on Father Joe’s site. And we should behave as such.
Fr. Joe, you know you are taking those words out of context. You are also leaving the verses incomplete. Paul also says that it is better to marry than to burn. He is leaving the option open. There are many good straight men who are married who may even be called by God to serve the church, but they are not allowed to do so because of some man made discipline.
Father Joe: Thank you for this superb blog and your witness as a priest. It is for priests like yourself that on Saturday next, 11 October 2008, the third international Lay Fast for Priests will take place. From Dawn until 3 PM, lay volunteers will fast in honor and support of our priests, the spcial “other Christs” (St Catherine of Siena) who bring us the Eucharist and administer the sacraments of the Church. You truly are a treasure we need to cherish. The US portion of the Fast will be hosted here in Massachusetts, “ground zero” of the scandals which have afflicted our Church. The Fast will also be held simultaneously in Scotland, Taiwan, Angola, Argentina and Canada. More information and sign up sheets can be found at http://www.annaprae.com/layfast_2008.html.
Anyone can join. Fasting is praying with the body and in this Fast our priests are raised up to Our Blessed Lord under the auspices of Our Lady. God bless.
Mary O,
I’m with you. It isn’t easy especially if they’re pastors in charge of parishes. Not only do they have to be parish administrators, they also have the Masses and the sacraments.
Priests have do deal with so much ignorance and have to listen to so much garbage, in the confessional and out. I’m sure that it makes them feel like public utilities as times.
They get disgusted like the rest of us humans.
They also have to be “actors” in times when they probably feel like cracking up or chasing people away. I think that there must be a pre requisite for priests….being able to keep a straight face when they want to crack up or to get visibly angry. St. Padre Pio chased many insincere people from his confessional. He told them this: ” Come back when you’re ready to make a real confession.” Can you imagine a priest yelling at someone that today? By the time it reached full circle, the poor guy would be branded and blamed for who knows what.
Priests sometimes have to listen to people instruct them on why they feel that priests should get married, as if that’s going to somehow stop priests from being sinners. They also have to listen to people preach to them about birth control and that Rome should stay out of their bedrooms. They get upset if he preaches against abortion, euthanasia, pre-marital sex, masturbation, co- habitation, artificial birth control, artificial conception, and all of the other grave moral evils that we face today. All of those things separate us from God and are deadly to the soul.
People get upset over that?
SOULS ARE AT RISK! That’s the bottom line. There is no middle ground.
It’s either heaven or hell.
People get angry at God, then take it out on his messenger.
Fr. Joe, scripture tells us in at least three places that “It is not good for man to be alone.” In all cases, the reference was being made to marriage. I am not saying that no one should be celibate. I think anyone who is not married should remain celibate until they Are married. What I am saying is that Jesus called the first disciples, and all but one were married. Would Jesus have done that if he wanted a celibate priesthood? I don’t think so. He, after all, came not only to die on a cross, but to show us the way. Do you agree with that? When Paul is speaking of celibacy, he is saying it is easier to serve God if you do not have any other obligations, but it is also better to marry than to burn. Out of 12 disciples, only ONE was, and remained celibate (John.) Even Peter had a wife. If everyone wants to go back to early church history to prove this and that, then go back to early church history to see what was God’s “preferred plan.” How further back can you go than the first twelve called by Jesus himself?
FATHER JOE: Jesus planted the seed, but we do not have to go back to the primitive Church to find the truth; rather, we can go to the living Church for the tried-and-true traditions and practices of our faith. Do I believe that a celibate priesthood is superior to a married priesthood? Yes, I do.
Oh, and sniper, they traveled to serve God, but also came back home to their families. Look at a map. The areas they traveled were in close proximity, and it was not uncommon for a man to travel, even for months on end, for business. Much like the traveling salesman of today (and I am not degrading the priesthood by making that comparison, so no attacking please.) It is a fact that celibacy was instituted as a discipline. It is not doctrine. And it is very selfish to assume that the priest belongs to us, and should not have a family of their own. Yes, there is value in celibacy. But, there is value in marriage. Wether or not a person is married should not be a consideration for some one who is wanting to serve God and minister to His people in the priesthood. I know many Protestant ministers who have very loving and supportive wives who give them balance and support. Most men need that. They have wonderful families. What, may I ask, is so wrong about that. These are wonderful men who love God and spend their lives serving Him. I’m sure there are just as many wonderful married Catholic men out there with just such a desire to serve our Lord and His church in this way also.
It’s OK, Fr. Joe. Even with the worrisome terms deleted, readers get the idea.
Charlotte,
You missed my point.
If a husband did that to his wife and family, would you understand the children having a difficulty time with his actions? A father who doesn’t recognize that he also did wrong to them and that he needs to seek forgiveness from them for the hurt he’s caused, not just from the wife? A man in that situation also needs to make some attempt of restitution to the children, and understand, sadly, if it takes them time to forgive him.
Would you say that a father who hasn’t done that is at the very least insensitive and likely lacking in humility? Would you say to the child of divorced parents whose father is flaunting a new family within one year of leaving with no sincere attempt of apology for his final decision, Why are you having a problem? He’s moved on to next part of his vocation!
What I’m seeing from Dave is — Your mom forgave me. So did God. I don’t need forgiveness from you — get over it already. Oh, and by the way, would you help me support my new kid and love of my life while I flaunt the fact for money that I used to be married to your Mom because she has a big name?
And Charlotte, the Apostles were married before they became Apostles. The Eastern Rite churches do allow men to marry before being ordained. But not after. Even if Fr. Francis Mary had been ordained in an Eastern Rite church, he wouldn’t be able to marry without being laicized.
Chris,
They did not actually leave their families. They traveled, ministered, and preached the Word of God. If what you are saying were true, then the Apostles themselves would be guilty of the same thing that you are saying David Stone is guilty of, but in reverse. That would even imply that Jesus himself asked them to literally, no figuratively, abandon wife and child, and that contradicts everything that we believe about marriage. I also know what the Eastern Rite teaches regarding marriage in the priesthood. If you study Church History, then you would also know that the first 300 years or so, we in fact had a married priesthood in the Roman Church. I do not want to continue to argue my point. I am citing fact, not opinion. I also believe, and this is my opinion here, that we would not have such a crisis in the Church if priests were allowed the option, and I say Option, to marry.
Fr. Joe, one of my comments (#50) says that it is “awaiting moderation.” Is it on the comment board yet? Thanks.
FATHER JOE: Jesus planted the seed, but we do not have to go back to the primitive Church to find the truth; rather, we can go to the living Church for the tried-and-true traditions and practices of our faith. Do I believe that a celibate priesthood is superior to a married priesthood? Yes, I do.
CHARLOTTE: That is like saying that we do not have to read scripture to understand God. That is like saying, “let’s just look at what our church has been doing for the last few hundred years and that’s what we’ll believe is right.” Well, apparently, something is not working, because we have a crisis in our Church. That crisis is not with the people in the pews. It’s a crisis in the priesthood itself. Also, there are many priests that would like to be married and think That is the superior way. Unfortunatly, there is a man-made discipline that tells them that they do not have a choice. Anyway, I am tired of debating. We all know that it’s not likely to change, irregardless of what Gods perfect plan is. A priesthood without the option of marriage may not be Gods ordaining will, but it apparently has been his permitting will. Trying to get some to see this would be like going to the Middle East and trying to make everyone play nice. Not likely to happen. God bless.
FATHER JOE: The celibate priesthood is also God’s plan. The Church discerned that it was the best model. Other mainline denominations have married clergy and yet they still have vocations problems and shortages. The Church can permit married clergy. But I do not believe it is ideal and I would keep instances in the West quite rare. I think Pope Benedict XVI feels the same way, despite overtures to Conservative Anglicans. There is also evidence that married priests in the primitive Church increasingly practiced perpetual sexual abstinence just as Jewish priests did during their limited time of service. However, I could not say if the majority of priests in the early days of the Church lived in virginal marriages or not. As for married men wanting to be priests, it is not God’s will unless the Church calls them and confirms their vocation. We all might want many things that we cannot have.
Well there is supposed to be a podcast on 10/15 which should be somewhat telling, his voice for now, only being on for a few seconds when you go on the site.
I think if it was fake, the real David Stone would have heard by now with all the blogging and put something out himself…what they would be doing is illegal and it’s easy to check by callling the numbers and asking if you can speak to him before you do anything. I’m sure someone who is in touch with him would have told him by now. Why anyone would donate to him like a charity though is strange…but people do strange things.
Time will tell..
Why doesn’t someone book him to speak? I would love to hear from him instead of all of these blogs that gossip and speculate. It looks like the retainer is to help cover the travel expense. Having worked in event planning, I know that is a normal thing to ask for. I was also thinking about the zrii. A long time ago I asked my very old and orthodox confessor if it would be alright to take a yoga class. He said that yoga is exercise, which is not a bad thing as long as I didn’t enter into the religious aspect of it. I think that you could say the same thing about the zrii. It’s a nutritional beverage. It may be endorsed by a yogi master, but that doesn’t make the drink new age. Who made the ingredients? God did. Look at Mannatech. It’s a multi-level marketing thing. I know a lot of catholics who swear by it. Maybe the zrii works. In fact, I am going to try it. At my age, it certainly couldn’t hurt. I’ll give you an update to let you know how good it is. And the comment regarding the impossibility of offering all of those services? It’s not impossible. In fact, women who manage a home and take care of their family and an aging parent Do all of those things on a daily basis. it’s possible.
Michael, here’s some info that might help…a fairly new company.
http://www.mlm-thewholetruth.com/zrii.shtml
Just listened to Dave Stone’s first podcast. This answers a lot of questions! Here is the link:
“http://www.davestoneinc.com/podcasts/DSI_Podcast_101508a.mp3″
Fr. Joe,
I simply wanted to tell you how refreshing your voice is among the din of dissenting opinions. You provide moral clarity in all this confusion. I don’t flatter you, because I know that all wisdom comes from Christ alone. But He uses His faithful priests to transmit His message, and I appreciate that you speak Christ’s truth without compromise, and with charity. It is deeply refreshing!
You may be willing to “throw stones” at Mr. Stone, but I can not. I pray The Lord will have mercy on my soul…for I too have sinned. I miss him very much on The Rock, and pray he will one day knonw how many young and not so young people Dave has brought to our Lord.
I checked his webpage http://www.davestoneinc.com/ and the whole site is missing. I guess the business did not work. It had been months since he had left a message.
Keep praying for him.