fr. james altman

Father James Altman, pastor at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wis., is seen in his YouTube video. In the clip he attacks Catholics who are Democrats. (CNS photo/YouTube screen take hold of)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Rev. James Altman calls himself "a lowly priest" serving a bluish-neckband city in western Wisconsin. But when his bishop demanded his resignation – after a series of divisive remarks nearly politics and the pandemic – Altman refused to oblige and has since raised more than $640,000 from his conservative supporters to defend himself.

While not unprecedented, a Catholic priest's refusal to bide by a bishop'due south call to resign is certainly rare. Altman'south instance, which has garnered national attention and made him a celebrity of sorts amongst some Catholics, has further fueled the split up between them and those urging a more progressive, inclusive church building.

Altman, pastor of St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church building in La Crosse, first came into prominence before the 2020 ballot with a fiery video on YouTube.

While not unprecedented, a Catholic priest'due south refusal to abide by a bishop's call to resign is certainly rare.

"Y'all cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat," said Altman, admonishing people to "repent of your support of that political party and its platform or confront the fires of hell."

He reiterated that sentiment recently while too criticizing vaccination efforts and restrictions on church gatherings related to COVID-19.

On May 23, Altman announced during a homily that the Diocese of La Crosse'south bishop, William Patrick Callahan, had asked for his resignation every bit pastor of St. James.

"They want my caput now for speaking that truth," Altman told the congregation. "I, a lowly priest, obviously have created enemies amongst some of the hierarchies."

The diocese issued a argument the next day confirming Callahan'south request and Altman'south refusal to pace away, and said it would brainstorm the procedure to remove him according to Catholic law.

"They want my head now for speaking that truth," Altman told the congregation. "I, a lowly priest, patently have created enemies amidst some of the hierarchies."

Altman said he would fight the process just needed coin to hire lawyers. His supporters across the U.S. responded swiftly.

LifeFunder, a crowdfunding site for conservative Christians, set out to raise $100,000 for Altman; past Thursday it had raised more than $322,000. GiveSendGo, another Christian crowdfunding site, has raised more than $326,000.

"Equally we all know, Fr. Altman has been subject to diabolical persecution only for doing his task equally a shepherd to his flock," says a message on GiveSendGo.

Altman didn't answer to a message The Associated Press left at the church building role. Videos posted by LifeFunder feature him railing against the Catholic hierarchy, calling bishops who don't support him "cowards" and a "breed of vipers," and labeling liberals "left-wing fascist Nazis."

Equally for the fundraising, he said: "I never call back of myself as slap-up, but what information technology does tell me is the people are saying that they need to hear the truth spoken."

"As nosotros all know, Fr. Altman has been subject field to diabolical persecution just for doing his job every bit a shepherd to his flock," says a message on GiveSendGo.

Most of Callahan's fellow bishops across the U.S. accept non commented publicly most the case, though one of them — Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas — has tweeted back up for Altman.

Altman "is in trouble for speaking the truth," Strickland tweeted. "He inspires many to proceed the faith during these nighttime days. Let us pray for him."

Conversely, True-blue America, which describes itself as an online community of Christians, launched a petition urging Altman's removal from the ministry building due to his remarks near the pandemic.

"Fr. Altman is endangering not merely his ain parishioners but every essential worker they come across, and should be removed ... before he can take chances even 1 more life," the petition said.

David Cloutier, an assistant professor of moral theology at the Catholic University of America, said via email that Altman "is clearly far out of bounds in the extent to which he is no longer articulating specific Catholic pedagogy."

"He has instead become a conservative commentator on cultural issues on which at that place is either no specifically 'Cosmic' position or where the priest might well be at odds with Catholic principles," Cloutier added.

La Crosse is a city of l,000 on the Mississippi River about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Minneapolis. Altman's church was built in 1901; its reddish brick walls and towering dome are a local landmark.

Its congregation has been divided over Altman.

Videos posted past LifeFunder feature Father Altman railing against the Catholic hierarchy, calling bishops who don't support him "cowards" and a "brood of vipers," and labeling liberals "left-wing fascist Nazis."

Ballad Patterson attended Mass at St. James for 50 years until Altman'due south style and sermons drove her to another church last year. Though she was securely involved in church building activities, she said he never bothered to learn her proper name.

Leaving was a tough determination; Patterson and her daughter were both married in St. James and her tardily husband was buried under its aegis.

"I just didn't concur with the things he (Altman) was doing," Patterson said. "The Democrats become to hell, encouraging people not to become masks, not to get the shots. ... I loved St. James, merely I just couldn't do it anymore. It was raising my blood pressure."

Monica Mohan, has made the eighty-mile drive from her home in Fall Creek to La Crosse twice to attend Mass with Altman. She said he is true to Catholic principles and now faces pressure from a church hierarchy that has been trying to "water downward" the religion.

"I take never seen a priest so joyful when he's distributing Holy Communion," she said. "This parish is his family. To rip a father abroad from his family when he has not taught annihilation opposite to the faith is inconceivable. It'southward despicable."

If Altman persists in his disobedience, the legal procedures — dictated past the Cosmic church'due south Code of Canon Constabulary — could be lengthy.

If Altman persists in his defiance, the legal procedures — dictated by the Catholic church'southward Code of Canon Law — could be lengthy.

Co-ordinate to William Daniel, a professor of canon law at Catholic Academy, a priest asked past his bishop to resign has the option of submitting a defence force. The bishop so consults with ii other pastors and bug a decree removing the priest if he determines that step is still warranted.

If the priest thinks the bishop'due south decision is unfair, Daniel said, he tin bring the case to the Vatican'due south Congregation for the Clergy, which can uphold or change the bishop's decision. A further Vatican review is possible if the priest or the bishop disagrees with the Congregation'due south decision,

While requests for the resignation of a priest are not uncommon, information technology'southward rare that they lead to a high-contour refusal to resign, Daniel said.

One of the few such cases in the U.Southward. came in 2002, when a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston refused to step down over an accusation that he sexually abused a kid three decades before. The Rev. D. George Spagnolia took his case to the Vatican merely was unable to overturn his suspension. He died in 2008.

More than recently, the Rev. Frank Pavone, an anti-abortion activist who heads Priests for Life, appealed to the Vatican over restrictions placed on his ministry in 2011 by his bishop in Amarillo, Texas. Pavone succeeded in getting the restrictions eased, relocated abroad from Texas and remains agile with Priests for Life.

Pavone strongly supports Altman's correct to resist the resignation request.

"Bishops err, and sadly, some — as in my case — badly abuse their authority," Pavone said via e-mail. "We need to be able to defend ourselves."

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Crary reported from Carbondale, Colorado.