Easter II: Hirelings or Wolves - Fr. Philip Eldracher 04-18-21

Summary

Fr. Philip Eldracher presents a critical reflection on the state of the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), contrasting the historical fidelity and courage of past saints and clergy with the perceived failures and corruptions of the post-conciliar church leadership. It begins by invoking the biblical metaphor of the Good Shepherd and his flock, warning against wolves—false shepherds who harm the sheep—and hirelings who neglect their duties. Fr. Eldracher laments a departure from traditional Catholic values and pastoral care, highlighting examples of saintly sacrifice such as St. John of God and St. Charles Borromeo, who risked their lives to serve their flocks during times of crisis.

In stark contrast, the post-Vatican II clergy are accused of abandoning their responsibilities by prioritizing political correctness, modern ideologies, and sacrilegious innovations over the spiritual welfare of their congregations. Specific criticisms include the denial of sacraments like confession to unvaccinated individuals, the blessing of homosexual unions, and the approval of practices condemned as mortal sins, such as artificial birth control and irregular marital unions. The text portrays these clergy not as hirelings but as wolves—actively deceiving and leading souls away from Christ.

Fr. Eldracher further critiques Vatican II documents for undermining core Catholic doctrines, such as the uniqueness of the Catholic Church as the sole means of salvation, the authority of the papacy, and the necessity of preaching the Gospel. The council’s emphasis on ecumenism and religious freedom is interpreted as a betrayal of Christ’s explicit commands and promises. The text condemns the current papal leadership, particularly Pope Francis, accusing him of heresy and scandalous teachings that contradict Christ’s teachings on sin, the Eucharist, and the Trinity.

Ultimately, the message calls the faithful to reject the false shepherds and return to the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, with a call for repentance and conversion. It stresses the importance of recognizing and fleeing from spiritual wolves to avoid eternal destruction, emphasizing the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Highlights

• The Church was established by Christ to lead all men to eternal salvation, but now faces threats from wolves and hirelings.
• Historical clergy exemplified courage and charity, risking their lives to serve the faithful during crises.
• Post-Vatican II clergy are accused of abandoning traditional Catholic doctrine and pastoral care.
• Vatican II is criticized for promoting religious pluralism and undermining papal authority.
• The blessing of homosexual unions and acceptance of mortal sin are condemned as sacrilegious innovations.
• Pope Francis and post-conciliar leadership are accused of heresy and leading souls away from Christ.
• The faithful are urged to reject false shepherds and return to Christ, the Good Shepherd, through repentance.

Key Insights

• The Good Shepherd vs. Wolves Metaphor: Fr. Eldracher uses the biblical imagery of Christ as the Good Shepherd and contrasts this with wolves and hirelings to frame the crisis in the Church. Historically, clergy acted as true shepherds, protecting and caring for their flock, even at great personal risk. This metaphor serves as a powerful allegory for discerning true from false leadership in the Church today. The “wolves” symbolize those who actively harm the flock by promoting false teachings, while “hirelings” represent those who neglect their duties due to lack of genuine care.
• Historical Examples of True Pastoral Charity: Saints like St. John of God and St. Charles Borromeo exemplify the ideal of pastoral sacrifice. Their willingness to face danger during epidemics and minister to the vulnerable contrasts sharply with what the text perceives as the cowardice or neglect of modern clergy. These examples serve as a benchmark for evaluating contemporary pastoral conduct and underscore the seriousness of clergy responsibilities.
• Critique of Post-Vatican II Church Teachings: Fr. Eldracher asserts that Vatican II introduced doctrinal errors, especially regarding ecumenism and religious freedom, which contradict Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to every creature and the claim that the Catholic Church is the sole means of salvation. This is presented as a fundamental rupture with tradition that has led to confusion, doctrinal relativism, and spiritual danger for the faithful.
• Erosion of Papal Authority: Fr. Eldracher argues that Vatican II diminished the unique authority given by Christ to St. Peter and his successors, redistributing power to the College of Bishops. This decentralization is viewed as