As you may have heard, Fr Rodriguez was removed and sent to a parish “out of town”. Apparently, someone didn’t like him teaching the Catholic Faith about same-sex attraction at the City Council meetings.
Here is a recent and topical interview with him.
Read the full interview here, bits below.
MJM: Up until last year, I believe, things were pretty quiet in your priestly life. What happened to change all that? 
FR: The local, and even national, “controversy” that has engulfed me is due to the fact that I have been vocal in promoting what the Roman Catholic Church teaches in regard to the whole issue of homosexuality. It’s a disgrace, but the City Council of El Paso has been adamant in trying to legitimize same-sex unions. This goes completely contrary to Catholic Church teaching. I’ve made it clear to the Catholics of El Paso (and beyond) that every single Catholic has a moral obligation before God Himself to oppose any government attempt to legalize homosexual unions. A Catholic who fails to oppose this homosexual agenda, is committing a grave sin by omission. Furthermore, if a Catholic doesn’t assent to the infallible moral teaching of the Church that homosexual acts are mortally sinful, then such a Catholic is placing himself / herself outside of communion with the Church. These are the Catholics who are actually excommunicating themselves, not the Society of St. Pius X!
MJM: I can understand why the civil authorities and media might find this “controversial”; but why would your ecclesial superiors find it so?
FR: The dismal response of both civil and ecclesiastical authorities to the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church in regard to homosexuality demonstrates how extreme the current crisis of faith actually is. It really can’t get much worse. There’s hardly any faith left to lose! Even a pagan, bereft of the light of faith, can arrive at the conclusion that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil. Reason, natural law, and consideration of the male and female anatomy more than suffice to confirm this moral truth.
MJM: And yet you must go where the bishop tells you to go. Is this difficult for you?
FR: In my particular circumstances, obedience to my bishop has been incredibly difficult. Nevertheless, obedience is essential to the priesthood, and I intend to be obedient. One consoling aspect of “sacrificial,” “death-to-self” obedience, is that the Holy Ghost will always come to one’s assistance. I’m reminded that my poor sufferings are nothing compared to those of Mater Dolorosa and our Divine Redeemer. If I’m counted as one even slightly worthy to suffer for the Faith and the Traditional Latin Mass, I will consider myself profoundly blessed. God is so good.
MJM: As you are already living through a form of persecution, I assume you foresee more to come not only for you personally but for all Catholics who stand in defense of Church teaching. But what about the future? Any hope?
FR: Yes, I do foresee plenty of persecution still to come for all those who remain steadfast in the Faith and in their adherence to the Ancient Rite. However, the promise of our Savior cannot but fill our souls with hope, “Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for My sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.” (Mt 5:10-12)
MJM: How can lay Catholics best survive this crisis of faith?
FR: In order to overcome this crisis of faith, we must (1) do everything in our power to recover the Catholic Faith: the Ancient Rite, traditional Catholic teaching in doctrine and morals, the theology and philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, traditional Catholic piety and devotions, and a traditional Catholic “code of living” or “rhythm of life.” (2) On a daily basis we must strive to pray, study, fast, do penance, and practice charity with the aforementioned goal in mind. Finally, I strongly urge all faithful Catholics to (3) pray the Holy Rosary daily and heed our Blessed Mother’s Message at Fatima.
One of the hallmarks of the Traditional Latin Mass is its exquisite and concentrated focus on eternity. If we are to survive and overcome this terrible crisis of faith in the post-Vatican II Catholic Church, we have to keep our intellect and will focused on eternity. We cannot lose hope when, from a worldly perspective, all seems lost. Jesus Christ promises “the kingdom of heaven” to those who endure persecution, and “a great reward in heaven” to those who suffer for His sake. (Mt 5:10-12) The final goal is heaven! Like St. Paul, we must press ahead towards the ultimate “prize” (Phil 3:14) and never cease to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.” (Col 3:1)
Other also read:
Father Rodriguez should be COMMENDED for what he does, and is doing. Punishing a priest for speaking out against homosexuals is like punishing a child for good behavior. What’s next, are they going to do the same to a priest if he promotes Latin Mass or speaks out against altar girls?
He’s already gotten rid of altar servers that are girls, offers the Traditional Latin Mass, and teaches plain and simple Catholicism from the pulpit. 100 years ago, he’d just be your standard neighborhood priest! Not anymore…
Colleen, the more I hear about Father Rodriguez, the more like him. In fact, when I next write to the nuncio’s office, I’ll recommend him to lead a diocese. He’d be better than the man currently in charge of El Paso, Bishop Ochoa.
[...] Colleen Hammond tipped me to an interview of Fr. Michael Rodriguez that appeared in the Remnant newspaper. I’ll post some excerpts below. If you haven’t done so already, please vote in the poll on the El Paso times website regarding Fr. Rodriguez! All these little efforts may help shape opinion, and who knows, God’s Grace may allow him to return to serve the souls in El Paso! At present, he’s only “allowed” to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the tiny mission churches well outside Presidio: [...]
After what happened to Father Rodriguez, I think the Holy Father ought to remove Bishop Ochoa as ordinary of El Paso.
[...] might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.We’ve discussed my friend Fr Michael Rodriguez before, and how he went to a City Council meeting and did NOT engage in political activity…but [...]
Despite the fact that he’s one of the more orthodox prelates we have, I found out that Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez is, despite the fact that he sees eye-to-eye more with Father Rodriguez than with Bishop Ochoa, HAPPY the latter is Fresno’s prelate.
I knew that El Paso’s now ex-prelate, Bishop Armand Ochoa, wanted Father Rodriguez’s head on a platter for doing the right thing, but I didn’t know the El Paso City Council was trying to stand up for the sodomites! At the next election, El Paso voters out to reduce those who are standing up for the homosexuals to private citizens; that is, they should vote the pro-homosexual crowd out of office!
I’m going to, when I write to our nuncio, recommend Father Rodriguiez as a potential candidate for Bishop of Arlington; he’ll be better than that ani-Latin Mass, pro-altar gir, pro-homosexual, anti-altar rail Bishop Loverde(who, by the way, has to submit his resignation for age reasons in 2-3 years)!