The small, rural Scilian town of Trapani apparently is a crossroads of culture and history. It is now dealing with the murder of an elderly priest for allegedly giving bad homilies. His assailant, 33 and unemployed, wanted to teach Father a lesson one what he was saying in the pulpit. In some reports, Father Michele DiStefano is said to have spoken in a public fashion of the wrong-doings (sins?) of his people. I hope he wasn't revealing what he heard in the confessional.
Bad preaching can drive people away. Actually, I think music can equally disturbing. If priests read this report they may want to get their affairs in order, or pick up a Father Peter John Cameron's book on preaching, Why Preach: Encountering Christ in God's Word.
I suppose you could make many conclusions about this circumstance, but I think it's if we pray for God's mercy on Father Michele and the man who killed him.
Leave a comment