Wisconsin bishop restricts ministry of priest who denounced 'godless' Democratic Party in fiery sermons

A bishop in Wisconsin has removed a politically outspoken priest from his position as pastor after months of backlash and facing negative press by a local newspaper.

La Crosse Bishop William Callahan issued a decree ordering that Fr. James Altman can only celebrate Mass in private, he's not allowed to preach, and finally he is obligated to go on a month-long retreat to "give him the possibility to spiritually heal and recharge and address the issues that caused the issuance of this decree."

Altman told LifeSiteNews that Callahan informed him through the mail. He can't move to another diocese, nor can Altman "hear Confessions or baptize people unless they are in danger of death." Altman had called liberals "left-wing fascist Nazis" and warned his fellow Catholics that supporting the Democratic Party risks the "fires of hell," according to National Catholic Reporter.

What the outlet describes is an explosive piece Alpha News did with Altman in August 2020. It has since garnered upwards of 1.3 million views.

In September 2020, the La Crosse Tribune highlighted this and accused Altman of spouting "conspiracy theories and exaggerations."

"Specifically in the video Altman uses common right-wing messaging like calling climate change a hoax and labeling Black Lives Matter protesters as Marxists, while also labeling Planned Parenthood as 'the most racist organization on the face of this planet’ saying it was founded to 'wipe out Black babies,' and calling the Southern Poverty Law Center 'one of the most Godless, communist, anti-American, left-wing radical organizations in the United States,'" the outlet wrote.

It was after this that the Diocese first started their internal review. La Crosse Tribune credited themselves for initiating the process, and published stories about Altman over two dozen times since then.

Just a few months ago, the newspaper published an expose on Altman for his opinions on vaccines and reporting that his Easter mass violated COVID-19 restrictions with people sitting too close together.

Follow-up reporting elsewhere clarified some of Altman's beliefs.

"I don't mind if people have different sets of beliefs, certainly in this country we are entitled to that via the Constitution, but what I do mind is when someone lies about it," Altman told The Federalist in October of last year.

It was at the end of this past May that Callahan first asked Altman for his resignation. Altman described the charges as "causing division" in the Catholic Church and being "ineffective” in his duties, per the outlet.

As for the father's near-future prospects? Altman crowdfunded $692,000 last month for a legal defense. In the meantime, the Diocese says they'll be working to find a replacement for St. James the Less Parish.