1. He was charged with a crime recently, the story having now, unfortunately, gone viral on Catholic news websites, otherwise I would remain silent about it. He is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a judge and jury.
2. His reputation is impeccable. I remember him when I occasionally attended the TLM back in my college days at the then newish FSSP apostolate in Tulsa back in the 1990's, which he helped start as well as the OKC FSSP apostolate.
From that experience, and hearing many personal anecdotes since about him told by priests and laity, I can verify his reputation is impeccable, making it almost unthinkable that he is guilty of this.
3. Trad Youtubers have been defending him, and their defense is sound (vs. the vitriol put out by the likes of Christine Niles of Church Militant). Today it is very easy for cyber criminals to frame someone for the crime of which Fr. Jackson is being accused.
4. That said, it must be admitted that it is possible Fr. Jackson is guilty. On November 15th, he will either enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Being a very disciplined, orthodox, tradition-minded, gentlemanly, well respected priest does not necessarily render a man immune to this kind of scandal. We all know of past, proven scandals by traditional clergy (not only novus ordo) within the history of the TLM movement, within all trad camps. It is within the realm of possibility.
But in my opinion, I tend to think Fr. Jackson was set up. Time will tell the outcome, and what the meaning of that outcome is. Either it will mean another faithful Catholic targeted through a kind of white martyrdom for their heroic witness, or (in the unlikely case) this would be another example that the human element of the Church (vs. the divine element) has not yet reached its perfection. The Truth being what matters.
Praise be Jesus Christ. Questions, comments, or constructive feedback, email me at:
JosephOstermeir@gmail.com