Wednesday, July 30, 2014

MY RESPONSE TO THE PDN STORY: "CHURCH FINANCES IN SHAMBLES"

The story can be found here. Following is the comment I posted on the PDN website. 

Here's a few facts for now. Not that they matter to Apuron. 

The 7 million dollar debt was incurred in the building of the Saint Therese chapel and the addition of the museum at the Cathedral. Both projects were approved by all the required boards and councils and ultimately signed off on by Apuron, since HE is the only person who can do so. 

The loan is current and is amortized over 30 years. It is also fairly recent. And as anyone with a mortgage knows, the mortgagee makes little headway knocking down the principal for the first several years. Apuron approved the projects with enthusiasm because they made him look good. There will be more facts to come, but for now:


1. A few weeks ago when the public demanded the publication of the diocesan financials, Apuron was playing hide and seek behind his phony "let's meet" invitation.

2. His press release here (referenced in the story) shows us that he not only has an audit report, but it is an audit report conducted by a major accounting firm.

3. Even if there is something wrong with Msgr.'s books, according to Apuron, the audit shows that the rest of the diocese is healthy? Really? Then why didn't he just publish the audit (conducted 2 years ago) when he was publicly asked to do so? One would think that given the criticism he would be anxious to publish the audit because it would make himself look good. 

4. Msgr. James works financial miracles daily. The Agana parish is the smallest on the island simply because hardly anyone lives in Agana. Yet it is asked to pay the Archbishop's bills every time he wants to have a personal party there. The power bill can run up to $1500 for just a half day event. Apuron gives the Cathedral no money to pay this bill. Apuron's own Neo community meets at the Cathedral. If they had to pay what others pay to cover the power and the use of the facilities, their bill would be nearly $80,000 a year. They've been meeting there for over a decade multiple times a week. Yet, because Apuron himself is a member of the Neo, they have paid NOTHING. 

Msgr. James, with the smallest congregation on the island finds a way to keep the largest church on the island running in addition to paying for the massive construction projects that the Archbishop signed off on.

5. Lastly, the Archbishop has run to the press to exonerate himself and condemn Msgr. James when he has YET to give Msgr. James any evidence or proof of the mismanagement that he accuses him of. Now why would that be?

Stay tuned.

And don't miss the second story published in today's PDN:

Catholics criticize Apuron, sect

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20140730/NEWS01/307300005/Catholics-criticize-Apuron-sect

It was reported that Fr. Michael Jucutan, Apuron's neo-spy aka vice-rector, photographed the truck as well as the attendees. Archbishop Apuron, you really have no clue how many enemies you have made these last three decades. Best you leave now because THEY are JUST BEGINNING. 

50 comments:

  1. I have seen a couple of neos attending the Friary Mass., hopefully they were there to feel the Presence of the Hoply Ghost, and not to see who from Chalan Pago is attending the Friary Masses Jes of Chalan Pago

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    1. Jes...bless you!.. I attend Mass at the Friary on several occasions. I immerse myself into the celebration, thanking God for all HE has given my family and asking the Lord to help me in my problems. I didn't realize till your posting that you take note of how many "neos" are attending and if they "feel" the Holy Spirit. First of all, shame on you, for judging, at your age. Secondly, it is obvious, from your inquiring mind, that you apparently go to the Friary Mass to see who attends, and thirdly and not last, immerse yourself too in the wonderful blessed Mass. I am not one of the "neos" but a daily communicant who pray for salvation. Just so you know, I had admired you and your closeness to the Church.

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    2. And you aren't judging Jess?

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    3. Jes of Chalan Pago. My grandmother is in the Way. She attends the noon Mass in Ordot, or evening Mass in Chalan Pago. At times she would go to the Friary. I am now very worried that she is being watched by you. I can assure you that she goes to Mass to pray for us, her family, not to take inventory of who attends. Thank God she does not go on this blog. She would feel threatened that you are watching her. I would put my name but then you would know which one of the two old ladies is my grandmother.

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    4. Dear 61 yr old,
      All due respect, you did to Jes the very same thing you condemned him for, presumptuousness.
      Besides, he prefaced his comment with "hopefully" indicating that he was not proclaiming something to be an absolute.

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    5. Of couse not Tim. Don't misconstue again

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    6. Having some trouble spelling there? In a hurry? But for the recored, if nothing else, the blog has become a catalog of the how far the kiko's will go. The filthiest language I have ever engaged, the threats to my person, the condemnation of "regular" Catholics. We have every reason to be watching our backs with these people. The trouble we have is not being able to tell when a neo becomes a kiko, so we have to be suspicious of everyone. That's terribly sad, but this blog has shown that it is the reality with which we regular Catholics must contend. Speak to your Archbishop if you really want a change, not to Jes.

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    7. 4:24. See my reply at 8:12 PM. Tell your grandmother to get out that heretical sect.

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    8. Tim you are hilarious, smart and teaser!.

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    9. What is with these neos and hyperbole? Noticing a person who may be neo and pointing it out is not "watching" or the insinuated stalking that 4:24 is grossly exaggerating about. Nor is mentioning this observation a judgment as 61 yr old so eloquently judged Jes for.
      Are all of you trained to get so dramatic over such little things?
      Crying persecution over someone's stated disagreement is another example.
      Bring it down a notch or two and you may gain some credibility. If not, you'll still be taken with little to no seriousness.

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    10. to 61 years old and to anonymous on July 30, @4:24pm, I didn't notice them until after the Mass when we were outside conversing with one another. When the Mass is going on, I try to concentrate on the p[rayers, especially when the prayers are in Latin so that I can respond appropriately. I am sorry you felt that I was judging, I am not but I've had the occassion of being told that I do not acknowledge the presence of others in religious gathering, and yes I do hope they were there to participate in the mass and not to see who is from Chalan Pago, for I have been asked why I go to other parishes or to the Friary by members of the neos. Jes of Chalan Pago

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  2. So when Jucutan photographed the attendees he must've seen among that crowd, gathered despite the wind and impending storm, that there were many faces, old and young, those mighty in name, those who are everyday folks, those who are holy men and women of God. What probably didn't show up on his camera was the fire of the Holy Spirit come down, and igniting the spirits of all who were there to rise and take action. But trust me, the Holy Spirit was there and now we are emboldened to defend our Church. Let it be known.

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    1. So did the new Rector assign Jucatan to roving reporter ?

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    2. The command came from Father Pius. The three billy goat gruffs were by passed. Photos were then emailed to the Genarinnis.

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    3. Anonymous (July 31, 2014 at 6:13 AM), you're saying that Fr. Michael Jucutan is already receiving orders directly from Father Pius? That the Three on the Hill were not aware of that secret assignment? Sounds like he has been chosen as the next NCW Bishop and will be groomed for the post …

      So will the NCW direct Apuron to step down, now that he has become such a liability? And poor Fr. Adrian and Msgr. David C — they were waiting so patiently in the wings to ascend to their next positions, only to have Fr. Michael become the new Shining Star and whisk it away from them. They will have to wait of Fr. Michael? Or will they also be assigned to NCW positions off-island?

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  3. I understand that the $7 million is composed of loans that help partly fund the massive renovation of the Cathedral, the construction of the St. Therese Chapel, the construction of the Museum, and the massive renovation of Pigo Cemetery. These are all worthwhile projects that went through extensive review and approval process, from the parish level, all kinds of councils, the archbishop's own legal counsel and even Rome. In the end, Archbishop Apuron had the final say and he signed the loan documents. I understand that he was an enthusiastic supporter of all these projects. The loans are current and not in default. So, what is the big deal? The fact that it constitutes 1/4 of the total debt of the archdiocese means nothing. My house mortgage constitutes almost 80% of my total debt so does that mean I should not own a home? As for inappropriate accounting practices, it happens all the time especially with priests who are naturally not trained to be business people, but the standard accounting practice is that if an auditor finds things that needs to be corrected, you work on getting them corrected. Unfortunately, our archbishop has decided to make these discrepancies public instead of working within his church to correct them. Why? Because it is not about the finances. The archbishop is making something out of nothing. It is a red herring. His true motive and goal is to get rid of and destroy Monsignor James. Archbishop Apuron is truly diabolical.

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  4. Coincidence Pope Franics just made these statements!

    When a priest disagrees with his bishop or when bishops disagree with each other, they must air their differences -- even loudly -- but never talk behind each other's backs, Pope Francis told the group of bishops and priests. A transcript of the pope's remarks was released by the Vatican July 27. "Say it to his face," the pope recommended. "You're a man, so if you have something against your bishop, go and tell him. There may be consequences, but pick up your cross, be a man!"

    Not for the first time, the pope admitted that he, too, has been tempted to gossip. "I've wondered if this isn't the consequence of a celibate life lived as sterility, not fruitfulness." A priest in Rome, he said, once told him that he was worried that so many priests and bishops are bitter and angry with each other.
    "When we find a priest who lives with such anger and tension, we think: This man drinks vinegar for breakfast. Then, for lunch, pickled vegetables. And, in the evening, a nice glass of lemon juice," the pope said. Pope Francis told the priests it is normal and even "healthy" to get angry, but wallowing in that, not getting it off his chest, not airing differences directly, but talking behind someone's back cause more damage. The key to a fruitful life, the pope said, lies in "double fidelity and double transcendence: being faithful to God is seeking him, opening oneself to him in prayer, remembering that he is the faithful one," and "opening oneself to others" with empathy, respect and patience. The pope told the priests that "creativity" is "a divine word," because God told Adam to care for the earth, make it bear fruit, "be creative." But as priests, that creativity must be inspired by the Holy Spirit and the only hope for that to happen is "the path of prayer," he said. "A bishop who doesn't pray, a priest who doesn't pray, closes the door, closes the path to creativity." Openness to the Spirit must be accompanied by openness to other people and to their real problems, the pope said. The only way to learn about the needs of others is to listen to them, patiently and resisting the temptation to give easy answers. "We cannot be a church closed in on itself, navel-gazing, a church that is self-referential, that stares at itself and is incapable of transcendence," he said. "Going out is not an adventure, but a journey, it is the journey to which God has called us since the moment he told Abraham, 'Leave your homeland.'

    Read more at: http://www.ucanews.com/news/pope-warns-clergy-on-celibate-life-lived-as-sterility/71532

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  5. I have spoken with some people who are members of the NCW who told me that they and the Archbishop are being blest by God for bringing His word to light and for being persecuted in God's name. Sounds like the same mentality of a suicide bomber. True brainwashing indeed! Pray for them.

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    1. That they believe that the Archbishop is the one being persecuted is staggering, but such twisting of the truth is par for the course. Patience.

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    2. Stay tuned the archbishop believes his perceived persecution is for the good of the church.

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    3. Yes, neocats are terrorists in sheep's clothing.

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  6. Where can we buy more of that sign?

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  7. Just sent our my letter. Everyone must do the same! Please!

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  8. Just sent out my letter to the Nuncio. Write your letter everyone!

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  9. Pope Framcis is a wise man. He would not want to kill or destroy a priest.

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  10. Here is something I read online about the "Neocatechumenal Way":

    1.) Over the years, the group has been accused of excessive control over members’ lives, playing fast and loose with both Church teaching and the liturgical rules, fostering a cult of personality around Argüello and Hernandez, and dividing parishes by insisting that members attend their own Saturday evening services rather than the usual Sunday Mass.

    2.) These accusations haven’t just come from the usual line-up of "Embittered Ex-Members and Liberal Activists" in the Church. They’ve been leveled by a number of bishops, from Bishop Mervyn Alexander of Clifton in the U.K., who in 1994 called the Neocatechumenate a form of “Spiritual Enslavement,” to Archbishop Luigi Bommarito of Catania in Italy, who in 2001 said the movement “Strips the flesh from people’s consciences" by asking questions that no confessor would ask.

    3.) The Neocatechumenate has been kicked out or seen its activities restricted in a surprising number of places, including Japan, the Philippines, Nepal, as well as a number of individual dioceses in both Europe and North America.

    4.) If local pastors or the bishop asks you to join everybody else for Mass on Sunday, do it. If the Vatican tells you to play by the liturgical rulebook, do that.

    Here is what the "Pope" said:

    1.) Don’t ride into places such as Japan, or Nepal, and insist that in addition to becoming Catholic, everybody also has to become Spanish or Italian.

    2.) Asked the Neocatechumenate to foster internal freedom and to respect those who decide to leave the group. “Everyone’s freedom must not be coerced,” he said, “and the eventual choice of anyone who decides to seek other forms of Christian life … outside the [Neocatechumenate] must be respected.” Lighten up internally, and when somebody leaves, don’t swing into action like a K Street lobbying firm specializing in character assassination.

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    1. Amazing!...It holds true about MAGIC. "THE HAND IS QUICKER THAN THE EYE!". AAA has us eyeing the financials as we asked, gives us the illusion that all is well except what Monsignor James had touched, and all the while, he makes the fact that he harbored a sex predator for many years and incardinated him, DISAPPEAR!...NOW THATS REAL MAGIC RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES!...Wasn't MAGIC banned from the Catholic Church MANY years ago?...Wondering what is the next magic trick AAA has up his sleeve. I am sure we will find out shortly...Looking forward to the next ACT.

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    2. Dear Anonymous 11:55 AM - but no one force it to you, it's not for everyone. You complain of separating from main congregation but yet everyone was invited. Your comments are one sided.

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    3. To anonymous @307 - What part of "This is what i read" dont you understand?! Its what people are saying from around the world...it comes from bishops and cardinals...as well as the pope himself! If you like to disagree with this again...pls enlighten me about the other side....thank you!

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    4. To AnonymousJuly 30, 2014 at 3:07 PM here's where the problem lies. First of all you should find out exactly what Mother church sees the NCW to be. Let me help you out. it is a program to help educate fallen away catholics and those outside the church, with the purpose of RE-INTEGRATION INTO THE PARISH! not to form another church, change the very thing that makes us catholic, etc. But yet according to you, we all should take the invite and become neo? when hell freezes over, then maybe... NOT!

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  11. How many people from the Archdiocese have benefited from renovations of the Cathedral, the Catholic Cemeteries, the Museum, and the other projects Msgr. James has lead?

    If I recall didn't the Archbishop inadvertently admit in the Matuna that the seminary runs us a price tag of about $1M a year.

    How many years has that been running?

    How much was "the debt" that Msgr. accumulated (because he did this all on his own and you did not sign for anything),

    How many of you have benefited from the Seminary?

    Wow!

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    1. 1:19PM (7/30) If you are implying that I am benefiting from the Seminary because it produces priest, then I beg to differ. The NCW is benefiting from these priests. It is their teachings through the statutes of KIKO that is imposed on me, by just listening to their sermons which I may add make no sense. Let's just say that I have now become more prejudice against them due to the ousting of Msgr James.

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    2. If homilies that go on without a point, empty platitudes, incomprehensible accents, overly romanticized examples and "oh you're already going to hell because you are not walking in The Way" are benefits, we would love to opt out and get a refund. .. We want our money back, Apuron! All our donations that were funneled to RMS.

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  12. Here is a chilling account from a bishop of the Takamatsu Diocese in Japan detailing the effects the Neocatechumenal Way had on their diocese. Hauntingly echoes what is going on in the present in Guam. Please read
    ***********
    It has been half a year since I stepped down from my post as diocesan bishop of Takamatsu diocese. Now, as I look back on the circumstances I encountered in that role, I have decided it best to write a few words for the sake of the future.

    First off, it is fair to say that there was something decidedly unusual in my reassignment to Takamatsu diocese, which came despite my being active bishop of Sendai at the time. That would never happen unless there was a problem. In fact, even before my arrival there, certain events, such as the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan’s inspection of the diocese as Papal Envoy, made it clear that something abnormal was afoot.

    What can be said in all fairness and agreement by both sides is this: that the problem that arose in Takamatsu had its roots in the diocese’s excessive indifference to, or ignorance of, the policies of the National Incentive Convention for Evangelization (NICE), which set a course for the Church in Japan in accordance with the decisions made at the Second Vatican Council.

    More specifically, the problem lay in the excessive emphasis of diocesan autonomy to the exclusion of any concept of a Church open to society, a Church to be built in cooperation with society. Even at the parish level, there was not a very strong sense of teamwork in evangelization or pastoral care.

    Furthermore, the religious orders lacked any attentiveness to the task of working with the diocesan bishop to establish a common direction for the diocese.

    The bishop of the diocese, my predecessor, who had neither manpower nor economic resources, tried anything and everything he could think of, like a drowning man grasping at straws. Every attempt ended in frustration, and his solution to the diocese’s problems ended up being simply to bring in any group that promised him it could help.

    The stark reality is that Takamatsu diocese did not gain even one new priest for 40 years. Every seminarian there dropped out before graduation. With congregations getting older and the number of baptisms dwindling, there wasn’t much good news.

    One organization endorsed by Rome was called the Neocatechumenal Way, which began active involvement in Japan 30 years ago. It was a group bursting with energy, and at first most parishes in Takamatsu welcomed its members enthusiastically.

    However, as this group’s people came into the local churches, some of the laity began to feel uncomfortable, especially in matters of liturgy. Even some priests working in the diocese reacted with something like opposition.

    What was troubling was that priests affiliated with the Way almost without exception made changes to the altars and chapels of the churches they took charge of, to the shock of parishioners who wanted to preserve the traditions of the Church.

    Nevertheless, the Way worked hard to recruit new members to serve as the nucleus of its activities, so naturally the number of those who agreed with the group’s policies increased as well.

    The confrontation began with small differences of opinion at the parish level. However, the situation exploded into widespread disorder when the Way founded a seminary it positioned as the “Takamatsu Diocese Seminary.”

    (continued in next post)

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  13. continued..

    Initial objections that the new seminary had been founded without fulfilling certain legal prerequisites escalated into a barrage of voices denouncing the bishop for authorizing its establishment. Then, the bishop made public a list of names of those dissenting in this way, which those named responded to by bringing a legal action against him in civil court.

    When I took up my new role in Takamatsu diocese, the motto “Rebirth and Harmony” was foremost in my mind, and I hoped that some sort of dialogue might be rekindled in the diocese. Unfortunately, by that time the possibility of dialogue was virtually off the table.

    Consequently, the first step had to be to make the diocese organizationally functional on the basis of Canon Law.

    The biggest obstacle was that of the Takamatsu Diocesan International Redemptoris Mater Seminary. With each passing year, multiple new priests affiliated with the Way emerged from this seminary, and the discord in the diocese grew more severe.

    Fortunately, we had help from the apostolic nuncios and the members of the bishops’ conference, and it was decided that the seminary should be shut down. At the same time, we focused our energy on activating the inner life of the diocese, which was really the more systemic problem, and which arguably lingers to this day.

    Finding new candidates for the priesthood, educating them: these were our top priorities. I rejoice to say that this year the number of seminarians has risen to four. This is most likely the result of the effort we directed toward the upbringing of young people.

    The biggest problems with the Way are (1) that they mistake their homemade rituals for charisms, and (2) that they have a chain of command that is entirely disconnected from the local bishop. Also, (3) they take problems that ought to be solved within the diocese and bring them off to Rome, where they try to get their own way by using the influence of Rome to coerce the local Church to fall in line.

    This results in great harm to the independence of local Churches. Except in matters of departure from Church dogma, local problems should in principle be resolved by local Churches.

    With its new bishop, today’s Takamatsu diocese has begun to walk the path of “Harmony and Rebirth.” They recently held a major diocesan meeting to discuss evangelization and have taken the first step toward rebirth.

    It is so easy for a diocese to crumble if its people do not unite and give serious attention to solidarity. This is the message I wish to send, from a diocese that has learned this truth through agonizing, first-hand experience, to the rest of the Church in Japan.

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  14. Tim, you forgot a very important issue in the cathedral finances. This applies to other parishs on Guam also. The money that used to be given by many of the very faithful is now being diverted to NCW. This is money that would typically have been given to the church. However they are instructed to tith to their communities. They are not instructed to give to the church or their parish.

    That is millions of dollars diverted from our local parishes to the NCW. Then the archbishop blames the local priests who are not NCW when their finances fall short?

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  15. Hi Tim, Hello Catholic Faithfuls!

    I sent 2 emails to the Nuncio and he has acknowledged receipt of both emails. Most recent is the one with Monsignor James and the gag order on Pale' Mike Crisostomo. I encourage you to do the same if you disagree with what is going on with the Direction of our Archdiocese and its leadership. I guess the strategy is to destroy the Catholic Faithful bridges now and replace them with the NEO-CAT bridges so we can all be "saved".

    Will add this to my testimonials when the time comes to present it. Thank you for your hard work. There are MANY Catholic Faithfuls working in the foreground and background who are also making headway that will have the 3 hillbilly goats and their agendas and actions (past and present), revealed! There is nothing that LIGHT will not expose!

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    1. Hillbilly goats will soon have their agenda revealed and then people will know their minds. And oh yes the light will expose them.

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  16. With all that has happened and the timing of certain outcomes and press releases surrounding the removal of Father Paul, Msgr. James, Father Wadeson, the allegations about Father Efren and Father Matt, the uncertainly hanging over many non neo priest,I thought it best to write to the Nuncio asking him to recommend that a psychological evaluation be done on Archbishop Apuron, Msgr. David Quitugua and Father Adrian Cristobal.

    Who knows maybe these tests will show that all three are unstable in decision making.

    Awaiting a reply!

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    1. They need more than a psychological evaluation they need to get a life.

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  17. This is the email that I got from the nuncio that he received it: WE MUST ALL DO THE SAME!

    your message was received and I have taken due note of it.
    Yours sincerely,
    + Martin Krebs
    Apostolic Delegate

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    1. No matter who you are or even THINK you are...same response. Due note?

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    2. So? At least someone even received our letters. Apuron won't even come out from his hole, let alone listen to us. .. We have faith that God will help us and the authorities WILL listen. Joy!

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  18. One thing for sure after seeing Father Blockley talk don't think Apuron will gag order him.

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  19. Glad to be Back in Holy Mother ChurchJuly 30, 2014 at 9:32 PM

    I know for a fact that the Cathedral and Monsignor James asked the neo communities to pay for the use of its facilities, and that Fr Pius then spoke to the Archbishop who made it clear to Monsignor James that he would not charge the neos for use. So who paid for these expenses? Did the Chancery reimburse the Cathedral? NO. The people who attend mass on Sundays have been paying for the use of those who attend "Eucharist" Saturday nghts, Wednesday nights, etc.

    I also know for a fact that it is the same situation in every parish where the neo has communities. There is no regular collection at their Eucharists to help pay for the costs of the parish.

    So if finances are strained at the Cathedral and at other neo parishes, isn't it ultimately the Archbishop who is to blame because of his over-protective policies for the neo?

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  20. What you say is true! Each mass at the Cathedral has each own bags marked 1st and second collection. There was never a bag that said Saturday NCW celebration! If special events are held, then that too has a special bag and labeled. NEVER NEVER WAS THERE A COLLECTION BAG FOR THE NCW CELEBRATION...PERIOD.

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  21. BTW Ask Mrs. Rosa Apuron if she ever saw a bag that said NCW collection from Saturday celebration. She is, was, who knows if she still is a counter.

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  22. I can tell you that the Neocats do not collect during their Eucharist. They only do so sometimes and not to pay for the church expenses, but for "missions" and "evangelization". So they use power, water, and church facilities pretty much for free and expect that the "regular" Catholics pay the bill.

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  23. Well there won't be anymore REAL CATHOLICS to foot the bill for the Neos. Mass exodus from the Cathedral-Basilica starting this weekend!!!

    As Parishioners will go to other churches, ensuring they are blessed by the messages of Non-Neo Priests, priests that deliver homilies that actually make sense!

    Even then, money will also be refrained from being given because EVERYONE knows it will go to the Neos anyways.

    We are awake and we will continue to get justice! Write your letters NOW!

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