Friday, March 6, 2015

TRUE THAT

So at last night's CCOG village meeting in Agana, a representative from the neo-controlled Cathedral showed up, apparently to set us all straight. 

However, the attendees essentially kicked him out of the meeting before he could get around to it. 

Let me tell you why.

It wasn't because he presented facts that the attendees did not agree with. In fact, he never got around to those "facts" - if he had them.

The reason he was unceremoniously dismissed from the meeting - not by me - but by the attendees, is because he began his comments by insulting his hearers.


He began by saying that they must be careful about listening to Tim, that "Tim is very persuasive", and other such comments.

Here's what the attendees heard: "You are not smart enough to discover the facts and learn the truth for yourselves. You are all stupid followers of Tim Rohr. I am here to save you from the clutches of this evil man."

I honestly had no expectation of what this person was going to say. My past experiences with him had always made me think of him as a peace-maker. I thought he was there to offer a path to reconciliation. 

So I almost choked on my tuna sandwich when he began lecturing the people present about being careful about listening to me, as if they had no ability to do so. I almost choked because sitting right in front of me were some of the most esteemed members of the church community, smart people, respected people, humble people. 

Apparently he had intended to read us the letter from Msgr. David C. Quitugua which had been inserted into the cathedral's bulletin, a letter which he, Msgr. Quitugua, Sr. Marian Arroyo, and two other members of the parish finance council had signed. 

Just to be clear, the letter inserted into the cathedral's bulletin was a different letter than the "Internal Review" which had been inserted into the U Matuna on the same day (Jan 23). 

Though it was a different letter, it might as well have been page two of the "Internal Review", being that it began with a reference to the "Internal Review" and essentially consisted of a "piling on" to the archbishop's ceaseless effort to make Msgr. James out to be a crook.

His presentation ended before it started because I asked him one question: "Did you meet with Msgr. James?"

When he said "no" (at least he told the truth), the room erupted into a cacophony of protest, as well it should. 

Since last July, the personal integrity of Msgr. James has been constantly and publicly tried, drawn, quartered and impaled without so much as a single opportunity for Msgr. James to speak to his accusers or even receive the allegations in writing. 

And so here we are, more than seven months after Msgr. James was removed, and the only thing we hear from his accusers is a repeat of all the accusations, and STILL no attempt to reconcile or work with Msgr. James.

Let's do this again:

Even if everything you mean people say is true about Msgr. James, the real reason the majority of people are turning on you is because of how you treated him and continue to treat him and how you intended to treat him last night. 

What don't you get?

Pope Francis recently reminded bishops and priests that: "people will forgive a weak priest or pastoral minister, but they will not forgive a greedy one or one who mistreats people."

Don't you see? Of course you do. You don't care. The destruction of your enemies is all that matters. Well, then know this: for every enemy you attack you create a hundred more. And if there was anyone there last night who was in the least bit neutral, they aren't now.

As the room grew louder, a former senator stood up and took the floor. He said that we should be thankful for the cathedral representative because after listening to him for 5 minutes everyone there had learned more about the real problem than in the hour long presentation I had just given. 

True that. 




40 comments:

  1. Who was this rep? Wow, what nerve!

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  2. Replies
    1. Shouldn't it be sit down Johnathan?

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    2. To be clear, the rep was Jonathan Bordallo. He is on the Cathedral's new Parish Finance Council. The same people who put the parish in debt to the Chancery for $20,000/month. See the meno Jonathan, Marian, and Kim signed.

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    3. I was very surprised to read that Jonathan Bordallo was the one to come and speak against listening to Tim Rohr. Jonathan is very mellow, is always warm and greeting everyone and volunteering even for menial tasks that no one else wants to do, i.e. go around picking up all the discarded empty water bottles left on the cathedral grounds after the Dec. 8th procession. Jonathan and his wife Grace have always been warm, welcoming and kind to me at the cathedral even though we obviously disagree on how Msgr. Benavente has been treated. Jonathan has a heart of gold and if he's speaking out against Tim Rohr and Msgr. Benavente it is because he thinks he is doing the right thing. Neither Jonathan nor Grace belong to the NCW.

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    4. He wasn't there to speak against me. He was there to speak against Msgr. James. And when he started to do so I asked him if he had ever met with him. Just like all of the others he was willing to condemn this priest in public never having heard the other side of the story. That's when the people erupted and threw him out. He may not belong to the neo but apparently he doesn't have to . Apparently Msgr. David has taught him well.

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    5. Johnathan and his wife are very Neo. Agana community. Interesting that he is also very close to Jackie T.

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    6. Don't be surprise, he is now getting the attention he has always wanted . Jonathan is in full support of the new administration. He now feels important. He was there to smear Monsignor's name again. The insert into the Umatuna for the Cathedral parish did not generate the reaction they wanted...so now Jonathan is out there to personally smear Monsignor and justify their lies. I have no respect for people like him. Willing to do the wrong thing so they can feel like a hero.. His actions speaks volumes about his character.

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  3. The audacity, arrogance, and pompous positions the fools on the hill continue to take add fuel to the fire. They've added insult to injury by sending one of their peons who talked down to the attendees like we were Catholic school kindergarteners being scolded by a mean nun. SMH

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  4. He really said, "you are not smart enough", "you are all stupid"? Wow! That is really arrogant, pompous and insulting. I guess he thought that talking down to people was going to make them submissive to hear what he had to say. Is that how they talk to people who "come and listen"? Even if AAA were to talk to a group of people that way, they wouldn't tolerate it. This person knows now that word is going to spread about his fiasco.

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    1. No he said: "you have to be very careful in listening to Tim, he is very persuasive". The "you are too stupid" is the translation.

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    2. Nothing is more pursuasive than the truth. Tim has a flair for presenting the truth while AAA and his buffoons have been presenting lie after lie garnished with bullshit. Their attempts to silence us only strenghtens our resolve and enlists more support frm the faithful.

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  5. Even though he stated he was not neo, he certainly was utilizing their tactics in defending the hit job insert in which he signed his name. I think he was more interested in protecting his pride and credibility, however he only gave a circular argument citing the evidence was credible because the documents provided by the "accusers" said so.

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  6. In a positive note (I am trying to be Positive for this Lenten season), at least this fellow had the gonads to face CCOG, although for a short presentation. Where are the other NEO fanatics? Diana, want to join your fellow backer?

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    1. If he had gonads he would have simply presented the facts instead of trying to undermine the speaker and the intelligence of the listeners. What he had was his own sense of righteousness.

      Let me give you an example. In 2009 I attended two of the four town hall meetings to discuss the same-sex union bill. Rather than attack the speaker or the supporters of the bill, I addressed the bill point by point and discredited those points with facts.

      I did not even address the moral argument. The bill itself was discriminatory. And I addressed the discrimination in the bill. Example: one of the provisions (it was Bill 139-30) required same-sex couples to have title to real property.

      There was no need to question the motives of the promoters, what they were promoting was inherently flawed and I pointed it out. In the end, the bill collapsed because of those flaws.

      The fact that the "representative" felt the need to undermine both the speaker and the intelligence of the attendees before he proceeded with any facts tells us that he didn't have any facts.

      So why did he do it? Simple answer: so he could be a hero and advance his career in the church.

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    2. ^^^👍👌👏🙌🙏

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  7. Actually his intro was beginning to sound like one of those invitations we get subjected to at Mass before the last blessing.. Hi. I'm A longtime Catholic, just like you. I went to the Cathedral, FDMS, Georgetown..blah, blah, blah...and I'm here to tell you that you should be cautious of Tim.,,blah, blah. He couldn't even get to the third blah because he got booed out. Poor fellow..couldn't he have figured out that he should organize his own meeting somewhere else? Even the tame attendees chimed in when he admitted that he hadn't met with Msgr. James regarding contents of the insert that he and others of the parish council signed. Keep parroting those accusations,guy. We laity are on to you..and we are NOT following suit!

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    1. Yah, that was pretty funny.

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    2. And I am not stupid. Not sleeping. And NOT neutral anymore!

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    3. ;) :) :):) :) :):)

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  8. Such arrogance it takes to frolic around, throwing darts of allegations at a person who’s a target simply because the Archbishop has publicly deemed it so. To his credit, Monsignor James has kept his vows of obedience and hasn’t spoken publicly about these continuous attacks on his reputation. He’s maintained his dignity throughout this mess by being a beacon of calmness in the storm. He truly is the People’s Priest, and is leading by example.
    The Archbishop, though. What kind of example is he to his people? After all, the reason he has a crozier is to symbolize his role as the Good Shepherd, just like Jesus. He’s supposed to lead us to salvation. He’s supposed to protect his sheep from the wolves. Yet here, we have a wolf in Shepherd’s clothing – and that’s the ultimate betrayal of the flock, don’t you think?

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  9. "Tim is very persuasive." No, this guy is more persuasive. He persuaded everyone to listen to Tim. Lol.

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    1. Yes. I'll mention to the CCOG that they're going about the the wrong way by having me speak. Better to get the archbishop's defenders to talk and we'll convince more people faster.

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  10. Yup, ...that delicious sotangho soup almost went down the wrong pipe when he tried to invite a crowd outside to better educate them. I did not see the throngs follow him out. That room was still full of bright, respectable Catholics who continue to learn of the facts (pages and pages of 'em) brought forth by Tim.

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    1. TIM JIM JONES . Jim Jones the cult leader had a son name Timothy Glen Jones ??????

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    2. To Anonymous at 5:46 PM:
      NOT your hero. Wrong Tim. This Tim is Tim Rohr who has worked tirelessly to expose the untruths of the church leadership. Get your facts straight!

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  11. Such arrogance it takes to frolic around, throwing darts of allegations at a person who’s a target simply because the Archbishop has publicly deemed it so. To his credit, Monsignor James has kept his vows of obedience and hasn’t spoken publicly about these continuous attacks on his reputation. He’s maintained his dignity throughout this mess by being a beacon of calmness in the storm. He truly is the People’s Priest, and is leading by example.

    The Archbishop, though. What kind of example is he to his people? After all, the reason he has a crozier is to symbolize his role as the Good Shepherd, just like Jesus. He’s supposed to lead us to salvation. He’s supposed to protect his sheep from the wolves. Yet here, we have a wolf in Shepherd’s clothing – and that’s the ultimate betrayal of the flock, don’t you think?

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  12. Im sorry I was not able to attend. Who caused all the commotion?

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  13. I am a Catholic woman, I am smart and my eyes and ears are open...my checkbook however is CLOSED.

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  14. So what is Msgr. James waiting for? If he is truly innocent, he should publicly address the concerns that AA has brought to light. Remaining silent will only let people think he guilty.
    Unlike the Father Paul problem, he was able to justify his actions and I believe him. Msgr. James I need to hear your side.

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    1. I can tell you that he was told by Cardinal Filoni, Prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, NOT to speak publicly about the accusations against him. Others may speak for him and they have. Mr. Joseph Rivera & Mr. Art. Ilagan specifically addressed AAA's charges and provided evidence to the contrary. I also have in my possession several documents that I haven't published yet showing that the Catholic Cemeteries were in a huge mess when it was first assigned to Msgr. James who has since made great strides in straightening it out. All of it is documented and Archbishop Apuron has all the documents because they were addressed to him. But Giuseppe Gennarini told AAA to get rid of Msgr. James because Gennarini needs a neo bishop when Apuron is gone, which one way or another, is very soon. So facts, documents, and truth don't matter to Gennarini-Pius-Apuron. We will see if it matters to Rome.

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    2. Dear Anon at 5.28, I can confirm the instructions from Cardinal Filoni, regarding public statement. (Do not forget that Cardinal Filoni is a huge fan of Kiko).
      But Msgr James also has his fans, including but not restricted to the Archbishop of Manilla.
      This whole mess has the attention of several high level Cardinals in Rome, and Filoni will have a tough time keeping the lid on it.
      May be if it was the only issue, the defamation campaign would work, but when it is added to the multitude of issues, from the illegal removal of Fr Paul to the Seminary, the Cathedral, the Neos and the sexual abuses coverup, there is only so much Filoni can cover for.
      Things are changing, even if they do very slowly in our view.

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    3. Sounds like a good read...#LeakIt

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  15. Apuron gone very soon.

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  16. Ok so Mgsr James is being obedient not speaking publicly. It just sounds too fishy to me that Rome will allow a Bishop to continue to defame his character without him defending himself. I would think Rome would place the same standard on AA to not speak about his priest publicly.
    I will continue to pray that their differences are settled. I truly hope that Rome has some intervention in place to ease the growing tension that has grown exponentially in a year and half. I have seen no progress yet.

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    1. Yep. There's reason to be suspicious. Filoni is a neo-sympathizer, but believe it or not, the Guam thing is way too big at this point for even Filoni to derail. I'm fairly sure that Apuron was told to shut his mouth too, but he hasn't. This makes it harder for Filoni and Kiko. And of course this is exactly what we want. In fact, we couldn't have asked for a better hand to play than what Apuron and the VG gave us a few weeks ago with their hit jobs on Msgr. James. If Rome was hoping to work things out and keep Apuron standing, that plan just went out the window.

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  17. ahhhh I see. Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware Filoni was a kikobot himself. I'm just getting tired of all this trash talking about Mgsr James from the higher ups and him not doing anything to defend himself.
    Now, anything on Deacon Steve? I noticed on the CCOG website that his position is vacant. Did he give in to the bully's demands? Just frustrares that nobody can stop this bully!!!!

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    1. Cardinal Filoni was one of the four Cardinals present today for the annual NCW send off of missionaries audience with Pope Francis.

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  18. The Boys on the Hill sent a boy to do a man's job with disastrous results for their cause. LOL! Maybe they'll send Coreen to the next CCOG meeting. We'll see how that goes. I'll bring my air horn for good measure.

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  19. Yes, it might be a good idea for CCOG to invite a Neo spokesperson to the weekly meetings, provided they are willing to answer questions from the audience. Questions, such as: Did Apuron speak with Msgr. James? or, Can you prove that the case against Fr. Paul was filed with Rome? or, Where is the Approval from Rome that Apuron promised to provide? The CCOG might even be kind enough to provide the questions in advance so that the Neo spokesperson will come prepared with answers backed up by documents, etc.

    Oops, what am I saying? We know they won't answer any of our questions! Anyway, what happened to Jonathan Bordallo at the last meeting is fair warning to the Neos that anytime they show up at our meetings, they will be bombarded with questions.

    Now, let' see if they have the balls to show up at the next meeting!.

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