Tuesday, June 14, 2016

RESPONSE TO THE DECREE AGAINST THE CCOG

Timothy J. Rohr
P.O. Box 9001
Agat, GU 96928
timrohr.guam@gmail.com

June 14, 2016

His Holiness, Pope Francis 
Apostolic Palace 
00120 Vatican City
av@pccs.va

RE: REJECTION OF DECREE NAMING CONCERNED CATHOLICS OF GUAM A PROHIBITED SOCIETY

Your Holiness:

In behalf of the organization known as the CONCERNED CATHOLICS OF GUAM, hereafter referred to as “CCOG,” I, Timothy J. Rohr, a “concerned Catholic” living on the Pacific island of Guam, and a member of the Catholic Faithful of the Archdiocese of Agana, am submitting the following letter REJECTING the DECREE issued by the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam on June 5, 2016. 


In addition, I am advising Your Holiness that the CCOG intends to pursue all available canonical and legal remedies against this Ordinary for the accusation of FRAUD set forth in the subject DECREE.

The DECREE accuses the CCOG of:  Assuming the name and usage of the term “Catholic” without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority, as required by law (c. 300).

The Concerned Catholics of Guam did NOT assume the name and usage of the term “Catholic.” The Concerned Catholics of Guam refer to themselves as “Catholics” because that is what we are and as such we require no “consent of competent ecclesiastical authority” to refer to ourselves as such. 

The DECREE accuses the CCOG of: Actively promoting opposition, both ad hoc and organized, public and private, to legitimate acts of ecclesiastical governance placed by the Ordinary or those acting in his name (c. 1373).

The Concerned Catholics of Guam have promoted opposition, both ad hoc and organized, public and private, to demonstrable the ILLEGITIMATE acts of ecclesiastical governance by this Ordinary, namely:
  1. The illegitimate removal of the pastor of Santa Barbara parish in violation of the provisions in Church law for the removal of pastors.
  2. The illegitimate public maligning of the former rector of the Cathedral and Director of Catholic Cemeteries in violation of his rights to due process in Church law.
  3. The illegitimate conveyance of title in fee simple of a major archdiocesan asset without the approvals required by Church law for the alienation of property. 
  4. The illegitimate forcing of men desirous of the diocesan priesthood into a House of formation constituted specifically and only “to prepare men for the priesthood…following the life and practice of the Neocatechumenal Way” (Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Guam, Article III, Articles of Incorporation).
The DECREE accuses the CCOG of: Instigating manifest and public opposition to the Ordinary, with whom they are obliged to preserve communion (c. 209).

The Catholic faithful are NOT obliged to preserve communion with an Ordinary who has violated the trust of the Catholic faithful not just by what is enumerated supra, but by his public threats to take legal action against those who have accused him of sexual molestation rather than provide the duty of care already expressly asked for and required by the Church. 

The DECREE accuses the CCOG of: Soliciting and disseminating fraudulent or otherwise malicious allegations against the person of the Ordinary (c. 220).

The accusation of “fraud” against our organization is a serious one which we can and may require this Ordinary to prove in a court of law. 

The DECREE states: AND WHEREAS Membership, promotion, or direction of such a society is manifestly detrimental to the communion of the faithful in this archdiocese, the good of souls, and to ecclesiastical discipline.

The Catholic faithful of this archdiocese must BREAK with “ecclesiastical discipline” when said “discipline” requires us to be silent about the abuses of authority set forth supra, especially the threats by this Ordinary to demand that we remain silent about the allegations of sexual abuse against him personally. 

The DECREE states: AND WHEREAS It is proper to the office of the Ordinary, as the competent ecclesiastical authority, that this above cited canon be applied to such societies within the territory as seems prudent and necessary to the Ordinary, by means of particular law.

It must be noted here, that the subject DECREE was issued one day before Your Holiness found this Ordinary to be an INCOMPETENT “ecclesiastical authority” and replaced him with an Apostolic Administrator. 

The DECREE states: BE IT THEREFORE KNOWN, EX DECRETUM GENERALIUM, The group calling itself Concerned Catholics of Guam is, hereby, established as a prohibited society under the particular law of this archdiocese.

Thus:

WHEREAS this Ordinary has violated the canonical prescripts for the removal of pastors in his removal of Fr. Paul Gofigan, the pastor of Santa Barbara parish; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has violated the right to due process under Church law for Msgr. James Benavente, the former rector of the Agana Cathedral and Director of Catholic Cemeteries, repeatedly seeking his public humiliation; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary significantly harmed the patrimony of the Archdiocese of Agana by alienating a major archdiocesan asset without the canonically required consent of the archdiocesan finance council or the Holy See; and

WHEREAS, this Ordinary hid this action from the archdiocesan finance council and the college of consultors; and 

WHEREAS this Ordinary - through his Vicar General, Msgr. David C. Quitugua - accused members of said finance council of a VULNUS against himself for daring to perform their canonical duties; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary terminated the objecting members of said finance council en masse; for not consenting to the alienation of the subject property; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has forced men desirous of the diocesan priesthood into a House of formation constituted specifically and only “to prepare men for the priesthood…following the life and practice of the Neocatechumenal Way,” (and if they don’t comply they are refused sponsorship to any seminary); and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has accused the CONCERNED CATHOLICS OF GUAM of FRAUD; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has publicly threatened legal action against certain persons identifying themselves (and/or their children) as victims of sexual molestation by the same Ordinary; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has violated his own archdiocesan sex abuse policy mandating a duty of care to persons claiming to have suffered sex abuse at the hands of clergy, namely the Ordinary, himself; and

WHEREAS this Ordinary has threatened all Catholics of this archdiocese with legal action should they publicly join their voices in support of those persons accusing this Ordinary of the sexual molestation of minors; and 

WHEREAS the CCOG and its supporters are willing and able to demonstrate in a court of law if necessary that this Ordinary has abused his authority and the people in his care in a multitude of ways, and especially all that has been set forth supra:

BE IT THEREFORE KNOWN by Your Holiness, by the entire Holy See, and specifically by whatever competent canonical authority which oversees, has responsibility for, governs, pastors, or in any way has a duty of care for the salvation of souls in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana:

The CONCERNED CATHOLICS OF GUAM firmly, unequivocally, and categorically REJECT this EX DECRETUM GENERALIUM, and: 
  1. Require FORTHWITH the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana to publicly RESCIND the subject DECREE, and 
  2. Require FORTHWITH a public apology from its signers: The Most Rev. Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D., Archbishop of Agana and Rev. Adrian Cristobal, Chancellor
CONSEQUENTLY, failure to do so will require the CONCERNED CATHOLICS OF GUAM to pursue both canonical and civil remedies. 


Very Respectfully,




/s/ Timothy J. Rohr
Concerned Catholic of Guam


Enclosure:
General Decree of the Ordinary Concerning the Group So-Called “Concerned Catholics of Guam” For the People in and of the Archdiocese of Agana In the Territory of Guam, Prot. N. 2016-028 (link)



CC:
Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, S.D.B., Apostolic Administrator of Agaña, Guam
Archbishop Martin Krebs, Apostolic Nuncio to Guam and Oceania
Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Cardinal, Prefect for the Congregation of Bishops
Fernando Filoni, Cardinal, Prefect for The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Gregory D. Perez, Concerned Catholics of Guam, President
Local Guam Media
Grace Garces Bordallo, Associated Press


FULL PDF COPY OF THIS LETTER

RELATED NEWS

Church reviews Apuron's ban on 'prohibited society'
http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/13/church-reviews-apurons-ban-prohibited-society/85817256/

35 comments:

  1. oh my. way to go.

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  2. It's better that you went straight to the top. It would be a waste of time to argue about this decree with others on Guam.

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  3. So, we are brought to this place. Let us move forward with prayer and humility.

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  4. I am proud to be CCOG. Signing anonymous because it is not about me. (I could sign my name as there is no way that Apuron can touch me, using his favorite line. The two weeks, I believe, is a two-week notice. One more week to go, Tuesday being the reckoning day). It is about CCOG. And it is made of more than myself.

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  5. I still think it would be safer to change the name to Concerned Faithful of Guam (CFOG).

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    1. Thx but playing it safe is what has given us a decades old trail of damaged human beings and a torn diocese. We're Catholics. Anybody can be faithful. Apuron will not take that from us.

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    2. But does not Canon 300 give them an easy "win"?

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  6. Thank you, Tim, for the tremendous work you have done to protect the church. Thank you, CCOG, LFM and individuals who have stepped up and spoken out proclaiming truth. May God bless your efforts.

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  7. Prayer and Unity! Let God's work unfold and just leave it alone already. The Pope has already stepped in. For you "Concerned Cahtolics" to keep at this only proves and shows your lack of faith in everything. You prayed for someone to step in, the Pope has stepped in and has brought Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai, now let them do what needs to be done. Prayer, Unity, and Love! This world is already full of so much hate. Prayers for all.

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    1. "Owe nothing to anyone, except for your obligation to love one anther." Romans 13: 8. We are all human.

      @Tim: Fool? Excuse me? and you claim to be a "Catholic?" Praying we all put their faith in God and not in people. If being hurt by the Church causes you to lose faith in God, your faith was in people and not in God. Peace be with us all.

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    2. The parable of the widow and the judge comes to mind.

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    3. Your the biggest FOOL @ Tim Rohr! You Biggot, hate monger, community virus, serpant tongued, self serving, unfaithful disgrace to the worlds catholic community. Go start your own religion and get out of Guam.

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    4. Ah yes. The lecture from anonymous. Bye.

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    5. Poor Anon at 12.02, Are you for real? Or are you one of these hypocrites who pretends to be reasonable, just to back up that sect in the Chancery and in Yona?

      Prayer, yes we do that everyday.
      Love , yes we do that everyday.

      Unity? My grandma used to say: "it takes two to tango".

      So while we pray and love; Apuron continues to threaten, lie, swindle and the list goes on.....

      Therefore until the root of the evil at the cause of such tension and disunity has been pulled out, the Christian soldiers will go on.
      Instead of shooting the messenger, educate yourself.
      If you already know, but don't agree, then stop pretending you are for unity.
      Peace

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    6. Anonymois 12:02, go back to your perch on the fence and sing Kumbaya to your hearts content. If it wasn't for the "Concerned Catholic's," that you are chastising, I am pretty sure Rome would still be ignoring us and if you are Catholic, you'd still be feeding off Apuron's teats.
      Proves and shows your lack of faith in everything? What have you done? There are still many things that need to be done. Faith without work is dead! You can continue on with your dead faith but as for me and the Concerned Catholics and LFM, we will continue the work with faith to remove the sick in our Church. Until then, we put on the full armor of God so we can take a stand against the devil's schemes! Meanwhile, what are you doing? Fool.

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    7. @ Anonymous 2:43. "Let he who is without sin cast the fist stone."- John 8:4

      May I ask exactly is "Your Catholic Church?" Because the Catholic Church we have all grown to love and know is the Universal Mother Church where sinners and the sick go to seek repentance, not to weed out the sick and judge one another and tell someone their faith is dead. I agree with Anon 12:24. Open the Bible with your active faith and I pray Jesus humbles you. How dare you "Concerned Catholics" continue to persecute people and call them fools when we all know for damn sure your hands are not clean. Why? Because we are not God, we are weak humans that need Christ more than ever.

      Christianity is about a personal relationship with God: a relationship that is moved and filled by a love of God and the following of HIS way, not from fear or revenge or what MAN thinks is right and through judgement. Prayer for Unity.

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    8. LOL. More lectures ... And judgement ... From the thou shalt not judge people. Peace.

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    9. JoyceJune 14, 2016 at 4:41 PM - It is easy to quote the Bible but when My One and True Catholic Church's Altar - oops - "Alter" - is turned into a Banquet Table decorated with flowers, dancing, and eating the Blessed Body of Christ all over the building - I am entitled to fight those that are contradicting my beliefs. You mentioned that Christianity is about a personal relationship with God - That is what I used to get with my old church. You come in to Pray to God in a quiet environment with no distractions. This is not happening anymore! I Know This is Right through My Judgement!

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    10. 12:24,12:45 and 4:41 are examples of the neo mindset that hides and protects sexual predators within the NCW. This is why they are dangerous.

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    11. jdcJune 14, 2016 at 12:45 PM - You said - Go start your own religion and get out of Guam. Why should we? We are the True Katolikos! The NEOs are the New Religion! The Catholic Churches on Guam were not built for big banquet tables covered with flowers. If this is what you want, then go rent a social hall which will be large enough to put up huge tables and a dance floor for the dancing. So You go start your own religion and Get Out of Our Catholic Churches!

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    12. How dare us Joyce? Yes we dare to take a stand to all the filth and muck and lies and bullying and molesting that the leaders of this Archdiocese has put us through, has subjected us to, and has persecuted us with for years! Yes Joyce, you bet your ignorant kumbaya neo ass we dare to!
      I will persecute evil. I will remove evil from my presence. If you are evil, you will be persecuted and removed. It is the "biblical" thing to do. These men running this diocese are evil, they are a brood of vipers. You want to stand and defend them, that's well and good but don't act stupid about what is going on and ask "how dare us?"
      And Yes, your faith is also of the dead variety. It says so in the bible that you are using to throw stones at me you Hypocrite!
      The universal mother church is where sinners go to seek repentence? Is that why Apuron is so loving and forgiving that he fired Father Paul for accepting and associating with a person looking for forgiveness for his past sins and spread lies about that ministerial relationship? Convenient to quote scripture when the shoe fits? Enjoy your one sided relationship with God. I pity you Joyce. You are an even bigger fool.

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    13. Prayers for peace, unity, and love @ Anonymous @12:39am

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    14. yes, the neo close the doors and their services is solely for them to hear as they are already brainwashed and do not want anyone else hear their false statements. If kiko tells them to jump the only question they will asked sir kiko if I jump can you tell me when to come down so that I won't disobey you. They are a bunch of jumping jacks and jills.

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  8. Thanks Tim for speaking out. The decree is another act in the long list of Gestapo tactics employed by Apuron and his Goons to use the Church to bully, intimidate and silence people. Hon wake up!

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  9. Anon 12:02 counting your chickens before they hatch. I prefer to see what transpires. Come to think of it I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in. We will wait and see what transpires. In the meantime, we watch and wait.

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  10. Marilu D. MartinezJune 14, 2016 at 2:18 PM

    Thank you Tim, for taking a stance at that level.

    To anon 12:02 Jun 14: Hate has never been known to be a positive motivator; instead, it constraints and is repressive; it drains one’s energy and joy -- as any credible and well-known motivational speaker will attest to.

    It is in fact, LOVE which motivates, energizes and bolsters one’s confidence with being able to move mountains as Jesus Himself, assured us!

    It is not obligation nor mere concern for the protection and preservation of the authenticity of our Catholic Faith and Church that moves the Concerned Catholics of Guam; rather, it is Love of Truth -- The Fullness of the Truth as a matter of fact, (which belongs to and is found only in the authenticity of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church) -- that drives CCOG to fight and remain steadfast in The Fight against anything or anyone reinventing or squelching it!

    Ephesians 6:10-18 emboldens us to act rather than be contented remaining lukewarm. Join us, anon 12:02 -- you will see, that no decree nor edict (canonical or legal) could snuff out fire ignited by genuine love for The Truth -- not even the flexing of muscles by the hierarchy of the NCW by way of usurping the power and authority of an archbishop.

    The Concerned Catholics of Guam simply love our Catholic Faith and Church. And so, CCOG’s “cry” til death, will always be as the lyrics of this beloved Chamorru hymn states: “Katoliku as-ta fina-tai hu”!

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  11. So here's an actual conversation with my wife that took place just a few minutes ago:

    ME: Hey babe, check out Junglewatch. Tim has written to Pope Francis about this order banning CCOG.

    HER: When you get a chance, ask Tim to borrow those?

    ME: Borrow? Borrow what?

    HER: Those gigantic balls of steel that he apparently has!

    @12:24, you're forgetting another verse from Romans, notably: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." We don't love false prophets, nor do we coddle and beg the approval of those who seek the destruction of others, all for the sake of being so otherworldly that we let the cancer of evil grow in our very midst. It's called "defense of the Faith" for a reason. It's not playtime at recess.

    Now be quiet and let the grownups talk.

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  12. Absolutely magnificent, Tim!!!

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  13. AnonymousJune 14, 2016 at 12:24 PM - You wrote - "Owe nothing to anyone, except for your obligation to love one anther." Romans 13: 8. We are all human. And this applies to everything that our "Beloved" Archbishop Apuron" has done and stands for HOW?

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