Monday, September 19, 2016

LETTER TO THE GUAM LEGISLATURE APOLOGIZING FOR FR. JEFF SAN NICOLAS

APOLOGIES TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR FR. JEFF SAN NICOLAS

Tim Rohr <timrohr.guam@gmail.com>
Attachments5:33 PM (0 minutes ago)

to James, Senator, Mary, Nerissa, Anthony, B.J., Brant, Dennis, Frank, Michael, Rory, Tina, Tom, Tommy, Judith, Frank, Gaynor, Haidee, Janela, Jason, Jesse, Joanna, Ken, Krystal, Louella 

Dear Senators,

Thank you for unanimously passing Bill 326-33. And thank you for standing strong in the wake of my church leadership's absolutely ridiculous effort to kill the bill. If I and many others weren't already ashamed of them, we certainly are now. 



My purpose in writing you today is to apologize for Fr. Jeff San Nicolas. 

I am sure that you are aware of "the letter" which was read, or supposed to be read, at all the parishes this weekend. In the letter, Archbishop Hon referred to the bill's potential for "damaging unintended consequences." He also refers to the "unforeseen side effects of the bill." 

Given the context of the letter and to whom it was addressed, I assumed Archbishop Hon meant that we, the people in the pews, did not understand the "consequences" and foresee the "side effects" of the bill. 

But then I discovered a second letter which, though unsigned, could have only been released by Fr. Jeff San Nicolas, given that he is the delegate to the administrator, and with Hon's absence, could have been the only member of the church leadership to author such a letter and authorize its distribution. 

This second letter was not publicly released but only addressed to the clergy. It is titled SCRIPT TO INTRODUCE THE LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP HON. I've attached a copy. 

In this "script," Fr. Jeff San Nicolas clarifies that is is not we, the laity, who did not understand the consequences of the bill, but YOU, the Legislature. Fr. San Nicolas writes:

"We believe that the legislators in passing the bill...did not understand that the bill threatens the very existence of our parishes, schools and social agencies..."

Aside from the fact that there is no evidence from the almost 20 years of seeing the effect of similar legislation in many stateside dioceses to support this claim, and aside from the fact that the social agencies (Catholic Social Services and Kamalin Karidat) are incorporated separately from the Archdiocese of Agana, I, and many other are simply staggered that Fr. San Nicolas believes that you did not UNDERSTAND what you were doing and why you were doing it when you voted to pass Bill 326-33. 

We saw several of you at the public hearings and saw that you agonized with us at those gut wrenching testimonies as many wiped our tears away. We know that you are completely aware of the amendment to the original bill which included institutional liability. In fact, because it was included in the amended version, the chairman called for a second and even third public hearing.

To say that you did NOT UNDERSTAND what you were doing when you voted for the bill is beyond comprehension, and we are horribly ashamed by Fr. San Nicolas' assessment of your decision knowing how tough your decision really was. 

Once again, Senators, thank you for doing the right thing, and sincere apologies for Fr. San Nicolas' derogatory remarks.

Sincerely,


Tim Rohr and a Whole Lot of Other People



14 comments:

  1. I see the neos have scrambled to create a new movement to support their brother tony. What a stinkin joke. Innocent until proven guilty, is what they are claiming with apuron. I say if they are so innocent, why hide? Unless they are guilty....

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  2. Fr Jeff - How do you wiggle out of this one? I got it! "The Devil made me do it; I'm not responsible for that stupid statement!" That's in perfect line with the Neo modus operandi of deny and deflect! When will you - and the other Benedict-Arnold priests - come to your senses!! We are not stupid; we are not dumb. Something terrible must have happened while AB Hon was in Rome to elicit this newest snafu!! We wonder, we wonder, we wonder! Sooner or later, we'll find out because "nothing that is hidden will not be revealed"! Anon. PS: Give our regards to the renegade priests for whom we fought for so hard the past 3 years. For all we've sacrificed for them, they turn their backs on us.

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  3. Dear Senators — I am proud to be counted as just ONE of "a Whole Lot of Other People" who, along with Tim Rohr, appreciates what you have done in passing Bill 326-33 and I apologize for the remarks of Fr. Jeff San Nicolas who DOES NOT REPRESENT me or my point of view where Bill 326-33 is concerned.

    Thank you again for giving Bill 326-33 an expeditious passage which signaled to this voter that you understood our island's need for such legislation.

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  4. Fr. Jeff has shown the community why the Church is in a shambles, the clergy! Apurun's reign of terror rose to such demonic heights because the clergy, for whatever reasons, did not speak up.
    I will not speculate why they remained silent under Apurun. Why they have not spoken out against Fr. Jeff's stupidity is quite remarkable considering DQ's refusal to allow LFM to visit the RMS! Apparently Filoni is the "puppet master" pulling Hons' strings.

    Fr. Jeff's latest shameful tactics to veto the Bill has produced a few courageous souls who stood up to the insanity!

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  5. The NEOs claim that bill 326 is aim towards Apuron. Then why are they so worried about loosing our churches if they truly believe that Apuron is innocent?

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    1. Oh! Is that the Manngiko siha para si Apuron? Ya i kåntan tema: Hu guaiya hao!

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  6. This is why Calvo will veto the bill.
    http://www.aganaarch.org/2590/11th-annual-seminary-gala-dinner-on-may-26th/

    And the fact that his attorney cousin is behind the recent shenanigans. The cousin attorney known as "the real governor."

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    1. I now see a possible link between the Calvos, advisors (Bernie Artero, etc.) and RMS but please share who this cousin attorney is.

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    2. The one that is always in the news for the shady deals - $14 million from the port - hundreds of millions from the airport. Come on his last name is CALVO

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  7. My son is a student at Father Duenas. Today, the boys were informed about the petition that is circulating and that healing for victims is the most important thing. However, according to my son, per his teachers, if we do not sign the petition and we are in favor of this bill, then we are going against the church. The future of upcoming FD students is at risk. Father Duenas will be sold and it will no longer exist.

    This is very upsetting.

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    1. Ask the FD Finance Committee where the tuition monies are going to since it seems like Father Jeff is saying that the school will close but the parents have paid tuitions for their children to attend. Tuition is supposed to be used for the upkeep of the school! If parents are paying thousands of dollars a year, why is the school closing?

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  8. My son is a student at Father Duenas. Today, the boys were informed about the petition that is circulating and that healing for victims is the most important thing. However, according to my son, per his teachers, if we do not sign the petition and we are in favor of this bill, then we are going against the church. The future of upcoming FD students is at risk. Father Duenas will be sold and it will no longer exist.

    This is very upsetting.

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    1. This is upsetting because they are using the children. The very people that this bill will be protecting!

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  9. So pleased FD young men being taught integrity at all costs. So encouraging. NOT

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