Saturday, September 3, 2016

THE PICKET LINE.

Posted by Webster.

Someone asked me: why are we holding a picket during Fr. Paul's installation mass? I replied: It is because of the PICKET LINE that Fr. Paul is now saying mass as the Rector of the Cathedral Basilica.

The Picket Line is more than just walking in line, 6 feet apart, without break, under the hot sun for 45 minutes.

It is a SYMBOL.


It is a symbol of our commitment. It is a symbol of our perseverance. It is a symbol of our cause.

It is a symbol that we will never give up, no matter how bleak the struggle looks.

It is the symbol that we are cleaning up our Church.

It is the symbol that compelled the Pope to send his Apostolic Administrator to Guam.

It is the symbol that convinced the Apostolic Administrator to see the Truth.

It is the symbol that gave the  Sex Abuse Victims the courage to step forward.

It is a symbol that compelled our Legislature to do the right thing.

It is a symbol that gave our Clergy hope.

It is a symbol that exposed the Reign of Terror inflicted by Apuron, Pius, David, Adrian, Jacqueline Terlaje, the RMS, and the NCW.

It is the symbol that represents the solitary struggle and sacrifice of Tim Rohr/JW in the last three years, for Fr. Paul, for Monsignor James, for the return of our property, and for the restoration of our Catholic Church.

It is the symbol that created the Concerned Catholics of Guam, the Laity Forward Movement, the Silent No More Movement, the motorcades,  the village meetings, and more.

It is the symbol that has made it possible for Fr. Paul to now be saying his first mass as Rector of the Cathedral Basilica, as we walk the Picket Line.

Fr. Paul is just the first sign of the fruits of our efforts. It is only the beginning. We have far far more to go and do.

So, we must continue walking until our goal of cleansing our Church and the restoration of our Faith is completed.






45 comments:

  1. THANK YOU!!!
    Well said! And just to add: It is also the symbol that we're all
    in this together and that there is strength in numbers!

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    Replies
    1. Who are you to dictate what I wish to say or do!

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    2. You are right. You have the right to continue hiding behind "Anonymous."
      Eileen Benavente-Blad

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  2. Picketing during Fr. Paul's installation Mass seems disrespectful to me to the Mass itself. I picketed for almost 2 months in early 1981 when Guam's public school teachers went on strike for a pay raise for all GovGuam employees. We picketed early in the morning at the public schools and during the day at DOE central offices. We saw many co-workers cross our picket lines. They did not believe in what we were doing. Now there is a picket line at the Cathedral that continues into the 9:30 Mass. I will be there for Fr. Paul's installation Mass. I still believe there is much to accomplish in our archdiocese and support the efforts of the CCOG but cannot see that picketing during this particular Mass is appropriate. If 45 mins is de riguere, why not start at 8:45 and end at 9:30?
    If a "Neo mass" takes place at 9:30, picketing is appropriate, but this is not the case.
    Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    1. Let's see if CB sanctuary crawling with RMS seminarians. Fr Paul needs all the prayers he can get. Who will preside at Mass?

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    2. Have you picketed since 1981?

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    3. Protested at the Hyatt Gala Nov. 2015.
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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  3. I will be there to picket and pray the rosary.

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  4. I encourage our protestors to continue picketing Cathedral Basilica until Anthony Apuron is terminated.
    Protest is not against Fr.Paul since he is highly respected. Infact after the evidence of the reckless callous malicious vicious evil of Rev.Pius i pray numbers will increase on picket line. This is about removing evil men like the stinking monk , Apuron, his evil minions. Let protestors continue with force until Apuron is deposed.

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  5. Picketing during Fr. Paul's installation is not disrespectful because the picket is not about Fr. Paul. It's about Apuron and the 9:30 mass is the archbishop's mass. That is why we picket this mass. We need to hold the picket line.

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    1. A picket line implies a strike. It seems to me there is no strike unless all those picketing have stopped attending Mass or having anything to do with the archdiocese. If Apuron says the 9:30 Mass, picketing makes sense. If a Neo presbyter presides, picketing makes sense. If a non-Neo priest says the 9:30 Mass, picketing makes no sense to me. The term "picket" seems a misnomer to me.
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    2. Semantics Eileen. Just do what you want to do unless you posting here means you want us to follow suit? The "protest" time stands. You want us to move it? Why did Hon choose that time anyway knowing that there is a protest at that time every week? Semantics Eileen. Just do what you want to do but please stop with the pious crap.

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    3. I am not speaking "pious crap" (no need to be nasty) as you anonymously call it but sincerely expressing my opinion. Use you name. Have the courage of your convictions. USE YOUR NAME...
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    4. We all make our choices according to our conscience.
      I feel comfortable attending the Mass for Fr. Paul. Others want to continue picketing as usual. That's fine for them. I respect their right to follow their conscience too.
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    5. We all make our choices according to our conscience.
      I feel comfortable attending the Mass for Fr. Paul. Others want to continue picketing as usual. That's fine for them. I respect their right to follow their conscience too.
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    6. Excuse me Eileen, but you are imposing your pious crap on me. I'm disrespecting the mass if I protest tomorrow? You want to move the protest time? You cannot see how picketing during that time is appropriate? Why say those things unless you want me to do as you do! Im not attacking you. Just trying to point out that you are free to do what you want to do. Attend the mass, attend the protest but dont go around here with your big stick telling me that I'm disrespecting the Mass if I join the protest. That's what I call, pious crap.

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    7. Language such as "pious crap" is uncalled for. I don't think of myself as pious, actually quite the opposite.
      Eileen B-B

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  6. Fr. Paul's installation mass occurs only once. Perhaps, just this once, the picketing can stop at 9:30 and those who wish to attend the mass can do so.
    Next week, whether it's Fr. Paul saying the mass @9:30 a.m. or not, picketing will go on as usual -- from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.

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    1. Feel free to join the neo's.

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    2. yes, Anonymous September 3, 2016 at 5:08 PM, you go right ahead and settle for the crumbs that a neo feast leaves behind...

      fr. paul, will be FORCED soon enough to clear the sidewalk...
      the last sentence from Can. 562
      "He must also ensure that nothing is done which is in any way unbecoming to the holiness of the place and to the reverence due to the house of God"

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    3. My Dear, Concerned Catholic of Guam September 3, 2016 at 8:25 PM.

      I am the, Anonymous September 3, 2016 at 6:47 PM, and all I'm saying is, WE ARE SOLDIERS, and as soldiers we follow our leaders, regardless of our personal feelings...

      I hope you're correct, I just don't want to see Fr. Paul being put in that situation, and like you stated about the bishop, he can pretty much do as he pleases...

      Thank You...

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  7. Thank you, Webster. We shall continue our peaceful, prayerful protest in solidarity with those who have been harmed and until there are assurances that others will not face the same violence and injustices in the future.

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  8. A strategy of divide and conquer. Don't fall for this gambit, Fr Paul is only being obedient with accepting his new assignment. The time and place of his installation is not his choice but is being used to drive a wedge amongst us. Those on the picket line will be there every Sunday until justice has been obtained.

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  9. I acknowledge your need to suppoert Fr.Paul by attending his installation mass, but look beyond that and remember without Tim, CCOG,Bob and Laity Foward Movement, Silent No More and many anonymous faithful, Fr. Paul may not be saying mass at all tomorrow. As it is repeatedly said we, are not picketing Fr Paul or the mass, we just want people in and out out of the church to know we will continue picketing for apurons defrocking and the return of the Yona property. As we respect your choice to attend mass we ask that you show respect to the picketers by not crossing the PICKET LINE ! God Bless

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  10. I was at the Nov. 2015 Gala "protest" at the Hyatt.
    That was a "protest" and not a "picket."
    Eileen Benavente-Blas
    PS Why do people still choose to go by "Anonymous"?

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    1. Come on Eileen! Semantics.

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    2. Come on, Anonymous, USE YOUR NAME. Semantics?

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    3. It's sad to see that you are basically using a tactic that the neos use. You're deflecting arguments by those who reply to you by making such a big deal about how they are keeping their anonymity. Many have already wrote that you are free to do what you want to do. So do it. Although you have every right to express how you feel about the actions of others, you really have no say in what others would like to do. It seems like you're trying to get everyone to do as you do, even though they're against it.
      Funny how in past posts, you were without concern for the Anons on the same side as you, and were all about criticizing the Neos for remaining anonymous. Now you're into doing the same against JW posters on your side. You're not any better than the supporters who choose to remain anonymous just because you are comfortable using your name. In the end, it's all about the same cause.

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  11. I too will be at the picket line...our work is not done yet.It is not disrespectful. I am picketing for all the survivors of child sexual abuse by priests, for the return of the RMS, for the restoration of Monsignor James, and for Apuron to be defrocked. Roy and Roland will be with us. I am not going to let them down.

    I spoke to Father Paul to congratulate him already on his first day as the rector. I am sure he will understand why we are still picketing. We need to continue for the others that are not yet healed.

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  12. I believe that Fathet Paul wants the same things in the end. The defrocking. The justice for victims. And I think it's for that reason that he hasn't asked anybody really to not picket. I've picketed three times when I was able to. Tomorrow I will join father paul at mass. He will welcome all of us even if we picket then come in later and even if we don't come in later at all. I don't think it's a sign of disrespect to picket because the work of this great group is not done. But I don't think that those who choose this once to go to mass at 930 should be deemed as having made a choice to ditch the effort and cause. Then again hey this is America think what you like haha. Biba father paul! Biba jw! Biba first amendment! And thank you once again to all the victims who in my mind have suffered the greatest and yet had strength to come forward. Come join us for mass and if you are still there after mass I will come join you.

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    1. Come join us on the picket line, it's a serious matter. The stakes are too high to take a chance "this once." I bet the picketers don't think this is a ha ha matter.

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    2. Anonymous at 6:54 PM, I have a hard time taking you seriously, with your closing statement "Come join us for mass and if you are still there after mass I will come join you."

      You claim to have picketed three times when you were "able to" so I'm assuming you know that the Sunday morning picket in front of the Cathedral-Basilica is held 0900-0945. Clearly we won't be there after Mass.

      If you don't want to picket, just be honest and say so. Don't pretend that you're willing to join after Mass because our picketing ends 15 minutes after Mass begins.

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  13. Forgot to say I totally agree with reasoning and like this write up about why the picket line. But I am going to mass at 930. And to those who also agree with the cause and still want to go to mass, it's really okay. Neos or no neos. This is just another milestone to take back our church. Biba!

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    1. Archbishop Hon won't even be at the mass. . . Go picket! Congratulate Fr. Paul at another mass! Come on, guys, you are all melting. Have you ever thought that this is all a ploy. Archbishop Hon left for Rome on Friday, 2 SEPT. Fr. Paul could have been installed by him on 1 SEPT, which is the day I understand, his appointment is effective. So, what gives? It's probably all about breaking the picket line. So, don't get sucked in to this "rejoice for Fr. Paul."

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    2. It is a doggie bone being thrown at you and you are falling for it.

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    3. See Eileen? That wasn't hard. Now your turn.

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    4. 6:57 PM You say it's OK, right? How does going to the installation get Apuron defrocked? How does going to the installation get the seminary back. How does telling everybody it's OK help anyone but you to justify your own self centered approach? Can't you at least try not to persuade people to mock those poor souls who have picketed for so long and would NEVER break the picket line? Can you not work AGAINST our efforts?

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    5. To Anonymous at 9:22 PM:
      I will attend Fr. Paul's Mass and continue to support the efforts of CCOG (I have donated money) and to respect those who picket. How about your turn to USE YOUR NAME?
      Eileen Benavente-Blas

      Eileen Benavente-Blas

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    6. Oh Eileen. You shud apologize to all who choose to "picket" tomorrow. You accused them of disrespecting the Mass. Right, you are more pious than anonymous because you donated money and showed up at tbe Hyatt Gala to protest. You also made a stink between the words picket and protest when you know very well that when most say picketing here, what they really mean is protesting. Yes, you quibble over semantics. Forget my name, it's not Important. If I told you I was the Holy Spirit pricking at your conscience, would you believe me? Then you should pray to me, the Holy Spirit, to guide your conscience then you can truly trust what your conscience says to do. Everyone here is going to do what their conscience tells them. Pray first, then do or you can just do whatever you want. But by all means, attend the mass.

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  14. i will be at the picket line until apuron is defrocked and the until the neos leave guam ....

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  15. I am away from my island but after reading all the comments, I agree with the Protesters! Once we change the time when the protests first started, it means that we are willing to give in to something else in the future. Father Paul is in - Great News - but the purpose of the protest is about Apurun and others who caused all the injustices against our Catholic Church. I can understand those that want to attend the mass but you should not keep posting about what you are going to do. Do it and let the ones who are dedicated to the cause do what they want to do - CONTINUE THE PROTEST. If I was home, I will be one of the Protester! BiBa Katolikus!

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  16. It is always heartwarming, in spite of the blazing heat & physical discomfort, to witness the solidarity expressed by all those who are marching for justice & truth for our Church. We shall continue as long as it takes!

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  17. Eileen, the tactics AB Hon is using is working. It's so far gotten some, most obviously you, to start turning on each other. And what's with your obsession with the Anonymous posters? Get over it.

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