Don't you see how fierce his opponents were!
Sunday, February 25, 2018
NOT WITH WHAT YOU TAUGHT...BUT WITH HOW YOU ACTED
Just for old time's sake, let's have a little fun with The Diana. "She" says:
Ah, Diana. You flatter us. "Law-enforce and authority..., etc.?" Gosh. Such power. Thanks. But we are quite happy with Archbishop Byrnes. It may have taken awhile, but he has seen through your scam. Seminary closed. And soon the NCW?
I say yes. And here's why.
Not because of your heretical teaching, which has become increasingly obvious (e.g. "Jesus is a Sinner" i.e. meaning Jesus is not God - aka Arianism), but because your leadership absolutely disobeyed a simple request: to provide Archbishop Byrnes, the absolute authority in this diocese, with a copy of the NCW's Catechetical Directory
Archbishop Byrnes made this request last March, and for nearly year now, your leadership has not only played Button, button, who's got the button?, but thumbed their noses (if not a a different finger) at Archbishop Byrnes.
How sad for you.
Truly, Archbishop Byrnes came to Guam last year really willing to listen "to both sides." His closure of RMS and his crackdown on the NCW had nothing to do with what was actually taught...but with how you acted.
Bye Diana. Will miss you.
Labels:
Diana
HERE'S AN ANGLE WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET
Waiting for a Vatican verdict on allegations that he sexually abused several boys in the 1970s, Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agana, Guam, attended one of Pope Francis’s weekly general audiences in February.
The archbishop’s presence at the audience on February 7 was not announced by the Vatican. However, Vatican media did not attempt to hide his presence in photographs and a video of the audience.
The Italian website, Vatican Insider, published a story on February 10 claiming that when Archbishop Apuron personally greeted the pope at the end of the audience, he told the pope, “Holy Father, I wanted to see you before I die.” CONTINUED
RELATED
National Catholic Reporter
Pacific Island Times
THE REIGN OF SILENCE IS AT AN END
Counseling for clergy sex abuse accusers continues
Professional counseling services continue for victims of clergy sex abuse, nearly a year since the Archdiocese of Agana created Hope and Healing Guam in April 2017 amid efforts to try to settle clergy abuse lawsuits. CONTINUED
The Hope and Healing hotline for those who have been sexually abused in the Catholic Church is 1-888-649-5288. If the line is busy, a caseworker will return the call.
My note: I know from people who have privately approached me who did not want to go public, that there are far more victims than what has been reported. Not surprised. Who would dare speak up during the long "reign of silence."
Friday, February 23, 2018
STILL BUSY
JungleWatch is more than just a "breaking news" blog. It is probably the world's greatest depository of information of how the weak can stand up to the strong, of how to speak truth to power, of how to do more than just complain...and of what can be accomplished when you are "not afraid."
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
HE WILL SOON
Does Pope Francis have a New Bishop Barros-like Sex Abuse Scandal?
According to the USA Today and former Guam Senator Robert Klitzkie, it appears that Pope Francis has a new Bishop Juan Barros-like sex abuse scandal. CONTINUED
According to the USA Today and former Guam Senator Robert Klitzkie, it appears that Pope Francis has a new Bishop Juan Barros-like sex abuse scandal. CONTINUED
THESE GUYS ARE STARTING TO ACT LIKE APURON
Papal advisor retweets call for Church to shut down EWTN unless they fire Raymond Arroyo
February 20, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Papal confidante Father Antonio Spadaro retweeted a call for EWTN to be severely censured “until they get rid of Raymond Arroyo.” CONTINUED
February 20, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Papal confidante Father Antonio Spadaro retweeted a call for EWTN to be severely censured “until they get rid of Raymond Arroyo.” CONTINUED
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Friday, February 16, 2018
PDN GETS IT RIGHT
In titling the story "Libel claims against Archbishop Apuron remain, slander dismissed," the PDN got the real story right.
The real story is "Libel claims against Apuron remain."
In fact, at least from the PDN story, it appears that even the slander portion of the suit was dismissed only under a technicality and not because there was no slander committed:
"Accordingly, because plaintiffs failed to plead special damages, Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted," the judge wrote. "Therefore, the court holds that dismissal of the slander claim is appropriate."
GO HERE FOR THE STORY
HERE is the "media release" referenced in the PDN story.
Thursday, February 15, 2018
YES, IT WAS EDIVALDO
According to a KUAM news story, Judge Michael Bordallo has dismissed the slander portion of the defamation lawsuit against Apuron by those who have accused him of sex abuse, but NOT the libel portion.
First, let's understand the difference between slander and libel:
"Libel and slander are types of defamatory statements. Libel is a written defamatory statement, and slander is a spoken or oral defamatory statement."
It's easy to see why the judge dismissed ONLY the slander portion (the spoken part) of the suit. In Apuron's video statement of May 17, 2016, the day Roy Quintanilla accused him of molesting him, Apuron only denied the allegation.
The libel part came in the press release of May 31, 2016, and it was aimed directly at Doris Concepcion:
"Another malicious and calumnious accusation against the Archbishop has surfaced; this time from the mother of a man who has been deceased for eleven years."
It's one thing to deny an allegation, it's another thing to accuse the person making the allegation of being "malicious and calumnious." That's defamation, especially since Doris was only sharing what her dying son had told her, and it is libel, because it was written.
This is what got Apuron in trouble...and HE STILL IS.
However, the real target of the statement was Tim Rohr. In fact, "Tim Rohr," was the only person named in the defamatory press release. Here are all the things Apuron accused Tim Rohr of:
Tim Rohr and his associates launched a vicious and calumnious attack on the Archbishop and the Church
Thus began a malicious campaign to denounce and attack the Archbishop...
The perpetrators of these calumnies have resorted to insults and violence revealing their true intention to destroy the Catholic Church...
Their method is to confuse and mislead the faithful, even to the point of inducing some to bring false testimony...
Those who are orchestrating this campaign are inciting people into hatred of the Archbishop and the Catholic Church.
They have produced scandal, confusion and grave errors with the cruel intent to injure the Archbishop, the Catholic Church in Guam and many other people of good will who have been outraged and harassed.
He then threatened to sue Tim Rohr civilly and canonically:
Therefore, the Archdiocese of Agana is in the process of taking canonical and legal measures against those perpetrating these malicious lies.
Never mind the plural references ("those" etc.). There was only one person publicly standing up against Apuron at the time and it was Tim Rohr. That's why the press release uses "associates," and doesn't name anyone else.
And to his threats Tim rohr responded: "Bring it on."
Rohr, who writes about the local Catholic Church on his blog site JungleWatch, said Tuesday he welcomes the legal action that the Archdiocese is planning, hoping that everything will be revealed in court.
“Bring it on,” said Rohr.
So why did Tim Rohr say that? Why wasn't Tim Rohr afraid?
Because Tim Rohr knew it wasn't Apuron who said any of the above. By May 31, 2016, Apuron had already fled Guam and begged for help from Papa:
So who was it who was threatening Tim Rohr?
It was Adrian and Edivaldo, the two impostors who had been running things all along. How does Tim Rohr know this? Here are the reasons:
- Apuron had not been running this diocese for a very long time.
- Adrian, Edivaldo, and the other neocat hierarchy were the real orchestrators, something the infamous "fist pump" video shortly gave away.
- Apuron had already fled Guam.
- The press release was sent out by Edivaldo.
Thus, Tim Rohr prepared his own brief for a defamation suit against Adrian and Edivaldo.
The trouble for Apuron was that Adrian and Edivaldo didn't put their names on it and sent it out on chancery letterhead - which made Apuron liable for libel, and still does.
Thus Edivaldo brought down the very man he was trying to protect.
By "coincidence" the following message was received just minutes before KUAM released it's story:
This morning, since I had the day off, I went to morning mass for Ash Wednesday. I was taken aback by a priest I've never seen before at my parish. He was popular with the school kids in attendance and his sermon seemed alright.
After mass, I met with him to ask his name. He spewed it out with an air of arrogance, as if I weren't supposed to register it. Little did he know I know Portuguese and could understand...yes, it was Edivaldo.
The KUAM story ends with this from "the trained lawyer:"
"He is outside of Guam. Why? Would you be able...to live in this very small, close knit community in the difficulty that exists? That's just the equation for another heart attack, frankly. And so yes, there is a factor of a medical condition - but it's also common sense."
Ummm, no. It would have been "common sense" not to run if he had nothing to run from.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
NERO'S CIRCUS - ENJOY THE CROTCH SHOTS
On February 7, the Vatican camera captured "The Apuron," an unbelievable tragi-comic-farce, hobbling to the pope, across a stage...to slip him a letter.
But we have already covered that.
Still, how insanely appropriate that Nero himself should revisit this very stage upon which The Apuron sat...entertained...at that very moment...by a resurrection of Nero's Circus:
Is there any doubt that the abomination of desolation has now shown itself in the temple?
PS. Enjoy the crotch shots. SMH
Nero's Circus from Undercover Neo on Vimeo.
— Matthew 24:15-16
But we have already covered that.
Still, how insanely appropriate that Nero himself should revisit this very stage upon which The Apuron sat...entertained...at that very moment...by a resurrection of Nero's Circus:
Is there any doubt that the abomination of desolation has now shown itself in the temple?
PS. Enjoy the crotch shots. SMH
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
Monday, February 12, 2018
MORE OF THE SAME FROM FATHER JEFF!!! WHY IT MATTERS
Posted by Frenchie
Adrian Cristobal, aka the back stabber, aka the prince of darkness
TWIDDLE DUM
Jeffrey San Nicolas, aka the crying priest.
WTH IS THIS?
GUAM DAILY POST: 'I wanted to see you before dying'
POST: "The more than 50 Sundays of marches by Guam's Catholics to call for Apuron to be stripped of his title and leadership role also didn't keep the pope from meeting Apuron on Wednesday."
MY COMMENT: The pope did not "meet" with Apuron. Apuron, like he did in May 2016 when he fled Guam for Rome, crashed a papal greeting line and then hijacked it for his own personal business. The event was a regular papal audience which are held every Wednesday and anyone with a ticket can attend. Bishops are usually automatically permitted and the pope always greets them.
The fact that Francis appears to console Apuron is only normal for a man with the title Holy Father. However, the fact that Apuron is actually crashing a greeting line to deliver the pope a letter rather than requesting a private appointment tells us that the pope would probably not receive him in a private appointment.
PACIFIC DAILY NEWS: Italian paper quotes Apuron telling pope, 'I wanted to see you before dying'
MY COMMENT: Apuron, like he did in May 2016 when he fled Guam for Rome, has once again crashed a papal greeting line and then hijacked it for his own personal business. The event was a regular papal audience which are held every Wednesday and anyone with a ticket can attend. Bishops are usually automatically permitted and the pope always greets them.
The fact that Francis appears to console Apuron is only normal for a man with the title Holy Father. However, the fact that Apuron is actually crashing a greeting line to deliver the pope a letter rather than requesting a private appointment tells us that the pope would probably not receive him in a private appointment.
AND EXCUSE ME BUT WTH IS THIS?????
and Tony enjoying the show (smh)
MY OTHER COMMENT: BTW, the performance of the mostly naked man just feet from the pope (and while Apuron looks on) brings to mind Matthew 24: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation..." Just unbelievable. The end is near.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
THE NCW TAKEOVER OF GUAM - MAPPED OUT
Left amongst the ruins of the abandoned RMS was a "war room" map which appears to indicate the parishes and villages already infiltrated.
RMS may be gone, but the NCW is not. In fact, I'm glad it's not. Maybe their presence will push us in the right direction.
For those of you who want to "get rid of the NCW," you are NOT going to do it by simply demanding that Archbishop Byrnes shut them down. You are going to do it by offering what they are offering: a path to better know Jesus - even though the true Kiko-version of Jesus is (per Bishop Athanasius Schneider: a heresy).
How sad that we Catholics really do have the truth and don't care, for the most part, to share it. We'd rather plan fiestas.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
APURON: "HOLY FATHER, I WANTED TO SEE YOU BEFORE DYING."
Another report from La Stampa. Highlights, mine. Comments in red, mine.
Guam’s Archbishop Apuron breaks his silence: “I deny all allegations made against me”
The February 7th audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican. The verdict of Cardinal Burke's trial remains unpublished. The latest accusation from his nephew. The Church on the island is hit with an avalanche of lawsuits
SALVATORE CERNUZIO
VATICAN CITY
Pubblicato il 10/02/2018
Ultima modifica il 10/02/2018 alle ore 10:36
“Holy Father, I wanted to see you before dying.” Arriving at the Paul VI Hall in a wheelchair * due to health problems, Msgr. Anthony Apuron, the Archbishop of Guam suspended amid abuse accusations, greeted Pope Francis at the end of the general audience on February 7th. Bergoglio reacted with affection, shaking the bishop’s hand and privately giving him a few words of encouragement.
[If he arrived in a wheel chair, he did not stay in it:
He stands behind the "n."]
Apuron had recently undergone surgery, as he revealed in a statement released in the last few weeks breaking his silence concerning the accusations of sexual abuse against minors first made against him in June of 2016—accusations which forced him to suspend himself as archbishop of the Pacific island while a canonical trial was initiated.
[If Apuron suspended himself, he suspended himself on June 6, 2016. Walter Denton would not come forward until the following day. Roland Sondia a week later. And Mark Apuron, a year and a half later. On June 6, the day Apuron himself told us in a "selfie" video in front of St. Peter's Basilica, that he had "suspended himself," there had thus far been only one allegation from one 52 year old man who had not lived on Guam in decades, and a mother - who also had been absent from Guam for decades - of another man who had been dead since 2005. Yet, THIS was what made Apuron run to Rome and "suspend himself?" And by the way, both of those accusations had been made in May...not June.]
“As I lay sick after another surgery and I face the final judgment approaching evermore close, having lost interest in this world” reads the statement, in which the prelate specifically responds to the latest accusation from his nephew Mark Apuron, who in an interview with a Guam news outlet described an alleged assault in the bathroom of his uncle’s house during a family dinner. The incident, according to the man, happened sometime around 1989 or 1990.
With that of Mark Apuron—a relative from a part of the family rarely frequented by the archbishop, according to what he’s told his closest associates—the number of accusers now stands at five. The other four are former altar servers who claim they were abused at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Guam, where then Fr. Apuron was pastor. Accusations from which have emerged some contradictions and incongruences in the course of the process conducted by five bishops and overseen by American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, whom the pope sent to the island to investigate the case.
[So Apuron "rarely frequented" that part of the family! But even at "five," that's still a measly number of accusations, and certainly no cause to lose "interest in this world" for a man who is truly innocent. Apuron has been given the best forum in the world to prove his innocence: FEDERAL COURT. Yet, he continues to demand that his cases NOT go to court.]
["Accusations from which have emerged some contradictions and incongruences.." Really? Well then the Vatican investigation has been tainted and compromised by Apuron's supporters, hasn't it? How else would La Stampa know this?]
“God is my witness” states Apuron in the message, “I deny all allegations of sexual abuse made against me, including this last one. All these events are helping me to direct my hope towards the only righteous judge, and for this I am very thankful. I am saddened, however, by the timing of this latest accusation that alleges an act which supposedly happened in incredible circumstances.”
[Well then, Mr. Apuron, simply come back to Guam and demand your day in court. Simple as that.]
“These allegations have been mentored and promoted by the same source,” continues the archbishop, “and this one seems particularly timed to influence the verdict of the Vatican trial conducted by the Holy See, as a last resort out of fear that I may be exonerated.”
[If we are to believe Apuron, Apuron himself demanded a Vatican trial. But now he tells us that the tribunal which he entrusted his fate to can't be trusted - since it can be so easily compromised by one small 30-year old accusation by a single relative from a part of the family he "rarely frequented."]
The “source” mentioned by Apuron in his statement which he claims is seeking to create pressure on the judges, was already discussed by Vatican Insider in an investigation published last September 20 which provoked heated reactions on the Pacific island . The former shepherd of Guam (still technically the ordinary of the archdiocese) speaks clearly of “people who have only their power agenda at heart” and “who are destroying the Church in Guam…may God have mercy on us all and save His Church from the powers of darkness.”
[It makes a good story, except for one fact: the people who rose up against Apuron are the very epitome of the island's Catholic faithful and remain so. So if the destruction of the Church in Guam is the aim of this "source," it has done a terrible job. In fact, if anyone was the "source" of the destruction of the Church in Guam, it was Apuron; for, under his 30-year reign of neglect, the number of non-Catholic denominations has exploded from only a handful to over 60, and all composed of former Catholics.]
“I pray”, he states, “that the truth may prevail; I pray for my accusers: fill them with what they desire; as for me, ‘when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your face, oh Lord’ (Ps. 17,15).”
[Apuron does not have to "pray that the truth may prevail." He only has to demand the opportunity to face his accusers in federal court, which is where his cases are now. Yet, he continues to send his attorney out to demand that his cases be dismissed.]
Apuron’s trial should have wrapped up last August with the release of a sentence but, after several events, appears to have failed to reach a conclusion. This despite the words of current apostolic administrator Bishop Michael J. Byrnes, who in a press conference months ago cited the trial’s notary as reporting that “the sentence has been determined.”
[Actually the trial has "reached a conclusion," which is why Byrnes said "the sentence has been determined." And, we know that the verdict is guilty otherwise Apuron and his supporters would have not interfered with "several events, " designed to squelch the announcement of the sentence.]
Meanwhile the situation on the island—famous for its natural beauty, evangelized nearly four centuries ago and with a 95% Catholic population—has changed radically. The Church has been hit by a wave of abuse accusations against clergy and Church employees following the senate’s passage of a law removing the statute of limitations for sexual offenses.
A dramatic escalation of sexual abuse accusations—more than 95 in the last year and a half—with substantial claims for financial reparation from the diocese. Some of them accuse priests in their nineties or ones already deceased. "Our Church is headed for bankruptcy and towards destruction,” a priest in Guam tells Vatican Insider.
[There is only one priest in his "nineties," and he has publicly confessed. And why should a priest be concerned about bankruptcy? What is that relative to that priest's ordained duty to save souls? He appears to be more concerned with mammon, doesn't he? And "destruction?" People are already returning to the pews now that they see a bishop who is a holy man - something they haven't seen in decades.]
Another shock to the fabric of the Guamanian church has been the Dec. 15 closure of the Redemptoris Mater seminary and the theological institute affiliated with the Pontifical Lateran University, where just a year ago 48 seminarians were studying for the priesthood, a number that had been projected to rise to 80 after other dioceses in the Pacific had announced plans to send their seminarians to study in Guam. The decision was announced by the coadjutor archbishop Byrnes, who explained that the seminary’s model was “unsustainable” for the island. But the prelate also acknowledged plans to sell the beachfront property in Yona—which has attracted the attention of foreign developers in the past—with the intention of helping cover the costs of out-of-court victim settlements.
[La Stampa calls into question the Vatican appointed authority of Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes. It is Byrnes' duty and prerogative to govern his diocese as he sees fit. And if he said that RMS was "unsustainable," then that is his call, not La Stampa's. The fact is that Byrnes was not referring to finances when he called RMS "unsustainable," though that is also true. Byrnes was referring to the fact that RMS was NOT constituted to educate diocesan priests, but priests "formed according to the life and practice of the Neocatechumenal Way," as its articles clearly stated.]
Many of the seminarians, among them several local vocations, have relocated to other dioceses or returned to their home dioceses. Some had finished their studies and were awaiting their ordination to the diaconate. With the closure of the Theological Institute—whose establishment was requested by 31 bishops of the Pacific in 2005—twelve professors returned home, including some educated at the Lateran.
[One wonders why any bishop would demand the formation of a seminary in Guam to send their men to when there was already a seminary established for the region (in Fiji) and blessed by Pope John Paul II himself. Or they could have availed themselves of the many seminaries long established in the U.S., the Philippines, or Europe. Yet we are supposed to believe that all those were so deficient that they begged Apuron to start a completely new seminary in Guam?]
The question of the seminary and the institute has interested the ranks of the Holy See, including the Secretariat of State, for example, and Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples—under whose jurisdiction the archdiocese of Guam falls. The cardinal sent a personal letter to Bishop Byrnes after having received a letter from four priests of the archdiocese of Agaña expressing concerns about the planned closure of the seminary and the Institute (the priests were expelled from the diocese’s presbyteral council for “insubordination” soon after).
[Yes they were. And not only "insubordination," but ABUSE OF OFFICE.]
In his letter, the prefect of Propaganda Fide reminded Byrnes of the Church’s interest in not selling the property and the prohibition placed on alienating the property based on previously stipulated conditions. The document was intended to be a private letter but was obtained by a local blog known for promoting accusations against Apuron and the Neocatechumenal Way, an ecclesial reality with a strong presence in Guam.
[Suddenly Filoni is so concerned about the alienation of the property when he had no problem with Apuron alienating the property from the Archdiocese of Agana. For even if we accept Apuron's argument that he personally maintained control of the property, the property, since its use was restricted to a corporation that was NOT the Archdiocese of Agana, still separated that property from the material assets, the patrimony, of the Archdiocese of Agana. No. Filoni had other reasons.]
[And thanks, La Stampa, for the credits, but if all this blog was was "accusations," there is no way it would have the number of views it has nor the effect it has had. And by the way, the NCW does NOT have a "strong presence in Guam." Its bosses had an inordinate amount of power in Guam thanks to their ability to capitalize on the compromised Apuron.]
During a general audience in October 2017 in St. Peter’s Square, a canonical recourse signed by approximately 25 priests, lawyers, and other prominent figures from Guam was hand-delivered to the Pope. The signers appealed to the Pope to personally intervene regarding Byrnes’ decision, which, it read, “has inflicted a spiritual, moral and physical harm upon the faithful of Guam as a result of his actions without respect for canon law.” The appeal --multiple sources report-- is currently under review by some dicasteries of the Curia.
[Well this is the first we have heard of this. Of course we can pretty much guess who these "priests, lawyers, and other prominent figures from Guam" are. However, if there is anything that is clear at this point, the "spiritual, moral and physical harm upon the faithful of Guam" was perpetrated for three decades by the man they are trying to protect - which is why the pope sent Byrnes here in the first place.]
Besides closing the Redemptoris Mater, Byrnes has meanwhile reshaped the diocese’s bodies, replacing the members of the cemetery board, the presbyteral council, the finance council, the college of consultors and the metropolitan tribunal. His dismissals include several Chamorro (the name given to local natives) priests as well as those affiliated with the Neocatechumenal Way, and in the case of the tribunal, replacing them with—among others—clergy from the Philippines. Reinstated to all the advisory boards was the controversial Msgr. James Benavente, whom we reported on in the previous article.
[This is funny. Fr. Jeff San Nicolas, a Chamorro, is second in command, as is the supposedly "controversial" Benavente. And Fr. Mike Crisostomo, a Chamorro, fills several key roles. The only "Chamorros" who have been replaced are the two neo's: Quitugua and Cristobal. BTW, apparently La Stampa is racist.]
The latest string of appointments came just a few weeks after an hours-long visit by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the island on Dec. 17, 2017.
[Ah, there it is. A dead give away for La Stampa's source. Apuron has harbored such contempt for Tagle - for several reasons. But here's the main one: Tagle, who as a young Filipino priest probably kissed Apuron's ring at the annual Tagaytay retreats, was raised to the office of Cardinal, while Apuron, who lusted after the hat, was passed over.]
Cardinal Tagle was the guest homilist at Msgr. Benavente's 20th anniversary Mass. Apuron "looks" on.
PICS (from Apuron's Feb 7, 2018 visit to see Pope Francis "before dying.")
[Apparently delivering a secret letter.]
Update:
Apuron's visit and the article in La Stampa were set up by the Neocatechumenal Way as a way to discredit Archbishop Byrnes in a national Italian publication. The author, Salvatore Cernuzio, is a member of the Way who regularly writes for Zenit and even writes posts for the Way's official website. Their plans will backfire.
Friday, February 9, 2018
ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS - FEB 7, 2018
(My device stopped recording about 5 minutes before the end of the talk, but this is most of it.)
Thursday, February 8, 2018
HOW HUMANAE VITAE HAS LED TO THE IMPLOSION OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH
There is a bit of an uproar over the news that "the Vatican" may soon render "Humanae Vitae" obsolete.
Humane Vitae is the 1967 Encyclical Letter, promulgated by Paul VI, upholding the Church's ancient ban on birth control, or more precisely: "the intrinsic unlawfulness of every action that intentionally separates 'the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act'” (HV, 12).
The "conservatives," of course, are crying "foul." But there is a reason why 43 years after the promulgation of this letter, that 1) Humanae Vitae has been almost universally ignored, and 2) Vatican liberals are seriously looking to dump it.
But, in my little opinion the Vatican libs need not work so hard to discredit it. HV was fatally flawed from the outset...which is 1) why it has always been so roundly ignored, and 2) HV remains at the center of the implosion of the Catholic faith worldwide.
I wrote about it here.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
IN CASE ANYONE IS WONDERING...I AM NOT GOING TO QUIT
Note: I am not a "self-proclaimed watchdog." I'm a Catholic who cares.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
BEFORE THE CANCER SPREADS - APRIL 3, 2008
I recently referenced this column in my my response to Mr. Ada's comments in the PDN. A friend asked me to re-post the column (written in 2008) directly here in JungleWatch. Here it is:
Thursday, April 03, 2008
HONEST THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY
Dear Friends,
It is not without a little sadness that I share this with you. I have been deliberating over making the following statement for several years and now feel forced to officially say something in the hopes of encouraging better understanding and future cooperation in this diocese which I can see is terribly torn. I thank you for reading the following:
Running a Catholic bookstore and being involved in our local church at many levels I am often drawn into conversations about the Neocatechumenal Way.
The reason the NCW (apologies to those offended by the abbreviation) is the topic of much discussion is a study in itself. Seems like folks either love or hate it.
I have spent many hours with people in and out of the NCW in an effort to get to understand what the problem is.
Recently, I was accused of having said something derogatory which is absolutely not true, so I thought it best to make my thoughts and comments public with a time and date stamp so that even more ill will is not stirred up. God help us.
These thoughts are based only on my observations and personal experiences. I am not in the NCW and have never attended any of their functions though I often have the pleasure of joining Fr. Ivan and the seminarians for lunch. By the way excuse any terms, phrases, or references that I may use that evinces my ignorance of the NCW. I mean no harm and I apologize for my ignorance.
Here’s the good stuff:
1. The NCW is teaching people the truth about sex. Thank God for that! I know women in the NCW who have gotten their tubes untied and many who have gotten off birth control. I know people who were living lives contrary to the teachings of the church as regards sex and who are now living in conformity with those teachings. The teaching of the NCW is heroic in this regard.
2. The NCW is getting people to pray, especially the liturgical prayer of the Church. I was blessed to have been exposed to it many years ago (in college), but since then I have never been encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
3. The NCW is teaching people to be givers…AND they are succeeding. I see NCWs contributing in large ways, especially financially.
4. The NCW is producing vocations. And I know that the seminarians are learning Latin and Gregorian Chant in conformity with the true wishes of Vatican II. I don’t see that happening anywhere else.
5. I see NCW priests wearing their clerics. They are visible to the community. God Bless them for that.
6. I was sitting with Fr. Ivan and Fr. Eric Forbes when Fr. Ivan asked Fr. Eric if he would teach the seminarians how to say the Traditional Latin Mass. Fr. Eric responded positively and also offered to teach them the theology of this beautiful Mass. This is in conformity with the wishes (if not command) of the Pope in his recent Moto Proprio. I don’t see anyone else rushing to embrace the Pope’s desires in this regard.
7. The NCW is teaching people to study their faith. They are studying the Scriptures, the Catechism, and the Early Fathers. It’s wonderful to see.
8. I understand that the NCW is also active in the prison. I used to teach in the prison for GCC and saw how active non-Catholic groups were with the prisoners. The majority of the prisoners are Catholic. Where is the Catholic ministry? The NCW is now there.
9. I see the NCW going out 2 by 2, knocking on doors and inviting people back to the Church, in other words, doing exactly what Christ commanded. The only other group that I know that does this is the Legion of Mary, so good for them too.
10. Most of all I am moved by the politeness, the kindness, the general charity of those I know in the NCW, especially the priests and seminarians, but essentially most everybody I know personally who is connected with it.
11. I should also mention that I have been asked on many occasions to order the book The Pope’s Armada which as you may know is not very favorable towards the NCW and other ecclesial communities. I only placed one order for it and that was before I knew what it was. When I am asked now, I politely let the person know that it is not a book that I would recommend. I don’t say this because of the negative it has towards the movements, but because the book calls into question the wisdom and the authority of John Paul II. And I’m a JPII defendant.
Now here are my issues, which I intend to lay out just as honestly and again only from my personal observations and experiences as an outsider. Some of these things do not have anything to do with the NCW, but just personal preference, like the first one:
1. I feel that I shouldn’t have to “join” something in order to practice my Faith to its fullest. I have Jesus Christ and the Sacraments of the One, Holy, Catholic, Church. What else is needed? I feel that if there is anything lacking it is more ordained minsiters who will teach the truth. I know many who do, but all should.
2. I completely understand the NCW in terms of what I think it was originally constituted to do which is to evangelize, to reach out to those who are marginalized, or left behind. This is not what I see happening. I see the NCW going into parishes and taking people out of the pews and forming what is, in effect, parallel "community" churches.
3. I do not understand what I’ll call the “line of accountability”.
- The thing that makes us Catholic is that we can SEE that line: priest – bishop – pope. It’s the only guarantee that I have that I have access to the truth. In the NCW I do not know the line of accountability.
- While its statutes have been blessed by the Pope, I do not know who the individual catechists and “responsibles” are answerable to. I do not know what qualifies these people to teach in the name of the Church. I understand that locally the NCW is “under Father Pius”, or this is what I’m told.
- When I ask who Father Pius is “under” I am told either the Bishop or “a couple that lives in California”.
- With the Bishop I understand the canonical order, however, I also know that the Bishop is not directing the NCW here in Guam but hosting it. I believe Fr. Pius is directing it. Or so I’m told.
- Correct me if I’m wrong. But then who is the “couple in California” and “by what authority” do they direct Fr. Pius if in fact they do.
I could be severely wrong about all this. I am only repeating what I am told in the hopes that those within the NCW can see the frustration of those of us not “in it”. (Actually those words “not in it” are an issue in themselves. See point #1.)
4. I am DEEPLY attached to the Traditional Latin Mass. Even at the Novus Ordo I do not touch the host. Communion in the hand was conceived in disobedience and allowed because the disobedience was so wide spread that it was deemed to cause more damage to stop it, so it was allowed. (Look it up yourself.) I do not believe that the Mass is supposed to be a re-creation of the upper room but an anticipation of the heavenly liturgy, the Lamb’s Supper, not the Last Supper. The Catechism itself states this.
- 1090 "In the earthly liturgy we share in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle. With all the warriors of the heavenly army we sing a hymn of glory to the Lord; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, until he, our life, shall appear and we too will appear with him in glory."
Thus I hunger for Holy Mass that best represents the heavenly liturgy and I find it in the Traditional Latin Mass. I have not attended an NCW Mass but it has been described to me and I do not find the description of it to match what I read in the Catechism. This too is just personal preference. Obviously the NCW form of the Mass is allowed, as is the Novus Ordo. It’s just that I find the BEST expression in the TLM. So that’s where I go. And that’s where I will continue to go. I find it extremely heartening that the NCW rectors here in Guam want the seminarians to learn the TLM. God bless them and may they discover the great beauty of the beloved Mass of our saintly ancestors.
5. The only other issue I would have is the arrogance of some in the NCW who seem to believe that the “Way” is THEE Way, that you are not fully Catholic unless you are in the “Neo." But I do not blame the NCW. This is not what they are taught to do. It’s a natural result of the exuberance people often experience when they feel that they have "found it”, be it religion, a career, or the right girl or guy. I admit it gets a little annoying but I understand it. I would also encourage those who lead NCW groups to help new people in this regard.
6. But that brings to mind one more thing that I find frustrating. There is an element of secrecy that is strange to me as a Catholic. At my bookstore I am often asked for certain resources that are particular to the NCW. I am happy to order them but I would prefer to have them in stock. To facilitate keeping these items in stock I have often asked for the name of the person in charge so that I might know who to contact about possible future needs. I am ALWAYS met with an evasive answer. I am most often told “I don’t know”.
This raises all kinds of red flags with me. How can you be involved in something that is very well organized and not know who is in charge. The only answer I get is “the Bishop”. While I know that the Bishop is canonically responsible for all things that happen in his diocese I seriously doubt "he’s in charge” in the way that I am asking.
There is an obvious element of secrecy that is inherent in the NCW process. I have no criticism of such secrecy directly, though it seems strange to me as a Catholic. Many organizations have “trade secrets” or whatever. But then tell the truth. Say “we are not allowed to tell”.
*****
In summary I yield to the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of our earthly Vicar of Christ. If it’s okay with the Pope then it’s okay with me. But just like communion in the hand and other liturgical practices that I dislike, I have a right as a Catholic to choose to practice my faith the way I know I am called to practice it.
By coincidence I was moved to write this early this morning as a result of almost daily confrontations I have regarding the NCW. I wanted to just write this and hand this to people whenever the subject came up…to save me time, but also to protect myself from being misquoted.
This afternoon I received an email from a dear friend bearing me the bad news about something I supposedly said about the NCW. She mentioned the time and place that I supposedly said this so I knew exactly where it was coming from and knew exactly what it was that I had said. It was at the diocesan convocation this past Monday night.
I was sitting at the table with Archbishop Apuron, 3 monsignors, two of whom I know are involved with the NCW (David C. Benavente and Brigido Arroyo), 2 lay people - one a catechist in the NCW, and an NCW priest. If I had anything negative to say you can bet that I would not be so stupid as to say it in that company.
Here’s exactly what I said: “not everyone is going to join the Neocatechumenal Way”. That’s it. That’s all I said. And I said that in response to a question as to how to catechize more adults. And I said it only after complimenting the NCW in how well they are doing in reaching adults. But I added my comment by way of encouraging the pastors present at my table to consider offering another venue for catechesis. The riches of the Church should not be hidden away or relegated to the teaching of a particular group.
Why this person felt it necessary to broadcast my supposed ill will toward the NCW, I don’t know. But the issue shows that there is a problem, a hyper-sensitivity, a bad misunderstanding, a festering wound. It needs to be honestly looked at before the cancer spreads. I can only see sadness ahead if it does.
Sincerely,
Tim Rohr
April 3, 2008
Sunday, February 4, 2018
I SYMPATHIZE WITH MR. ADA
From Neocatechumenal Way: Group's future hinges on Archbishop Byrnes (Guam PDN. Feb. 4, 2018)
"It’s certainly a loss for the island that we’ve closed down the seminary but as far as the Neocatechumenal Way is concerned, it’s helped hundreds on the island such as myself," said Peter "Sonny" Ada, who has been walking with the Neocatechumenal Way for more than 10 years.
"The Neocatechumenal Way is a charism. It’s a help from the mother church in Rome that's here to help communities around the world. In Guam, we’re very fortunate to have it and I really hope the Holy Spirit will guide the archbishop and those involved in continuing to see the Neocatechumenal Way flourish in Guam," said Ada, president of Ada's Trust and Investment Inc.
"Some people can go to the gym and lose weight. Some need a coach. Same thing spiritually. Some can go to the church, some can do the rosaries, but some need a coach and the Neocatechumenal Way helps me in my faith walk," Ada said.
"Other than the fact that he walks in the community and the fact that he introduced Neocatechumenal Way and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary to Guam, there's really no connection, but we pray for him. As of today, he’s really an innocent man of anything. If he’s found guilty, then let the law take it where it's supposed to go," Ada said.
"There’s a lot of suffering, a lot of abuses on the island, a lot of divorces," Ada said. "And I think that having the word of God can help people through their suffering and so it’s my hope that the archdiocese will continue to allow the Neocatechumenal Way to continue to grow here because it’s only going to help the people."
****
I really do sympathize with Mr. Ada. In fact, I can demonstrate that I said very much the same thing ten years ago in a post I did on my TheMassNeverEnds.com blog in my post of April 2008: Honest Thoughts on the Neocatechumenal Way (a post which to this day continues to be one of the most popular posts on that blog).
In that post, I sang the praises of the NCW for doing what our then-Archbishop should have been doing: leading the faithful to a deeper relationship with Christ.
The problem was that our then-Archbishop was doing exactly the opposite. And to cover for his crimes, he did what many clerical-derelicts like him do: insert a turn-key program like the NCW into a parish or a diocese to do what the bishop or the pastor should have been doing all along, but was too damn lazy or corrupt to do it.
And to compound the matter, as the then-Archbishop was essentially a major derelict, so too were many of his priests - who, even if they weren't guilty of the same crimes, either ran for cover or found ways to get away with doing next to nothing...or worse, used their knowledge of Apuron's crimes to engage in their own. (I could name names.)
The fact is this: The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church does NOT need any freaking movement, program, or "ecclesial reality." It only needs Jesus Christ, His Church, His Sacraments, and Holy Priests. This was Christ's plan. It was what he was pierced through for. It is what he gave every last drop of blood and water from his tortured body for. It was what he gave his life for. IT IS WHAT HE WAS MADE MAN FOR.
The fact that Rome "okays" stuff like the NCW is an admission by those, who are ordained in the apostles' stead, that they are too cowardly and lazy to "go and teach all nations," as Christ commanded them to do. So they gladly "ordain" fake opportunists like Kiko Arguello to do it for them while they go to brunch.
But beyond that. The NCW is a "jewish-protestant" heresy. Mr. Ada can be forgiven for not knowing this because, like so many of today's Catholics, thanks to the cowards, he wouldn't know the difference between the True Church and a heresy.
His Excellency Bishop Schneider: The second danger is their ideology. The main idea of the Neocathecumenate according their founder Kiko ArgĂĽello is the following: the Church had an ideal life only until Constantine in the 4th century, only this was effectively the real Church. And with Constantine the Church started to degenerate: doctrinal degeneration, liturgical and moral degeneration.[16] And the Church reached the rock bottom of this degeneration of doctrine and liturgy with the decrees of the Council of Trent. However, contrary to his opinion, the opposite is true: this was one of the highlights of the history of the Church because of the clarity of doctrine and discipline. According to Kiko, the dark age of the Church lasted from the 4th century until the Second Vatican Council. It was only with Vatican Council II that light came into the Church. This is heresy because this is to say that the Holy Spirit abandoned the Church. And this is really sectarian and very much in line with Martin Luther, who said that until him the Church had been in darkness and it was only through him that there was light in the Church. The position of Kiko is fundamentally the same only that Kiko postulates the dark time of the Church from Constantine to Vatican II. So they misinterpret the Second Vatican Council. They say that they are apostles of Vatican II. Thus they justify all their heretical practices and teachings with Vatican II. This is a grave abuse.
NOTE: There is no reference in the article to the psychological leveraging practiced by the group, but that's a huge issue. In particular the secret "Scrutinies" they exercise with members seeking to progress to higher stages. There are two "Scrutiny" stages reached within the first 4 or 5 years. http://thoughtfulcatholic.com/?page_id=36383
GUAM DAILY POST: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Column stereotypes Catholics on Guam
By Tim Rohr
By Tim Rohr
As a university professor who teaches gender studies, Isa Kelley Bowman probably regularly lectures on the evils of profiling, stereotyping and the dangers of generalizing particular groups of humans.
Yet, apparently for Ms. Bowman, Catholics are fair game, as it would be difficult to find a better example of profiling, stereotyping and generalizing a particular group of humans than her recent column (Jan. 31, “This is a Catholic Country,” The Guam Daily Post). CONTINUED
*****
FROM THE PDN
Friday, February 2, 2018
GUAM DAILY POST: LETTER
This picture was not part of the Post publication of the letter. |
Bill stirs debate over Roe v. Wade
Tim Rohr
The recent introduction of a measure prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks gestation (Bill 232-34, "The Unborn Child Protection Act of 2018”), has rekindled the ongoing debate over a woman’s “right to choose” with the usual abortion rights entrenchment around Roe v. Wade as the “law of the land.” CONTINUED
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