ATTY. WILLIAMS INSISTS THE "RICE IS RED!"

By Tim Rohr

Civil Beat, a Honolulu-based publication, has posted a mostly well-written article about the abortion debate in Guam. 

The article quotes pro-abortion attorney Vanessa Williams as saying: 

“I’m a Chamorro, I’m Indigenous, I’m from Guam, born and raised here; I’m a Catholic, I was baptized and raised in this community." 

The article then goes on to say: 

But she disagrees with the idea that the church’s stance on abortion should affect access to the procedure on Guam, so much so that she currently serves as local counsel for the ACLU lawsuit that enabled the abortion pills by post.

That Williams and others like her continue to take aim at "the church" (the Catholic Church) as a significant opponent, indeed, sometimes the only opponent, is a classic example of what radio talk show host Bob Klitzkie often refers to as "systemic rice-ism" - a play on words that began when someone wrote a letter to a local paper pointing out that what we call "red rice" is actually orange and the paper responded with the equivalent of "shut up." 

The dust-up over the actual color of "red rice" led Klitzkie to use it as an ongoing metaphor for "truth v narrative."

That the pro-aborts continue to hang on to the "the narrative" that the "rice is red," i.e. that the Catholic Church is the bad boy in the battle over abortion, is telling. And it is telling because it is not true. 

In fact, as demonstrated several times on this blog, and most recently here, the Catholic Church at the highest levels has been in bed with pro-aborts for decades - which is why the most prominent pro-aborts in our government, from Biden all the way down to Gov. LLG are stridently, publicly, and sometimes viciously pro-abortion. 

That Williams and others continue to bang on their "rice is red" drum is telling because it tells us they have no argument to support the direct killing of helpless, innocent, defenseless tiny human beings and can only continue to divert attention away from their bloody business by pitting the public against the "mean old church" - a strawman argument if there ever was one. 

In fact, Williams should be sending a thank you letter to Pope Francis and crediting the church she so often vilifies as an important ally because of Francis' recent amendment to canon law - which will be addressed in a future post. 

Civil Beat not off the hook

And not to let Civil Beat off the hook for its own "rice is red" take:

Reporter Anita Hofschneider, titles a subsection of her article: "Faith Underpins Support For Ban." She goes on to write:

The fact that abortions may become much harder to obtain is good news to Pat Perry, a Guam resident who is a member of the Guam Catholic Pro-Life Committee.

“You can’t say that killing an innocent human being is ever a right,” she said. “I truly believe that Sen. (Elizabeth) Arriola’s bill, when she first introduced it back in 1990, it was perfect.”

Perry’s conviction comes from the strength of her faith, a common perspective on Guam where an estimated 90% of residents are Catholic and the church is often intertwined with Indigenous Chamorro culture. Back in 1990, Guam’s former Archbishop Anthony Apuron threatened to excommunicate senators who opposed the abortion ban.

From what Hofschneider reported, the only thing that ties Perry's statement to Catholicism is that she is a member of the Guam Catholic Pro-Life Committee, but Perry reportedly says nothing about her Catholic faith. Perry simply states: “You can’t say that killing an innocent human being is ever a right.” That's not a religious belief. Our own secular laws say the same thing. 

Given the penchant for the media generally to "pin the tail on the church," had Perry actually said something relative to Catholic Church teaching, we can assume that Perry would certainly have been quoted, and Hofschneider wouldn't have had to reach back to Apuron's absurd threat from thirty years ago for a "tail" and a "pin."

Additionally, Hofschneider, while pointing out that "an estimated 90% of residents are Catholic and the church is often intertwined with Indigenous Chamorro culture," neglects to mention that Chamorros, in the face of their rapidly declining population, account for nearly two-thirds of all procured abortions. 

SOURCE

This is a fact Hofschneider knows well - but apparently, like Williams, wants to maintain that "the rice is red." Maybe someday a reporter will do the real story: Why Chamorros (now spelled CHamoru), led by their own CHamoru governor and "baptized" Catholics like Vanessa Williams, are racing to self-extinction by killing their own. 

 

THE REAL PROBLEM ISN'T CATHOLIC POLITICIANS

By Tim Rohr

Quoted in a post by canonist, Edward Peters, David Carlin, former majority leader of the Rhode Island senate, in speaking of a pro-abortion Catholic official observed:

"...while many Catholic constituents disapprove of the official's stance on abortion, they none­theless continue to cast ballots for him. In fact, he sees this voting pattern repeated regularly--not only in Rhode Island but all across America. The net result, he says, is: "The more Catholics a state has, the more likely it will send pro-choicers to Washington, and the fewer Catholics it has, the less likely."

"In the end," Carlin says, "the problem isn't Catholic politicians: It's the Catholic voters."

With local Catholics historically accounting for two-thirds of Guam's abortions, is it any wonder why we have the governor we have?

Recently I heard that a local pastor took a stand during a Sunday homily against the current governor and her veto of the Guam Heartbeat Act. 

According to the report of what the pastor said, the governor should be denied communion and anyone who sees the governor presenting herself for communion should confront the priest who administered the sacrament to her. 

I don't know if the pastor went further and let his congregation know that the real problem "isn't Catholic politicians (but) Catholic voters." It certainly would have been a good opportunity. Maybe next Sunday. And maybe more than just him. 

As a P.S. My personal thought is that over and above the governor's veto of a single bill, the governor's thirty year history of abortion advocacy, and now her public acts as governor to procure abortionists for Guam - even going so far as to get the ACLU to sue ourselves as FOIA'd documents show - is the real basis for excommunication, even if it is not likely to happen. Meanwhile, it is really up to Guam voters to "excommunicate" the pro-aborts from office - something else that is not likely to happen.

COMMENTS

By Tim Rohr

In the interest of time (mine) I have opened up the comments to "un-moderated." That means that as soon as a comment is posted it will appear on the blog. So there may be weird stuff, spam, etc. that will show up from time to time. I'll delete the spam stuff when I get around to it. But this new setting will help let comments through without my having to read every one. BTW there are over 60,000 comments on this blog. Peace. Happy New Year. 

SO MANY VIEWS FROM RUSSIA?

This a chart of views from regions of the world over the last seven days. Curious as to what would cause so many views from Russia. 

 

APURON'S REAL GHOST WRITER AND THE NEW JERSEY MACHINE

By Tim Rohr

In my initial response to Troy Torres’ editorial, “The archdiocese is a mess and needs a leader,” I noted that there were “some holes…and other missing links” in Troy’s history of what I’ll refer to as the "BJ Cruz matter" and mentioned that I might fill in the holes and missing links at some point. 

Troy responded that he was “very much looking forward to (my) next piece on this.” 

It’s actually a very small hole, but first I shall copy the following from Troy’s editorial:

“A mutual friend of Guam Public Auditor Benjamin F. Cruz, Jr. vouched for Mr. Cruz’s devotion to his Catholic faith during a tumultuous time for him. Apparently, when Mr. Cruz introduced a same-sex marriage statute and was attacked (quite ironically) by now-disgraced former Archbishop Anthony Apuron, the former legislative speaker continued going to Mass. Our friend despised how Apuron and others were treating Mr. Cruz. (Cruz)…tried convincing our friend to remain faithful despite the shortcomings of the church’s leaders. 'F***that,' this friend said of the Archdiocese of Agana. And just like that, the church lost yet another parishioner."

It appears that the "attack" referred to is an incident that occurred between certain members of the legislature, including Mr. Cruz, and select members of the clergy at a meeting at the Guam Hilton in October 2009. 

THOUGHTS ON THE SECOND DEATH OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

By Tim Rohr

Pope Benedict XVI ("B16) died yesterday, on the last day of 2022. But he also died in February 2013. 

As the National Catholic Register notes: 

"In a real sense, then, his papacy “died” with his resignation. To continue the analogy, while they normally happen at the same time, the death of a pontificate is distinct from the death of the man himself." 

B16 was only the second pope in two thousand years to resign the papacy, and the first pope in 600 years to do so. 

Why he resigned will long be debated. B16's own reason was that he was in frail health.

My thought was always "so?"

I know that sounds disrespectful, but he is Pope, i.e. "Papa" for a reason. Those of us who are fathers in the natural world don't get to resign as "father." And those that do ("deadbeat dads") are rightly questioned and usually punished.

GUAM'S SACRIFICE TO MOLOCH

By Tim Rohr

Moloch, a Canaanite deity associated
with child sacrifice

In the previous post, I made the case that Guam voters support abortion based on the fact that the person voters have now twice elected as governor is "Guam's most vociferous and powerful proponent of abortion for more than three decades."

Some have argued that it is not that Guam voters actually support abortion but that the issue just doesn't factor largely compared to voters' main interest: essentially access to more government goodies and a governor who will "take care of me."

So functionally we are willing to sacrifice unborn children in return for government benefices and the governor most likely to bestow them upon us. 

Such thinking is not new. From the dawn of time there have been "civilizations" who, in return for rain and good crops, regularly sacrificed their children to the gods. 

Substitute "governor" for gods and "quality of life" for rain and good crops, and we fit right in.

It may be true that Guam voters really don't support abortion when they vote for Lou Leon Guerrero and others like her, and that voters are just doing what most voters everywhere do: vote for the politicians who promise the most free stuff. (Note: There is also the matter that she was very weakly opposed. Something for the Republicans to think about and learn from.)

REGARDING THE FAILED OVERRIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE HEARTBEAT ACT

By Tim Rohr

Just some thoughts.

It was always known that should the Heartbeat Bill make it through the Legislature that Guam's most vociferous and powerful proponent of abortion for more than three decades and who is now the governor would veto it. And it was also known that there would never be enough votes to override the veto. 

As set forth several times previously in this blog, the Heartbeat Bill, at the time it was introduced was a good move and the best that pro-life advocates could do under Roe. The Heartbeat Bill also followed in the footsteps of eight Esperansa Project backed bills that were enacted into law, all of which incrementally combined to shut down Guam's abortion industry in 2018. 

However, the Dobbs decision overturning Roe changed all that. It is now possible to completely ban abortion and that will be the bottom line for the 37th Guam Legislature. No more beating around the bush. No more half measures. No more "I'm personally pro-life, but..." 

The Heartbeat Act, even if enacted into law, would not have banned abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat. It simply permitted civil suits against certain persons involved in the abortion. 

THE FOUR LAST THINGS - AND THE ARCHDIOCESE DOES NOT NEED A "LEADER"

By Tim Rohr

Initially, I had much to say about Troy Torres’ editorial “The archdiocese is a mess and needs a leader.” 

I was very personally involved in much of that “mess;” and, according to some, I am responsible for quite a bit of it. 

So I thought about all that could be said about Mr. Torres’ editorial - especially since I know most of the actual history and the good and bad actors behind the headlines. 

But never mind that. 

The real matter is the Archdiocese of Agana does not need a “leader.” 

The Archdiocese of Agana simply needs, as bishop, a humble priest who will consistently and persistently restate, reaffirm, repeat, and dogmatically reference…what the Catholic Church has already said and has always said relative to the most severe moral challenges of our time and of every time - and in the context of the Four Last Things: “Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell.” 

There is no other outcome. 

 

SHE COULD HAVE PICKED A BETTER DAY...OR MAYBE NOT

By Tim Rohr

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero ("LLG") could have picked a better day to veto the Guam Heartbeat Act.

However, for LLG - who has been at the forefront of killing babies in the womb for at least three decades, and having just been re-elected by popular demand by the majority of her subjects - perhaps there was no better day to veto the Guam Heartbeat Act than on Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the First Martyrs who died for Christ, and whom were slaughtered by order of Herod the Great.

LLG's veto on this day gives new meaning to "The New Herod's." 

On the other hand, LLG's veto really means nothing in the context of the Dobbs decision which puts the fate of the unborn squarely back with the legislature - where it belongs - and where the real "New Herod"s" will emerge...and the voters who support them.

ALINE YAMASHITA VS. DR. SEUSS...ON CHRISTMAS DAY

 By Tim Rohr

Former Senator Aline Yamashita's Christmas Day letter as posted by the Pacific Daily News could have been a real heart-warmer. 

Yamashita begins with a story of how her adult son, who lives with "severe OCD and autism," and who "starts every day watching mass on EWTN." Yamashita then goes on to include warm messages of faith: 

"God has been my main navigator...God, Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Holy Spirit help me breathe minute by minute...I am grateful...I believe...Happy Birthday, Jesus. Thank you so much."

However, in between the story about her son and "Happy Birthday, Jesus," Yamashita makes a strange left turn into politics, polls, abortion, and religion with her message essentially being "keep your religion to yourself and out of public life" - though she does it nicely:

"I think our conversations with God are intensely personal and private. As sinners, we need to have a relationship with Him to help us navigate survival, repentance." 

THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION

By Tim Rohr

Troy Torres of Kandit News has a lot to say in this editorial:

The archdiocese is a mess and needs a leader

He's right about the title. However, there are some holes in the history and some other missing links that I may fill in at some point. But for now, thank you to Troy for keeping this "mess" in the news.

I do want to address one thing Troy says and it is this:

"BJ Cruz and I both found our way back to the church, despite significant shortcomings of many of its past and present leaders. But, it was a struggle; an unnecessary one for many who grew up sitting on those same pews that now are bleeding parishioners. There has to be a simpler way."

WAS JESUS REALLY POOR?

By Tim Rohr

Per an AP news story, Pope Francis, in his Christmas Eve sermon, reminds us that: 

“Jesus was born poor, lived poor and died poor." 

The pope went on to attack the usual suspects: 

"...men and women...in their hunger for wealth and power;" "human greed" at the expense of "the weak and the vulnerable;" "a world ravenous for money, power and pleasure;" "war, poverty and injustice;" "so much consumerism;" and "the greedy rush to possess and consume."

The AP story, however, rather than slavishly reporting the words of a pope the Media once adored for his "humility" (or rather his socialist-liberal views), appears to take pop shots at their once papal hero. 

THE NEW HERODS

By Tim Rohr

"The Catholic Encyclopedia estimates that given the population of Bethlehem at the time, Herod probably killed several dozen children. In the United States, abortion kills about 3 children per minute, so we probably kill an equal number of “Innocents” every 15-20 minutes. On Guam, we do that every 40 days or so. And history casts Herod as a monster?"

This is a column I wrote for the Umatuna (the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Agana) for publication on Christmas Day in 2011. While 11 years later we can celebrate the overturn of Roe v Wade, the fact is that there are now many "New Herods" lurking in the halls of government in the states and territories who can now enact laws to slaughter innocents anew. 

FLEEING THE NEW HERODS

UPDATE ON GOV. LLG'S LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU AND ME

A couple of things about the story in today's Guam Daily Post: "Appeal hearing scheduled for abortion law’s in-person mandate"

The story first references the recently passed Guam Heartbeat Act, and describes it as "the controversial measure that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, or within about six weeks of conception, when most women may not know they are pregnant."

First, the Act does not actually "ban" abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected but permits a civil suit against certain persons involved in the abortion. Second, the local media continues to echo the pro-abortion talking point: "when most women may not know they are pregnant." It would be better for reporters to write "when, according to abortion supporters, most women may not know they are pregnant." 

Going on to the main story which is GovGuam's "appeal of the injunction placed on Guam's in-person consultation mandate for abortions," via the Office of the Attorney General. The injunction has permitted off-island doctors to tele-consult and prescribe abortion pills. 

The case is an odd one given that the ACLU's suit is against the Government of Guam which is headed by the most public, pro-abortion governor ever elected and now re-elected. 

THANK YOU FOR READING

 

PAVONNE VS AMERICAN CATHOLICISM'S PACT WITH THE DEVIL

By Tim Rohr

Crisis Magazine has a solid opinion piece on the Frank Pavonne matter: THE SAD CASE OF FRANK PAVONNE.  

While upholding the Vatican's decision to laicize Pavonne on at least partly solid grounds, the author does not let the Vatican off the hook:

"First, it’s obvious we live in a lawless Church. When rules are selectively enforced by authorities, that’s not the rule of law, it’s the rule of dictators. We see countless examples of priests preaching heresies and supporting evil with no punishment coming their way. Also, the irony is too rich when a Vatican that allowed the Pachamama idol to be venerated on its grounds would now suddenly have a problem with blasphemy. It’s hard not to see this action against Pavone as a vindictive act against someone whose politics does not line up with the current regime at the Vatican." 

The counts against Pavonne were 1) "blasphemous communications on social media;" and 2) “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop.”

THE POPE DID IT

... imposing dismissal from the clerical state for these offenses would require what happened in this case, that is, the issuance of what Archbishop Christophe Pierre (the apostolic nuncio to the United States) identified as a “Supreme Decision admitting of no possibility of appeal.” Only the Pope, who enjoys “full and supreme power in the Church” (canon 332, 1), can issue such a decision against which there is no possible appeal.

Canon lawyer on Father Pavone's dismissal from priesthood: Only the Pope can issue a decision without appeal

THERE STILL ARE NO DOCTORS WILLING TO DO THEM

By Tim Rohr

Kandit News has published a story titled: "Guam pro-life advocates place their hopes in Douglas Moylan following gubernatorial threat to veto Heartbeat Act" in which I am quoted. Thank you Troy for the reference and the accurate quote. 

AG Moylan's lifting of the injunction on the 1990 "Belle's Law" is the right thing to do, not just because it outlaws abortion from conception, but because doing so will put the whole matter back where it now belongs: before the lawmakers and the people who elect them. 

If the 37th Guam Legislature wants to pass a bill making abortion fully legal then we have a governor eager to sign it. However, even though abortion remains fully legal now, there still are no doctors willing to do them. 

And "why not" is a question that needs to be put to those physicians who publicly advocate for abortion. Maybe we can find out the real reason they won't do them. 

OSV: "...IT'S NOT ABOUT ABORTION"

Posted by Tim Rohr

Our Sunday Visitor has a fair article about the Pavonne matter. A key insight is here:

"When a priest becomes a celebrity, he needs a strong support system of people who help keep him humble...I have no insider knowledge on this in particular, but I ran into him frequently over the years, and it was clear some people adored him. And the combination of people adoring you and you and others being convinced you are a victim of persecution can be a dangerous thing."

The Frank Pavone story is not about abortion

Please: Be careful — prayerful — about how you react to the news about Father Frank Pavone now becoming Mr. Frank Pavone by order of the Vatican. Try not to see it through a political lens. Step away of any opinions you may have of the Roman pontiff. Know that abortion is the human-rights issue of our time. The priest who ran Priests for Life is still capable of creating an untenable circumstance for himself to continue as a priest.

CONTINUED

My Note: Unfortunately we (Catholics) are in very strange and uncertain times...IN THE CHURCH! The current occupant of the Chair of Peter, himself, has stated, on many occasions, what some would say are "blasphemous things" - the same accusation made against Pavonne. 

Nevertheless, we, the laity, would do well not to second guess stuff that is above our heads. Pavonne provoked the war that eventually came. Let's let him fight it the way he chooses. 

To be clear though, we, the laity of the Archdiocese of Agana, were not in "over our heads" and completely within our moral right to protest and demand Vatican action against more than half a century of the rape and abuse of our children by certain members of our clergy - all of which the current leadership of this Archdiocese has admitted. 

PRIEST FOR LIFE? MORE ON THE PAVONNE MATTER

This article from The Pillar explains the matter well.

Priest for life? A Frank Pavone explainer

News broke on Saturday that Frank Pavone, the head of a pro-life campaigning organization and controversial political activist, had been dismissed from the clerical state.

A prominent media figure for years, Pavone’s laicization has captured media attention in the U.S., and left many wondering if the Vatican decided to dismiss him from the clerical state because of his stridently pro-life activism and his well-known political beliefs.

CONTINUED

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE PAVONNE MATTER - UPDATED

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1979

Per a Catholic News Agency story, "the Vatican" has removed Fr. Frank Pavonne from the clerical state: i.e. "defrocked - laicized - no longer permitted to present himself as a priest. 

So some thoughts.

First, amongst the pro-life laity, Fr. Pavonne is an immensely popular priest. He has dared to tread where few other priests - or maybe none - have dared to tread. (The CNA news story has most of the details.) 

Priests like Fr. Pavonne, who break out of the mold - especially in this age of instant Media, and become more famous, more popular, and more respected than their superiors (in this case Pavonne's bishop) are usually asking for trouble even if there is no disobedience the likes of which Pavonne has been accused of.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was probably the first major Catholic media star, even winning an Emmy for his 1950's to 1960's television show, "Life is Worth Living." On top of being brilliant, Sheen was quite the actor and his Emmy Award verifies that. 

Being a bishop, Sheen had some autonomy, but not much. In the political power world of the U.S. episcopate, Sheen was still the underling of the immensely powerful Cardinal Spellman, who, in time, would step on Sheen, and some say, crush him, driving Sheen to his physical collapse and death.

Mother Angelica ("Mother"), who launched the largest Catholic Television Network in the world (EWTN), is probably the most well-known and beloved modern Catholic media star. And for good reason. Like Sheen, she was brilliant, even though, unlike Sheen, her brilliance was in her ability to "not act," and just be "Mother" to millions who loved her...and needed a "Mother" to lead them home...to the Catholic Church which they loved...but - post Vatican II - did not recognize anymore. 

In the eyes of the U.S. Bishops Conference though, Mother became too popular and powerful, especially as their own competing television network failed; and she became a target, especially of the then very powerful Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahoney. 

Note: All of this is detailed in "Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles,"  by Raymond Arroyo

Mahoney would later retire in disgrace and even go into a sort of hiding * after he was linked to a monster clergy sex abuse scandal that cost the Catholics of his diocese more than a billion dollars. But before Mahoney was taken down, he took down Mother Angelica. 

Mahoney had no direct control of Mother as she was not operating in Mahoney's diocese; but Mahoney used his weight to go after Mother's bishop and everyone and anyone in the Church's political scheme who could make Mother's life hell. 

Whether or not it was Mahoney's actions and the stress Mother suffered at his hands that brought about the final stroke that silenced her in 2000 and eventually led to her death, we can only presume. 

As Mother went down to her own physical stroke, EWTN survived Mahoney's onslaught due to Mother's signing EWTN over to a lay corporation which the bishops could not touch. 

And it is here that there might be a lesson for us...and for Fr. Pavonne. 

Pavonne's "right to life" political and secular activities - which made him both loved and famous - are really the proper domain of the non-ordained - the laity - us. But because we laity are mostly cowards and don't want to put ourselves "out there" because we are "waiting for father," otherwise good and faithful priests get caught up in taking leadership in activities that are not properly theirs - such as heading up lay organizations, despite its name, is not an organization of priests but lay persons.

Pavonne, and his fellow clerics, from the pope down to the lowliest deacon, should know that they already have the largest and most powerful stage in the world: the Catholic pulpit at the thousands of Masses that are offered each and every day at every minute and every hour around the world. 

All Pavonne and every Catholic cleric ever need to do is cite the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.

There is nothing more for them to say other than to develop what the Church already says, e.g. what are the eternal consequences of living (and dying) in a state "gravely contrary to the moral law." 

I'll come back with more later after I see how this plays out a bit. 

FATHER FRANK PAVONNE RESPONDS

 Fr. Frank Comments on Latest Developments

My Note: In the 90's, several U.S. Bishops, particularly then-Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Archbishop of Los Angeles, tried to oust Mother Angelica and shut down EWTN. The same cabal is going after Fr. Pavonne. However, it may be that Pavonne has purposely picked a fight with the Vatican for the purposes of drawing its corruption out into the street where everyone can see. 

In some ways, if this is what Pavonne is doing, the Vatican should take note of how Apuron went down. 

Had Apuron (or more likely his handlers) quietly sat down and worked things out with first, Fr. Paul, and then, Msgr. James, JungleWatch would not have much to report about and Apuron might still be the man on the hill. Instead, Apuron issued damning decrees and went public, giving JW huge opportunities to draw the fight out into the street. 

Even those who first accused Apuron of sexually abusing them did not want to go public. They just wanted to meet with him privately and get the apology they had been waiting their whole lives for. Instead, Apuron threatened to sue them and then ran away. 

And then "there was Hon," that is the Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, who can be directly credited for driving this archdiocese into bankruptcy, when, instead of accepting the fact that there were real problems here, he mocked and belittled Apuron's accusers - most likely upon orders from his boss in the Vatican (Filoni) - leaving those accusers and those who supported them no option but to pursue a secular remedy. 

And even then, Hon continued his campaign to silence the accusers by using the pulpit at Sunday masses to lobby the governor to veto the bill that eventually would lead to our church's bankruptcy. The abuse of the pulpit in this way drove the supporters of the bill to be even more extreme in their support. Then-Governor Calvo saw this and signed it into law. 

All of this could have been avoided had pastors actually been pastors instead of the power-driven bureaucrats like the ones that are now going after Pavonne. But they better watch out. Pavonne has his own version of JungleWatch. And if they really are kicking Pavonne out of the priesthood, then his power to expose them will multiply exponentially. 

MEANWHILE...IN ROME

While the Vatican apparently wages war on the "rigid" faithful and "priests for life" - or at least one of them, the same Vatican is happily moving forward to canonize Carmen, the co-founder of what at least one bishop has called a "Jewish-Protestant heresy...with a Catholic decoration only." 

Process of beatification begins for Carmen Hernández, co-founder of Neocatechumenal Way

APURON REMAINS A BISHOP BUT "PRIESTS FOR LIFE " FATHER FRANK PAVONNE IS NO LONGER "FATHER"

BREAKING: Vatican dismisses Father Frank Pavone from priesthood

Father Frank Pavone, a well-known pro-life activist and national director of the organization Priests for Life, has been dismissed from the clerical state for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop,” CNA has learned.

CONTINUED

NOTE: After Apuron was found guilty by the Vatican and thereafter losing his appeal which was handled directly by Pope Francis, Apuron was banned for life from Guam, but retains his clerical state as a bishop...somewhere.