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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
FEBRUARY 2002

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"THE FRUITS" IS NOT AN ARGUMENT

In her letter blasting those who consider Medjugorje to be dangerous and a hoax [January Faith], Doris Nicita fails to consider that inasmuch as the Church has not ruled that whatever is appearing in Medjugorje is God's Mother (a.k.a. Gospa), her assertion that "no official announcement has been made" neither indicates approval, nor encouragement by the Church to travel there. [She] is also mistaken in stating that, "the Pope has said, let the people go there." There is no credible evidence that Pope John Paul has ever made any such statement. In fact, when inquiries about the alleged 1988 statement were made to the Vatican, then-Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pio Laghi replied, "The statement you cite as a quotation from the Holy Father has never been published or officially verified. Although there have been many observations about Medjugorje attributed to the Holy Father or other officials of the Holy See, none of these have been acknowledged as authentic."

[She] also seems to feel that because Medjugorje is a "place of pilgrimage to millions" those high numbers somehow attest to the authenticity of the vision appearing to the alleged seers. Unfortunately it is this kind of subjectivism, based on logistics and/or "feelings" that has been detrimental to the discernment necessary in cases of alleged "supernatural happenings from heaven." Interestingly, the Holy Father said as much in a statement published in l'Osservatore Romano on Sept. 18th, 1996. "Some members of the people of God are not rooted firmly enough in the faith, so that the sects, with their deceptive proselytism, mislead them to separate themselves from the communion of Christ. Within the Church community, the multiplication of supposed 'apparitions' or 'visions' is sowing confusion and reveals a certain lack of a solid basis to the faith and Christian faith among her members."

While accusing others of "spreading propaganda," [she] casually delivers misinformation and indulges in the "deceptive proselytism" warned of by the Holy Father. She should instead consider the admonition of St. John of the Cross, who warned people to assume that extraordinary experiences come from the forces of evil unless the opposite can be proved.

Jane L.Sears
Burlingame


MORE BRUNSMAN'S WORLD

Mary Arnold's January 2002 Faith letter on her experiences at a Fr. Barry Brunsman Mass brought back sad and stressful memories. I had been subjected to these Masses while Fr. Brunsman was here in Sacramento. I don't believe that any of the Masses he celebrated were licit, and some may have been invalid. Certainly the Masses in which he had a "priestess" elevating the host (actually, sometimes it was a large brown cookie-type baked good) may have been invalid. I would never receive communion there. The matter was obviously invalid. Fr. Brunsman had a large following here, especially among the "gay" and lesbian crowd. St. Francis, under his decidedly pro-"gay" policy and practice, became the funeral site of choice for all big-named "gay" activists who died of AIDS. Many were "canonized" there, including many of his own parishioners. These sacrilegious Masses have tapered off quite a bit, with the decrease in AIDS deaths.

Yes, Mrs. Arnold, I think your best bet is to avoid all Masses at which Fr. Brunsman (once referred to in a local newspaper as the "Rebel Priest" and shown in an accompanying glamour photo) is involved. I might suggest also, that at any Mass where he comes to mind, take a minute to pray for him and the bishops who have aided and abetted his bad behavior all these many, many years.

Laurette Elsberry
Sacramento


IN DEFENSE OF BRUNSMAN

In response to the letter "Brunsman's World." In the first letter of John [1 John, 4:16.] we read: "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." This concept is so beautifully expressed by Fr. Barry Brunsman, OFM when making the traditional sign of the cross he says: "In the name of the Lover and of the Beloved and of Love". Who can deny that God is the quintessential lover? Or who would question that Jesus is the Beloved and that the Holy Spirit is the passionate Love of God. We thank God for the inspiration He gives our priests to help us gain a deeper insight into who God is for us.

I find it a very sad commentary that one of your readers writes that she removed her children from the celebration of the Mass at St. Joseph's in Mission San Jose, because of Fr. Barry. And how tragic to tell a child not to believe a word the priest was saying. "When God the Father created the Son...." Who did she think created the body of Jesus? It was the Trinity God who is Love. If your respondent, Mary Arnold [from Pleasanton, not Mission San Jose?] were reading the Psalms she would be familiar with the term "The Great One" of Israel. Why pick on this phrase? Is not God the Great one?

She is wrong when she said that Fr. Barry Brunsman, OFM runs the Oakland diocese's San Damiano retreat house. He is on their staff. She is also confused about his being in the Monterey diocese, and Sacramento as if that were a problem. The religious orders send their priests all over their province. The Santa Barbara province of Franciscans covers several of the western states. I pray for those who are so busy trying to divide our church. It looks like pride and evil working for the devil. Where is the God of love in this kind of criticism?

God made humans and said of his creation it is good. Blessed Duns Scotus, the Franciscan theologian/philosopher of the thirteenth century, suggests that God wanted to be one of us to experience our life. If this concept were heresy do you think he would be a Blessed on the way to sainthood? Theilard de Chardin is anything but a heretic and has come into prominence within Catholic theological thought.

I think we need to be a little more humble and respectful of our spiritual leaders. We also need to open our minds and not be so sure we have all the answers.

Terry Snider
San Leandro


THREE CHEERS FOR GIGLIO

Three cheers for Camille Giglio who courageously stood up for life in her incredible encounter with a Concord priest who admits supporting and donating to Planned Parenthood!! It is bad enough that thousands of Catholic politicians support abortion but to think of a 75-year-old priest endorsing the killing of more than 4,000 innocent babies each day is beyond belief. Where has he been the past 30 years when more than 40 million children have been denied the right to live in the name of "family planning"?

Arthur J. Brew
Mountain View

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