LETTERS

ARTICLES

NEWS

FOLLOW ME

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC






Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
NOVEMBER 2000

---

BIASED DESCRIPTION?

May the grace and peace of our Lord be with you. Earlier this afternoon a friend of mine in Stockton gave me her copy of the October issue of you newspaper San Francisco Faith. She had read the article in that issue entitled "Marketing Medjugorje." It had upset her. Since I had not yet received my issue of your newspaper, and had not read the article, I took her copy. When I returned home, later this day, I read over the article.

I was saddened and angered by the misrepresentation of the author of this article. Since you have read the article and have indicated that it was worthy of print you are aware that I was not only present for the entire retreat but was also the Master of Ceremonies of this wonderful Marian Retreat. I began the Retreat with the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Friday evening. I ended this holy Retreat with Eucharistic Adoration shortly after the end of the Holy Mass on Sunday afternoon. What the author portrayed was not what took place.

I wonder whether the author was actually there or whether the author of the article based his article on the biased description of another person who was present for part or even all of the retreat. The author of the article, Cameron O'Shea, described the structure of the building accurately and the location of the different booths as well as the bookstore and the chapel. But apparently he did not see what was taking place in the Adoration Chapel -- where the Catholic faithful were worshiping Our Lord, truly present in the tabernacle. Apparently he did not notice the variety of solid Catholic books et cetera that were available in the temporary bookstore. Apparently he did not perceive the dedication and love of the Lord and of the Mother of God that the representatives of both Medjugorje magazine and EWTN conveyed.

Apparently the author of the article did not listen to what he heard during the homilies on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. If he had, he could have heard conveyed by the homilists their respective love for the Most Blessed Trinity as well their love and respect for the Mother of God. Apparently he did not sense the tremendous love that each one of the speakers had for God and for Mary. What he seemed to record in his article were some of the words of some of the speakers, including those of the alleged visionary Marija. But he clearly did not present the tone of what each on the speakers shared in their respective talks. His description of Mrs. Hoffman who organized this Marian Retreat was inaccurate -- or should I state, lamentable. Had he made time before he wrote the article to talk with Mrs. Hoffman and had he discussed with her what her organization, Fiat Voluntas Tua, does (it is a non-profit organization), and how the travel agency is simply a service to assist those who desire to benefit spiritually from the pilgrimages to Medjugorje and to other holy places -- which he inaccurately labeled as tours, he would not have presented her as coldly as he did -- the CEO of a "full service" travel agency. He would have been quite aware of her gentleness, her humility, and her deep love for the Most Blessed Trinity and for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

His information about the Franciscan priests who have been connected with Medjugorje was likewise inaccurate. His accusations about their sexual behavior are also calumnious. To me your newspaper had a wonderful opportunity to reveal all the wonderful experiences that occurred during this fantastic retreat. In that way you would have been building up the Body of Christ by encouraging our brothers and sisters to live the call to holiness that has been reemphasized through our Lady of Peace. But instead you chose to distort what took place in Sacramento from August 25 through August 27th.

Your brother in Christ,

Father Ted Shipp
San Francisco

Cameron O'Shea reponds:

Has the Blessed Virgin appeared more than ten thousand times to the alleged visionaries of Medjugorje, both at home and then following them on tours around the world and has she given them more than twenty thousand "messages" as well as "secrets"? Did Mary, the Mother of God, appear in Sacramento daily to "alleged visionary" (note that Fr. Shipp even uses "alleged visionary" in his letter) Marija Pavlovic Lunetti during the three days of the Sacramento Medjugorje marketing conference, and did she issue a monthly message for the world from Sacramento? If so, how could Bishop William Weigand, the bishop of Sacramento, who attended and celebrated Mass during the conference, and the priests and Catholic laity of Sacramento have treated this momentous appearance of Our Lady in Sacramento and her message to the world with such indifference?

The fact is that the Catholic Church, through the responsible authority of the bishop of Mostar (and his predecessor) has given an official decision that there is nothing supernatural involved in the alleged Medjugorje apparitions and that Catholic bishops, priests, and laity should not conduct organized "pilgrimages" to Medjugorje. But the thrust of the Sacramento Medjugorje conference, and of almost every speaker who Fr. Shipp introduced, was to tout and promote "pilgrimages" to Medjugorje.

Fr. Shipp writes that information in the Faith article about the Medjugorje Franciscan priests is "inaccurate" and "accusations about their sexual behavior are also calumnious." Yet Fr. Shipp offers no facts or sources to justify his accusation, while the information in the article was obtained from reliable sources.

Readers of the Faith, including Fr. Shipp, should consult sources not linked with the Medjugorje travel, tour, book, video, and conference industry:

-- INTERNET: www.BosniaCoverUp.com (information about the history and principal persons involved with the incredible claims of daily apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary since June 24, 1981 in Medjugorje).

--VIDEO TAPE CASSETTES: Visions on Demand/The Medjugorje Conspiracy and Medjugorje -- Divine or Deceived? (produced in England, can be ordered for $14.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling for each cassette from: Unity Publishing, 15 Fillmer Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030).

-- BOOKS: The Medjugorje Deception by E. Michael Jones, 1995. Jones, editor of Fidelity and Culture Wars magazines (now combined), has researched and written articles and books about Medjugorje for more than 10 years. The book may be ordered for $19.95 plus $3 shipping and handling from Fidelity Press, 206 Marquette Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617, with phone orders: (219) 289-9786 and fax orders: (219) 289-1461.

Medjugorje After Fifteen Years by Michael Davies. This book may be ordered for $9.00 plus $3.75 shipping and handling from Catholic Treasures, P.O. Box 5034, Monrovia, CA 91017-1734 with phone orders: (800) 257-4893 and Fax orders (626) 359-6933.

The Hidden Side of Medjugorje: A New Look At the "Apparitions" of the Virgin Mary in Yugoslavia by Fr. Ivo Sivric, OFM, 1989. Contains translations from Croatian of transcriptions of tapes of the first interviews in Croatian with the "visionaries" in 1981 by a Franciscan priest who is a native of Medjugorje and a cousin of some of the "visionaries."


ISSUE WILL NOT GO AWAY

I appreciate the fact that in your September issue you published the long letter regarding Monsignor Marcel Lefebvre by Michael Sellman of Oakland. The issue of the Society of St. Pius X is an important one that should not be ignored by serious Catholics anywhere. However, most Catholic publications do just that or else give passing mention to the SSPX with comments laced with sarcasm, vituperation, or insult. The followers of Marcel Lefebvre deserve none of this. The issue of Catholic orthodoxy versus post Vatican II "reforms" will not go away. Obviously, the Society of Pius X remains a thorn in the side of the Vatican no matter how much dissident Catholics and certain elements in the Vatican would like to pretend the issue is unimportant or doesn't exist.

If your readers who are uncomfortable with the developments in the Church since Vatican II are truly interested (and they should be) in educating themselves regarding the issue of schism and the SSPX, they should avail themselves of an important little book published by the Angelus Press entitled Is Tradition Excommunicated? Where is Catholicism today? No, they won't be excommunicated by ordering a book from a Society press.

Pax Domini vobiscum,

Wilma Moore
Tuscon, AZ


WHERE'S A GOOD CHURCH?

The only available parishes that we have in Pleasanton, California are offering a missalette-free environment. No creed, no gloria, no confiteor, and other important Eucharistic prayers. At the 12:00 Mass last Sunday (Respect Life Sunday), the homily was off to a good start regarding being pro-life, but ended with this whippersnapper: That being pro-life is the same as being supportive of gay/lesbian rights. Is there any place to write and complain? As a long-time parishioner and benefactor I feel betrayed. Is it possible for parishioners to take action via the Roman Rota? Why is the leadership allowed to remain in power to lead the flock astray? Why should we have to travel more than five-ten minutes to find a good church?

Thanks,

Concerned Catholic
Pleasanton

Editor: We welcome readers in Pleasanton to supply suggestions.


CONTACT YOUR SENATOR

On page 10 of SF Faith September 2000 your story of: The legislature went into summer recess... What are the bills you're talking about so I can possibly write to the legislators like Mr. Vasconcellos who is a Catholic and does not [vote like one]. We should have the bill numbers so we can refer to them when writing to these senators etc. Although my children are grown, one of these bills sounds like one they'd have in a Communist country or in Nazi Germany when children are placed in the position of telling their parents' business. (You may spank a child without bruising the child and still be condemned for it or [according to recent legislation] have a gun and then the whole world finds out about it besides the government). Our amendment rights are at steak here the ones people died to keep for us and to hand down to future generations.

Via email

Editor: The 1999-2000 regular session of the legislature went into final recess on August 31. When it reconvenes for the 2000-01 session in January, the Faith will report from the capitol on new legislation.


LIKE A LETTER FROM HOME

We just came across a copy of your September issue and until 1995 it was just like a letter from home. Even though we lived in Alameda, we made St. Jarlath Church in Oakland, our parish for 16 years. Our boys served as altar boys there, under both Monsignor John Connolly and Father George Sullivan and Father Mark Nolting. God rest their souls! These wonderful priests were so reverent, preached great sermons and the hymns and pipe organ and choir were heavenly! Unfortunately, when Father Mark Nolting died, the priest who replaced him as pastor soon destroyed the beauty and reverence that St. Jarlath parish was known for.

Oh yes, typical of the modernists who speak so much about "social justice for the poor," the new pastor spent 25 thousand dollars for a concert grand piano. With banal music and "inclusive" lingo, the beautiful hymns and sense of holiness became a memory at our beloved parish. How sad indeed! Despite the claim of liberals that "we are so tolerant," the new pastor lost his cool when parishioners pointed out to him that we did not like the little happy tunes that replaced the beautiful sacred hymns that were a trademark of St. Jarlath's. I recall one Sunday when my precious wife just broke down and cried, just as an "inclusive," silly song was being taught to the congregation not in a mood to sing it. Those of us who tried to express our dislike for the new novelties were told, "If you don't like it, go somewhere else."

God will never be outdone in His generosity. When we moved here to the central coast of California we discovered St. Anne Byzantine Catholic Church in San Louis Obispo where incense, reverence, inspiring sermons and heavenly divine liturgies lift our hearts and minds to the Lord and a warm and friendly congregation that knows we go to church to worship the Lord and not to put on a cheap, man-centered show.

Our hearts go out to other orthodox and loyal Catholics who cannot find a reverent, decent Christ centered liturgy where they live and must travel miles to find such a Mass. A wonderful priest said recently, "If your parish's daffy novelties upset you to the point where you no longer can worship God, run away from it; either to a Tridentine Mass or to a Byzantine Catholic church -- to which we say, Amen! If you ever come down to San Louis Obispo, join us at Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church where the Divine Liturgy will give you a foretaste of Heaven.

Constantine N. Santos
Atascadero


MY PERFECT MASS

I read with interest William Ross' letter, "My Perfect Mass"[October Faith]. I agree with all of it except I think we need the Latin Tridentine Mass. Grace is missing and as the song says, "We just can't get it back." We have ourselves to blame, as we haven't fought hard enough for it. My experience in contesting the catechism in 1969, at a meeting for the purpose of asking questions was as follows: The representatives from the "vested interest" publisher was about 45 years of age, a female. She drew diagrams of the Trinity on a blackboard and explained doctrine as presented in the texts. When my turn came to ask my question, I said, "Do you consider this statement in [a Catholic book for the 2nd grade] to be true or false? Christ is present in the priests who serve in His name and in the people we meet -- these are the precise words. She answered, "You'll have to ask the archbishop, I'm not familiar with doctrine." I countered, "Will you just give me your opinion as a Catholic?" Just then a large nun (6' 2", 180-plus pounds) grabbed me and pulled me down the hall to the exit. I was met by a CUF member who was locked out by the same nun. She saw the priest at the rectory and he let he back in the building. She and I went back in, but it was too late, the lady catechist had gone, so my question remains unanswered. I would never want my 2nd grader to think Christ was in everyone they met, believe me!

In the meantime, back at the parish, a lady suggested I should be the one to debate [a sister] on the Bible. My parish priest said, "We can't have Mrs. Cooney, she's a member of the Birch society." I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the [John Birch] society. I have no problem with anyone being a member, but it was a serious lie on the part of my parish priest. No wonder we're in limbo. "If the trumpet issues an uncertain call, who will prepare for the battle?" The calls we have been receiving are often ambiguous, and tenuous at best. My heaven help us! Let us pray!

J. Cooney
Oakland

TOP