What follows below is an exchange of letters between Caritas and someone who asked to be removed from the mailing list. We are providing this exchange of letters for your help so that you have a complete answer about Caritas’ position and Medjugorje.
Not everyone who is signed up for the Caritas Newsletter, mejList, and who has supported Caritas wishes to continue. Sometimes people, for various reasons, want to be removed from our list. Some no longer believe in the apparitions, yet Caritas' base continues to grow and expand. For everyone who does not believe in the apparitions, etc. anymore, or who wants off the Caritas' list, we have 500 or more who sign up. This approximately 500:1 gain continuously has stretched the reach of Caritas spreading Our Lady's messages. So, it is to be expected that some will wish to be removed from the list. But, when it is based on not being informed correctly, it may be a loss for growing one's conversion. The following, is a request we received from someone asking to be removed as a supporter of Caritas and mej.com, based on untrue facts, and is printed for your help, to have an answer so the facts can be made known:
"We are currently Field Angels, and mej.com core members. We would like to be taken off your mailing address and no longer wish to be Field Angels or mej.com core members. Since you are not in good standing with your diocese or the Catholic Church, we do not wish to contribute to your community. I have notified my bank so no further charges can be made to your group."
Sincerely,
Ohio
Following is our response to the person's letter above:
Dear... ,
We always remove from our list, people when they make a request such as yours. What we would like is for you to be correctly informed in such a decision.
That we are not in good standing with our diocese is a blatant lie. We are friends with our Bishop, Most Rev. Robert Baker. We have never had any difficulties with him, and we have never been cited for any disobedience. In an official Diocesan statement, December 10, 1999, our former Bishop Foley states, “As Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, I have not, nor would I ever, discourage or have any objection to the people praying in the field (at Caritas). They are devout Catholics.” This appeared in the official Catholic newspaper.
The bishop before Bishop Foley, Bishop Raymond Boland (we have operated under four bishops), met with us quarterly and we had an amiable relationship, with often he giving advice to our founder for Caritas.
Presently, our parish priest, who is the diocesan vicar general, has visited us at Caritas and we are mutual friends. The Diocese of Birmingham holds Caritas as Catholics in good standing. The statement saying that we are not Catholics in good standing is ludicrous, and again a lie. While Caritas, as a mission, is not officially connected to the diocese, we are known as very Catholic. The Knights of Columbus also are in the same position, not officially under the Church, yet they are very Catholic. The Knights of Columbus was founded as a lay organization 129 years ago, with the basic Catholic beliefs. Each local council appeals to the local Ordinary to be the Chaplain. The Knights of Columbus is still a lay organization, and operates with its own autonomy.
You can see a recent, October 6, 2011, very Catholic baptism in the Community, on Caritas’ site, Medjugorje.com, which was performed by our pastor, the Diocesan vicar. Visit here: http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje-today/headlines/1225-special-just-a-peek...
Our operations of Caritas are within the framework that the Catholic Church grants by rite of Baptism. We are not in error in any way. Anyone or any source who says we are not Catholic, not Catholics in good standing, or that our Bishop and diocese is against us is professing an easily discernible lie. A simple phone call to the Diocese will show we are in good standing.
Lastly, look at Our Lady's apparitions. Read the Silver Jubilee section on Medjugorje.com, search each date at the bottom of the pages. Continue reading and clicking through the dates until you're satisfied that Our Lady has done here what She has not done anywhere else in the world outside of Medjugorje.
We respect your decision to be removed, but when it is based on calumny, lies, detraction and slander, we strongly object to the validity of the action. However, if you still reject the above, we respect your choice to do so. Thank you.
In Our Lady’s Peace,
Caritas of Birmingham
Following, is the response from same person above, re-writing us back, in response to our answer above to their first letter, “take me off your mail list’:
"Thank you for your response. My husband and I would like to remain on your mailing list and as Field Angels. We are sorry we jumped to conclusions that were obviously a knee jerk reaction. We have done further research. Please don't remove us from your lists. God bless you."
Sincerely,
Ohio
So, it can be seen by this person's response above, that people who are of good-will, will always have the light of truth, to see the truth, when it is explained to them.
The following special statement for the position of the faithful in regards to Medjugorje and its messages. This latest statement will appear in all Caritas publications:
SPECIAL STATEMENT
Medjugorje Status
December 1, 2011 A.D.
No attempt is intended to pre-empt the Church on the validity of the Medjugorje Apparitions. They are private revelation waiting the Church’s final judgment1. In the interim, these private revelations are allowed by, and for, the faithful to have devotion to and to be spread legally by the Church. Devotion and the propagation of private revelations can be forbidden only if the private revelation is condemned because of anything it contains which contravenes faith and morals according to AAS 58 (1966) 1186 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Medjugorje has not been condemned nor found to have anything against faith or morals, therefore it is in the grace of the Church to be followed by the faithful. By the rite of Baptism one is commissioned and given the authority to evangelize. “By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission.”2 One does not need approval to promote or to have devotions to private revelations or to spread them when in conformity to AAS 58 (1966) 1186, as the call to evangelize is given when baptized. Caritas of Birmingham, the Community of Caritas and all associated with it, realize and accept that the final authority regarding the Queen of Peace, Medjugorje and happenings related to the apparitions, rests with the Holy See in Rome. We at Caritas, willingly submit to that judgment. While having an amiable relationship with the Diocese of Birmingham and a friendly relationship with its bishop, Caritas of Birmingham and its mission is not officially connected to the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama.3 The Diocese of Birmingham’s official position on Caritas is neutral and holds us as Catholics in good standing.
1.The Church does not have to approve the apparitions. The Church can do as She did with the apparitions of Rue du Bac in Paris and the Miraculous Medal. The Church never approved these apparitions. She gave way to the people’s widespread acceptance of the Miraculous Medal and thereby the Apparitions to St. Catherine
2. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition
3. The Knights of Columbus was founded as a lay organization 129 years ago, with the basic Catholic beliefs. Each local council appeals to the local Ordinary to be the Chaplain. The Knights of Columbus is still a lay organization, and operates with its own autonomy.
International © SJP Lic. Caritas of Birmingham & Medjugorje.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.