Evangelical Catholic
Diocese of the Northwest
Post Office Box
170336 Chicago
Illinois 60617-0336
Office:
773-721-5383 Fax: 773-721-2581
Email:
diocesenw@evangelicalcatholicchurch.org
Office of the
Bishop
May 20, 2014
To the Community of Bend
Oregon
At the risk of getting entangled in a “Letter War” with my
brother Bishop from the Diocese of Baker, I feel it necessary to request your
consideration to read and reflect upon the words I wish to share with you. I promise that this will not be written with
threats or bombast, but rather in the spirit of an extended hand of a new
friend moving into your neighborhood.
I am looking forward to my upcoming visit to Bend during the weekend
of June 6th to meet all those who are considering continuing their Catholic
journey in faith with the proposed Holy Communion Evangelical Catholic Church
and to celebrate Mass on Sunday June 8th for those who wish to
attend.
In most cases whenever the Evangelical Catholic Diocese of
the Northwest has opened a new mission parish, the local Roman Catholic
Chancery and Bishop pay no attention to such an event. However the creation of Holy Communion
Evangelical Catholic Church, akin to the creation of Holy Name of Jesus Evangelical
Catholic Church in Ashippun Wisconsin, has drawn the ire of the local Roman
Chancery and Bishop because the pastors of these parishes were former priests
of the local Roman dioceses and had been specifically marginalized and abused by
their superiors before being forced into their resignations. In both of these cases, Father David
Verhasselt and Father James Radloff enjoyed the confidence and respect of the
laity whom they had served with distinction and when each chose to continue their vocations to the priesthood within the Evangelical Catholic Church –
many of the laity came with them – much to the anger of the local Roman
officials.
The creation of Holy Communion Evangelical Catholic Church
with Father James Radloff has angered and upset my episcopal brother, Liam
Cary. He is angry and upset over the
fact that he might lose some of the “sheep of his flock” to the Evangelical
Catholic Church. I can also state that
he and his Chancery are even more livid over the loss of revenue from those who will no
longer attend local RC parishes. Thus, in order to keep his sheep penned in
and their wallets safe, Bishop Cary has had letters prepared for him larded with
ecclesial bombast from centuries past to scare people for visiting or attending
Holy Communion.
Bishop Cary has essentially threatened anyone who chooses
to attend Holy Communion with eternal damnation via his remarks that the
promise of the Kingdom
of God
Bishop Cary’s threats of eternal damnation are the words
of a very angry man. His application of
ecclesiology in this case is in error with the ecclesiology of the post Vatican
II Roman Catholic Church.
Bishop Cary’s action reminds me of the thought process and
justification used by the man in Cleveland
who held three young women prisoners in his home for a decade. Despite the hell he forced these women to
endure, he kept telling them that they could not exist outside of his “care”
for them.
As the Diocese of the Northwest and Holy Communion
Evangelical Catholic Church begins its welcoming process, I want to state for
the record several key points before any further fear mongering takes place.
·
We
unconditionally welcome anyone who is interested in learning about how they can
continue their Catholic journey in faith with us..
No symbolic guns will be used to force anyone to visit us or to prevent
anyone from NOT walking through our doors.
·
The
Evangelical Catholic Church does not engage in any form of pew stealing. If you are a happy member of the Church to which you
belong, we guarantee our respect for your choice.
·
Our
presence in the community of Bend is not intended to disrupt or destroy the
Roman Catholic presence in Oregon . We are coming here to minister to those who
have been pastorally or sacramentally orphaned and wish to belong to a catholic
community that will welcome and respect them.
The advent of the missionary work of the Evangelical
Catholic Church in the community of Bend is not,
as some would have you believe, the work of the devil looking to steal souls
from the Kingdom
of God
There is no reason why two difference Catholic
jurisdictions cannot coexist in Bend
with respect for one another.
I wish to conclude with an apology for the threats being
levied against the good people of Bend
by my colleague Bishop Cary. I would ask
that all would join me in lifting Liam Cary in prayer and ask God to ease him
of his anger and internal turmoil and to restore him as a spiritually healthy
and emotionally focused priest at the altar of God.
And if I may – please keep Father Radloff and me in your
prayers also.
I look forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks.
I am,
Evangelical Catholic
Bishop for the Diocese of the Northwest
“A Welcoming Community of
Faith
Rooted in the Catholic Tradition”
Rooted in the Catholic Tradition”
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