Posted on 11/15/2004 2:31:05 PM PST by nonsumdignus
Bishop Michael Sheridan sent a letter to about 60 households that said Servants of the Holy Family is not part of the Roman Catholic Church, despite what church priests tell them.
‘‘I entreat you to separate yourself from the Servants of the Holy Family and return to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church,’’ Sheridan wrote in his letter. ‘‘No one can claim to be authentically Catholic if he or she is not in communion with the diocesan bishop and the Pope.’’
One of the five priests at the church, Father Allan Kucera, said in an e-mail that the church will not answer questions about the church or Sheridan’s letter. ‘‘Servants of the Holy Family will neither participate in a public debate or controversy, nor will it in any way contribute to the strife and division already present today in the Catholic Church,’’ Kucera said. He added, ‘‘If anyone is interested, he or she may come and see for themselves what we are about.’’
The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported that some former members said the church is as much a personality cult as a place of worship. The former members said priests berate church members from the pulpit and demand unquestioned loyalty.
The group’s Web site, www.servi.org, says Servants of the Holy Family was founded in 1977. The church offers traditional Latin Mass six days a week, which has made it attractive to Catholics looking for a more traditional service. The church Web site also sells gourmet specialty foods and religious articles.
Some former members said they had no idea the church was not affiliated with the Roman Catholic church.
Patrick and Patty Biolchini were married in Servants of the Holy Family in 1994. When they left in 2003, a Catholic priest told them that, in the eyes of the Church, they never were married because the church isn’t sanctioned by Rome.
"We might as well have gotten married in front of a justice of the peace," Patrick told the Gazette.
???
very good point nonsumdignus. I've always thought it outrageous that these folks are the ones the bishops come down so hard upon, while pro-abortion pols are coddled. I don't condone schism and they should get in trouble, but other "catholics" deserve far more trouble and aren't getting any.
I wish the bishop of Colorado Springs would at least try and investigate why this schismatic community flourished in his diocese - specifically what is lacking from dioscesan parish life that so many people felt a need for? Perhaps he could make some improvements, like indult Masses, and give the schismatics a run for their money.
This is because heresy from the pulpit doesn't cost the Bishop any money, while schismatic chapels do.
That isn't "unjustified wrath," though. It's called "rightly interpreting canon law". Catholics are required to be married before a Catholic priest with proper jurisdiction, or to get the appropriate dispensations from their ordinary. Otherwise their marriages are invalid. That's how things worked before Vatican II, also.
But Rome recognizes marriages between Protestants in Protestant churches?
(I'm not necessarily talking about Protestants who are ex-Catholics, however.)
I don't think I ever heard of Ludwig Ott, but in the RCC, every marriage is always presumed valid, schismatic or not. This novus ordo priest who stated they were not married is simply slinging empty and heretical slander.
Its amazing that the novus ordo crowd never takes notice at the strong and emotional animosity that the modern hierarchy of the Church of Vatican II manifests toward traditional Catholicism. In this ecumenical age, when the modern hierarchy "bends over backwards" to seek a false unity amongst all religions (Christian and non-Christian alike), all are lovingly received and recognized. Isn’t it ironic that any and all religions are accepted by the Church of Vatican II as long as they are not traditional Roman Catholic? How out of line appears our Catholic belief that Jesus Christ, our Messias and Redeemer, founded a Church and that membership in that Church is a necessary condition for salvation. This is looked upon as simply an intolerable doctrine.
**they never were married because the church isn’t sanctioned by Rome.**
I'm wondering what order of dissenting (outlaw) priests we have running this church? Why won't they talk to the bishop?
A priest without faculties cannot be the official representative of the Church.
That's far too sensible a position.
I agree that it's getting a bit outrageous that Trads, schismatic as they may be, are the ones that always get dumped on by the Church, yet some of the more ridiculous queer heretic priests, parishes, and dioceses go untouched.
My point wasn't that the bishop isn't justified in interpreting Canon law, but rather, there seems to be alot more public accomodation to those who have alot less in common with Catholics (ie, Protestants, Lutherans, etc) than those traditional Catholics who only desire that their Church reinforce what She has always taught (but which their bishop refuses to teach).
There seems to be an infinite wellspring of charity towards the former group; and in classic liberal fashion, an harsh intolerance to the latter. Perhaps this is because to do so would be to acknowledge the errors that traditionalists seek to correct.
http://www.dioceseoflincoln.org/purple/marriages/index.htm
I recall a Catholic who was married in a Protestant church and who was told by his pastor that in his diocese the bisop approved (dispensed) this type of arrangement, in effect a blanket dispensation.
I recall a Catholic who was married in a Protestant church and who was told by his pastor that in his diocese the bisop approved (dispensed) this type of arrangement, in effect a blanket dispensation.
Now he needs to address his pro-abort parishes up North.
The problem is that the schismatics have passed themselves off as Catholic--fraudulently.
There was no dispensation.
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