Bishop Arthur J. Seratelli (Paterson NJ)
Bishop John J. Nevins (Venice FL)
Bishop Gerald Walsh (New York)
Bishop John Nienstedt (New Ulm)
All bishops of the USCCB
FROM: The Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc
. Recently, at the conclusion of one of your endless series of committee meetings (The Challenge of Mixed Marriage in American Life is Major Topic of U.S. Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee), you issued the following statement:
The Consultation also discussed the state of Jewish-Catholic relations in the wake of the film, "The Passion of the Christ," which caused such deep and understandable concern within Jewish community world-wide. The film, it was noted, was in reality a modern version of the notorious medieval Passion Plays which so often over the centuries have triggered riots against the Jews of Europe. Happily, however, the film precipitated no such anti-Jewish violence. Rather, in many places it sparked discussions in which Catholics learned why Jews feared such dramatic depictions of the death of Jesus, and Jews learned that many Catholics today have taken to heart the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the Jews collectively cannot be held responsible "then or now" for Jesus' death. It was noted as well that continuing work needs to be done among those who have not yet absorbed these official teachings of the Church.
Generally, we in the laity read your prodigious output of wordy, useless position statements and constant “pastoral” bloviating with a mixture of boredom and mild irritation. Occasionally, however, the U.S. Bishops come out with something that is so outrageous, so offensive, so truly malignant, that the laity cannot remain mute. And so it is with this, your latest piece of ecclesiastical drivel.
When we consider your words, we must reflect upon all that you have given the laity during the past several decades; to wit:
* You have destroyed our precious liturgy and replaced it with a quasi-heretical and saccharine floor show.
* You have corrupted our children with poisonous sex ed programs.
* You have allowed our children to be raped by perverted monsters in the clergy and have done everything in your power to cover up these crimes.
* You have destroyed our beautiful churches and Cathedrals and replaced them with ugly “churches” that resemble aircraft hangars or cement factories.
* You have squandered billions of dollars on useless or harmful “ministries” that are little more than glorified havens for left wing activists.
* You have persecuted holy and orthodox priests and nuns.
* You have denied priests their right to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, a right which no bishop or pastor of the Church can ever take away.
* You have destroyed the faith of millions by promoting false catechesis.
* You have turned away worthy candidates for the priesthood because they accepted the perennial teachings of the Church or because they opposed homosexuality.
The collective evil committed by the American Bishops dwarfs any harm committed in the Enron scandal, yet none of you have been sent to jail.
And now, when a man like Mel Gibson comes along and tries to glorify Our Lord with a movie, when he risks his personal fortune and reputation because Our Lord is despised by the World, you miserable serpents not only do not support him, but join with those who condemn his courageous and beautiful effort. Well, to you bishops, and to all the bishops of the USCCB, the Roman Catholic Faithful responds:
The movie The Passion of the Christ has done more to uplift the human heart, to bring souls to Christ, to increase holiness, and to glorify Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than all the USCCB committees, subcommittees, documents, pastorals, letters, faxes and speeches put together.
James Bendell
Roman Catholic Faithful
This hysterical letter will continue to marginalize RCF with the American bishops.
Having read that letter before, it is a very clear and concise statement of all to real charges aginst our apostate bishops, and against the USCCB itself.
Over the top? Not in the least. In fact, the temptation in write such a letter is to resort to even more rhetoric, and even the (very appropriate, in this case) use of expletives. Since our bishops have effectively defected from the faith of our fathers, and have taught nothing but butterflies and rainbows to our children - losing two generations of them to the faith - this letter is entirely justified.
By rights - in a kinder and gentler era - these ecclesiastical hooligans would be either executed for heresy/apostacy, or sentanced to a long period of enforced penance in a monastary on bread, water, and hard labor prayer & silence. In reperation for their sins in office, and for the good of their souls.
Sorry, but for any good Catholic - and certainly those with children to raise in the faith - the time for diplomacy and platitudes with these lewd buffoons in round collars must stop. In the name of God we must declare war on such traitorous prelates as these who sell Christ again for 30 pieces of silver, if we are to consider ourselves frineds of Christ. If they had any "right" to be treated with respect, they lost that a long time ago.
No, in my opinion it is high time that good, devout Catholics get mad, and do something constructive. It is precisely because it is considered politically incorrect to use "angry tones" in morally just criticism that the Church is in the shape it is in.
The house has been on fire for 40 years. Meek, subserviant politeness to the arsonists is neither appropriate, nor sane.