MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE BY ELIZABETH SCHWAB O.C.D.S.

When it Comes to VIRTUS, There's More Than Meets the Eye

By:Elizabeth Schwab www.desertvoice.org

May 14, 2006

After the recent announcement of the upcoming departure of the pastor at the Church of St. Agnes, Fr. George Welzbacher, and the transferal of the associate pastor, Fr. Robert Altier, to the position of assistant chaplain at a distant nursing home, Vicar General Fr. Kevin McDonough claimed in comments published by the St. Paul Pioneer Press that these changes should cause no concern and “there is less here than meets the eye.” (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/14568281.htm)

The fact remains that a priest with a thriving ministry -- who should actually be promoted to the pastorate after an unusually lengthy service of 14 years as associate pastor of this landmark parish -- is being sent to a nursing home where he will have virtually no responsibilities or opportunities to exercise his priestly office. In Fr. Welzbacher’s statement released May 11, his age (he is 78) and declining energy level are named as determining factors in his departure, but states that the “current limited number of priests” in the archdiocese necessitates that he continue to serve as pastor in a neighboring inner-city parish rather than retire. Yet the same archdiocese will move Fr. Altier (at the age of 45) to a vastly diminished position in a nursing home while several parishes in the archdiocese do not have a priest in residence!

Then to add insult to injury, Archdiocesan spokesman Dennis McGrath told Spirit Daily that Fr. Altier “was happy with the reassignment and in fact had requested it.” (http://www.spiritdaily.com/altiernursinghome.htm) Fr. Altier never made any such request. The move was initiated by Archbishop Flynn, and Fr. Altier will obediently comply with his wishes.

It is suspected that Fr. Altier’s efforts to inform the public on the dangers of the controversial sex-ed program VIRTUS/TAT

(http://www.desertvoice.org/SilencedandExiled.html) are at the root of Archbishop Flynn’s recent actions. With millions of dollars invested in the VIRTUS program and stockholders’ concerns to worry about, the archdiocese wants to quiet Fr. Altier as they move forward to implement this offensive program. Most people do not realize that The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc (National Catholic) is a risk retention insurance group that actually owns VIRTUS, and in turn is owned and managed by shareholders, which include numerous dioceses throughout the United States. (Check out the financial returns to shareholders in the first section of the newsletter at

http://www.virtus.org/virtus/newsletter.cfm?newsletter_id=38

and see how many dioceses have money invested on page 1, paragraph 1 at http://www.virtus.org/virtus/newsletters/VIRTUS_29.pdf )

In addition, our Vicar General Fr. Kevin McDonough himself happens to sit on the national steering committee of VIRTUS.

(See page 4 at http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/newsletters/VIRTUS_16.pdf)

But few people know that an alternative program, Formation in Christian Chastity (FICC) from the diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is in full conformity with Catholic Church teaching and is available to the public free of charge.

(Get it here http://www.primaryeducators.org/)

Many have wondered why Archbishop Flynn would continue to promote VIRTUS/TAT when he really prefers FICC (See Fr. Welzbacher’s statement at end of page:

http://www.desertvoice.org/responseoffraltierandfrwelzbacher.htm),

and the answer may come down to the issues of money and the promotion of the homosexual agenda. This would not be surprising if one takes into account the financial investment already made and considers the rampant homosexual subculture that DOES exist in the Saint Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese. Before his death from AIDS earlier this year, local homosexual activist Bill Kummer “related how he had been able to manipulate Archbishop Harry Flynn into pushing the homosexual agenda in the archdiocese, and how parents who objected to [his] agenda were frustrated in their efforts.” (See The Wanderer article at http://thewandererpress.com/a11-3-2005.htm). What a tragedy if the souls of innocent children are being corrupted due to financial interests and the desire to pacify homosexual lobbyists!

No wonder Fr. Kevin McDonough is quick to tell the public, “There’s less here than meets the eye,” because by the looks of things, one would have to say that there’s probably a whole lot more than meets the eye!

IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION FROM ELIZABETH SCHWAB FROM "A VOICE IN THE DESERT" PING

PLEASE FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE BY ELIZABETH SCHWAB O.C.D.S BUMP

I certainly hope that Good triumphs in this one.

Me too.

But, by the way things have gone so far in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis- Saint Paul -- One really wonders what is next in store for Poor Father Altier and the Conservative Catholic Parish of Saint Agnes.

I still feel that "The Impossible is still possible" with God. At least, I hope and pray so.

I am praying asap for the installation of a Conservative and Orthodox Catholic Archbishop in Minneapolis who will bring back Father Altier soon.

That is my Prayer among other prayers.

I received an email on Friday late in the night from a Couple who are Parishioners at Saint Agnes and who are personal friends from Philly, and the wife mentioned something quite interesting to me -- that Archbishop Flynn has less than 2 years to go before he is required to retire.

So, she said to me let's pray for a Conservative and Orthodox Catholic Archbishop who will bring Father Altier back.

Please pray for the Spiritual and Physical Welfare of Ken and Elizabeth Schwab O.C.D.S. -- as you all may be aware by no that they were the Folks who started the web site on the 26th of February 2001.

A Voice in the Desert was born on the 26th of February 2001. Recently, they celebrated the 5th Anniversary since they started posting Father Altier's Homilies and Talks.

Please pray for their Kids too who used to help them in this awesome online ministry.

Did you Guys know that Catholic Folks from 83 Countries around the world used to read Father Altier's Homilies.

This Fact has been stated on the web Site under the Link " Letters from the Desert".

"A VOICE IN THE DESERT"- A FAITHFUL AND ORTHODOX CATHOLIC WEB SITE BUMP

When it Comes to VIRTUS, There's More Than Meets the Eye

By: Elizabeth Schwab www.desertvoice.org May 14, 2006

After the recent announcement of the upcoming departure of the pastor at the Church of St. Agnes, Fr. George Welzbacher, and the transferal of the associate pastor, Fr. Robert Altier, to the position of assistant chaplain at a distant nursing home, Vicar General Fr. Kevin McDonough claimed in comments published by the St. Paul Pioneer Press that these changes should cause no concern and “there is less here than meets the eye.” (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/14568281.htm)

The fact remains that a priest with a thriving ministry -- who should actually be promoted to the pastorate after an unusually lengthy service of 14 years as associate pastor of this landmark parish -- is being sent to a nursing home where he will have virtually no responsibilities or opportunities to exercise his priestly office. In Fr. Welzbacher’s statement released May 11, his age (he is 78) and declining energy level are named as determining factors in his departure, but states that the “current limited number of priests” in the archdiocese necessitates that he continue to serve as pastor in a neighboring inner-city parish rather than retire. Yet the same archdiocese will move Fr. Altier (at the age of 45) to a vastly diminished position in a nursing home while several parishes in the archdiocese do not have a priest in residence!

Then to add insult to injury, Archdiocesan spokesman Dennis McGrath told Spirit Daily that Fr. Altier “was happy with the reassignment and in fact had requested it.” (http://www.spiritdaily.com/altiernursinghome.htm) Fr. Altier never made any such request. The move was initiated by Archbishop Flynn, and Fr. Altier will obediently comply with his wishes.

It is suspected that Fr. Altier’s efforts to inform the public on the dangers of the controversial sex-ed program VIRTUS/TAT (http://www.desertvoice.org/SilencedandExiled.html) are at the root of Archbishop Flynn’s recent actions. With millions of dollars invested in the VIRTUS program and stockholders’ concerns to worry about, the archdiocese wants to quiet Fr. Altier as they move forward to implement this offensive program. Most people do not realize that The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc (National Catholic) is a risk retention insurance group that actually owns VIRTUS, and in turn is owned and managed by shareholders, which include numerous dioceses throughout the United States. (Check out the financial returns to shareholders in the first section of the newsletter at http://www.virtus.org/virtus/newsletter.cfm?newsletter_id=38 and see how many dioceses have money invested on page 1, paragraph 1 at http://www.virtus.org/virtus/newsletters/VIRTUS_29.pdf ) In addition, our Vicar General Fr. Kevin McDonough himself happens to sit on the national steering committee of VIRTUS. (See page 4 at http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/newsletters/VIRTUS_16.pdf) But few people know that an alternative program, Formation in Christian Chastity (FICC) from the diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is in full conformity with Catholic Church teaching and is available to the public free of charge. (Get it here http://www.primaryeducators.org/)

Many have wondered why Archbishop Flynn would continue to promote VIRTUS/TAT when he really prefers FICC (See Fr. Welzbacher’s statement at end of page: http://www.desertvoice.org/responseoffraltierandfrwelzbacher.htm), and the answer may come down to the issues of money and the promotion of the homosexual agenda. This would not be surprising if one takes into account the financial investment already made and considers the rampant homosexual subculture that DOES exist in the Saint Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese. Before his death from AIDS earlier this year, local homosexual activist Bill Kummer “related how he had been able to manipulate Archbishop Harry Flynn into pushing the homosexual agenda in the archdiocese, and how parents who objected to [his] agenda were frustrated in their efforts.” (See The Wanderer article at http://thewandererpress.com/a11-3-2005.htm). What a tragedy if the souls of innocent children are being corrupted due to financial interests and the desire to pacify homosexual lobbyists!

No wonder Fr. Kevin McDonough is quick to tell the public, “There’s less here than meets the eye,” because by the looks of things, one would have to say that there’s probably a whole lot more than meets the eye!

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE BY ELIZABETH SCHWAB O.C.D.S. BUMP

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE BUMP