Gay priests of Diocese A-J in revolt; demand Bishop conceal molesters, sue Catholic activists

Written press release mailed to diocesan bishop, priests, media outlets of Diocese of Altoona-Johnst | 5/15/03 | Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown

[Polycarp]

[bold emphasis in original document]

Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord:

Whereas the rights and dignity of priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are threatened by forces both external to the community of believers and internally by our bishop and his staff.

Whereas, in response to this threat, the Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown was secretly formed by 26 clrgy of this Diocese to demand the rights and dignity of all priests be respected and protected by our bishop.

Therefore, we, the Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown, joined with our fellow clergy, ask the following from our bishop:

Whereas our bishop insists on publicly defending lawsuits against this diocese and thus increasing the threat that more names of our priests be exposed in the media, we demand that our bishop cease and desist his public defense of any and all lawsuits concerning alleged priestly misconduct and instead settle these cases out of court so as to protect the reputation and well being of those priests so named and others that may be revealed in the course of any trial.

Whereas our bishop threatens and harasses homosexual priests into fearing for their office, we demand that our bishop cease and desist any and all harassment of homosexual clergy and instead work to protect the reputation and well being of clergy of all sexual orientations.

Whereas our bishop placates those who attack our diocese and its priests, we demand that our bishop turn the attention of his legal representation towards stopping the hateful and homophobic actions of George Foster, Brian Barcaro, Dr. Brian Kopp [FReeper "Polycarp"], et. al., who are set upon destroying the reputations of homosexuals priests and this diocese.

Whereas our bishop ignores the actions of certain priests who consistently act against the unity of this diocese, we demand our bishop suspend Fr. James Foster and Fr. John Nesbella immediately, for repeated and constant acts which threaten the unity of our community of faith.

Whereas our bishop removed Dr. David Brown [of "GoodBye, Good Men" book fame] from his position as intake psychologist and from candidacy for the permanent diaconate program due to the incessant demands of several Talibanic conservative clergy and laity, we demand our bishop reinstate Dr. Brown both to his position as intake psychologist and to the permanent dioconate program.

Whereas our bishop has ordained several men to the priesthood over the last several year who are unfit to serve the modern, post-concilular (sic) church, we demand our bishop conduct a complete review and overhaul of the priestly recruitment program:

I. Review the psychological reports of the men ordained since 1995 and order to counseling all those who are deemed to have serious mental deficiencies or proven inability to serve in the church of Vatican II.

II. Cease and desist sending seminarians to the present rigid seminaries used by our diocese and begin to use more pastoral seminaries for formation.

III. Deny orders to the present candidate for ordination to the priesthood because of a very negative psychological report and his inability to serve the present day church.

IV. Examine all present and future seminarians in greater psychological depth to determine their fitness and desire to serve the modern church.

We believe that it is better to have fewer clergy and more lay involvement than to have many rigid and juridical priests who drive women and men away from the community of believers.

Whereas the present staff our (sic) diocesan finance office (Larry Sutton, et. al.) shows no respect for our clergy and little if any knowledge of the day to day life of our clergy and our parishes, we demand that our bishop retrain or replace the staff of the finance office so as to respect the dignity of our clergy and their office.

Whereas our chancery shows little care or concern for our retired priests at Dimitri Manor or elsewhere, we demand that our bishop review and overhaul the priests retirement program so as to provide them with the comfortable retirement due to them after many years of thankless service:

I. Immediately increase the present monthly retirement benefit payment to $1,500.00.

II. Fully fund all future retirement needs 20 years into the future in a pension trust fund so as to guarantee monthly payments regardless of the future financial state of the diocese.

III. Separate all retirement monies from diocesan funds so as to protect them from being taken in lawsuits.

IV. Immediately form a committee to examine the deplorable living conditions at the Dimitri Manor priests retirement home.

Whereas the compensation of our priests under the present formula is inherently unjust as priests whose workload is heavy due to parish size are paid the same as priests in small parishes, we demand that our bishop install a new payscale to reflect a more appropriate and just salary based on workload and parish size.

We believe this list of demands is the same list Jesus himself would ask for if he were a priest of this diocese.

If our requests are not met, we ask our fellow clergy to prayerfully consider ways of peaceful protest. Ech should follow his or her conscience in discerning ways to show civil disobedience to our hierarchy until our voice of change is heard.

Sincerely in Christ,

Priests Federation of Altoona-Johnstown

N.B.: The PFAJ is a group of priests of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown united in a pursuit of justice and sworn to complete secrecy to avert the very real threat of retaliation by our diocesan bishop.

CC:
Brother Priests & Deacons
Concerned Laity
National Catholic Reporter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Altoona Mirror
Centre Daily Times
WTAJ TV
WJAC TV
WWCP TV
WRTA Radio
WNTJ Radio
WRSC Radio

[american colleen]

I know! I know! (hand wringing while typing)

I just can't shake the smallness I experience when I cast aspersions on an ordained man who hasn't definitively been proven guilty of anything.

[Desdemona]

Just remember, where there's smoke, there's fire. You don't hear these rumors around some of the other bishops. Where there's a rumor, there's generally a little truth. My guess is that more of the people involved are dead than not. Either that, or there's one or two others out there who are just as feared. As they die off, we'll probably hear more, but the whole truth may never be known to us in the flesh.

[Z in Oregon]

If the contingent that wrote this screed is against you, you must be doing something right. After all, if you ever want to confirm where you stand, just look to see who is on the other side of the fence.

One thing about it that struck me was their insistence that future priests/staff being screened for their suitability to the "modern church"...in other words, only hire/retain those who accept/foster deviants.

What losers. Entrenched losers clinging to decades of power, but whose grip may be slipping at last due to a slowly-increasing number of brave men who are fighting back.

Good job, Brian. You can add me to your ping list for future articles on the efforts of yourself and others to defeat the deviants...and hopefully, successes in that pursuit.

Pax.

[Polycarp]

Thanks Z! Will add you to the list.

[mercy]

Oh Please! Spare me Pharasee. You are as blinded as the followers of Mohammed. Men have invented their own religion and call it THE CHURCH. What an insult to those who have the Mind of Christ. If I am attacking Christ by pointing out the obvious sin of Maryolatry may I burn in hell and may God strike me dead this very day. Amen.

[mercy]

Oh Please! Spare me Pharasee. You are as blinded as the followers of Mohammed. Men have invented their own religion and call it THE CHURCH. What an insult to those who have the Mind of Christ. If I am attacking Christ by pointing out the obvious sin of Maryolatry may I burn in hell and may God strike me dead this very day. Amen.

[Ex-Wretch]

"Oh Please! Spare me Pharasee. You are as blinded as the followers of Mohammed. Men have invented their own religion and call it THE CHURCH. What an insult to those who have the Mind of Christ. If I am attacking Christ by pointing out the obvious sin of Maryolatry may I burn in hell and may God strike me dead this very day. Amen."

Here! Here!

BTW Mercy, keep answering him like this and he will call down the mods on you for banishment.

[blu]

Mercy, are you one of those religious zealots who interrupt me during dinner to ask me if I'm saved? That's what you are doing here. This thread is to discuss a situation within the Catholic Church. It is not to discuss how or to whom we pray. (And, FYI, I TALK to Mary and the saints (oops. probably more ammo for you) and I PRAY to GOD, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.) I think most of us would agree that none of us need saving, thanks anyway. All you are doing is harrassing us...I was going to post yesterday, but thought better of it, thinking you would be done here.

I will ASK Mary to look out for you (now who else would better understand when one's 13 yr old son has run away???), I'll ask the saints to look out for you, and I'll PRAY TO GOD that he will impart tolerance to both of us.

Please notice: I did not ask what religion you are. It is not germaine to this issue. Please respect that.

[Polycarp]

If I am attacking Christ by pointing out the obvious sin of Maryolatry may I burn in hell and may God strike me dead this very day. Amen.

I'm not going to lay odds on your longevity...

[Salvation]

Checking in for an update.

[Salvation]

OK, Miz Mercy How Old is Your Church?

Indeed, you don't sound very merciful, but rather you sound rather one-sided, like a person who might think that he or she has all the right answers.

Is your mind open to discussion, here? Or do your fingers get in the way?

[mercy]

There is only one True Faith. Faith in The Christ. God made flesh. There is no room for adulteration or 'religion'. Unless you accept The Faith as the thief on the cross next to The Messiah accepted it ... you will in no wise see heaven. It is Christ crucified and only Christ crucified or it is something else altogether.

[mercy]

I guess I should add for the adulterers it is crucified AND resurrected. For me it goes without saying but the illinformed may need it spelled out.

[mercy]

Look. You all have put your diry laundry out here in public for all to see so don't get your panties in a wad if the public wants to chime in. I'm telling you straight out as I heard it from God through His Word. For sin comes death. Adulterate the Faith of Christ and suffer the consequences. Your RC church is not just sick it is RIDDLED with the most vile disease and it is because of your sin. All y'all's sin.

We are all sinners. Saved by grace. But any church who openly practices non biblical heresy will receive in themselves the full measure of their iniquity. Your own children have been being buggered for decades and it is not about to stop. And you will not change your ways. Indeed ... the mystery of iniquity.

[mercy]

Ohhh. It's ok to tell me I am attacking Christ for simply arguing a point of doctrine but I should be banned. You make me ill. Talk about fundamentalist fascist tripe.

[blu]

OK, you win. We're all going to hell. Happy?

I don't suppose humility is part of your faith? It must be nice to be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that your faith is the one true faith. And, of course, yours is the only one that will save anyone. You and those who think exactly like you will have Heaven all to yourselves. OK, I've admitted it. I will spend eternity in Purgatory, scrubbing my sins (this post included!) away.

And just to remind you: this thread is about a letter ....who wrote it and why. I thought religious bashing was not allowed...or is that for every faith but Catholicism?

and what I am doing, unfortunately, is feeding the trolls. Please go back under your bridge. I'm done with you.

[Desdemona]

OK, I've admitted it. I will spend eternity in Purgatory, scrubbing my sins (this post included!) away.

Shhhh!!!! Quit feeding the trolls. We've got enough problems fighting the people who don't think we need the Confiteor at Mass. Now you bring up Purgatory. Oh, gosh.

[Jorge]

"don't know where you live, but I have not been aware of any 24/7 "lavender campaign" demanding "equality for perversion".

Evidently you live under a rock, or in the Yukon Territory.

Well if there is truly a "24/7 lavender campaign demanding equality for perversion" as you claim...then you should have no trouble showing me all the news articles documenting this 24/7 campaign..which somehow have been missed in the mainstream media, FOX NEWS, Talk radio etc.

The fact is you cannot document your claim because is a ridiculous exageration.

[Salvation]

** you will in no wise see heaven**

No wise?

A little tongue in cheek there? LOL!

[Jorge]

And, of course, unless you are a Roman Catholic, how we Catholics deal with the lavender fifth column in our own clergy and among our bishops is our business and none of yours;

ROFL! You mean as in moving them around to protect them and maximize their chances of molesting MORE unsuspecting boys?

In my opinion these priests or any priest who is homosexual doesn't belong in ANY position of authority in ANY Christian Church.

According to your above statement, my position is far too harsh for *YOUR Church*.
Yet you accuse ME of being to soft on this issue?
Unreal.