Posted on 05/15/2003 2:02:36 PM PDT by 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
You specifically addressed it personally as Polycarps pedophile threads NOT other individuals online.
I "specifically addressed" my above response to YOUR POST...... which it seems you are unable to even remember...so I will repost it for you;
Clint N. Suhks sez;" dont know anyone who accuses ALL homosexuals of being pedophiles."
Mega-DUH to the max.
Now youre just being a liar YOU implied Polycarp says ALL gays are pedophiles.
LOL...I'm being called a liar by someone can't remember the context of the issue being discussed half the time...or even what he said in his last post. Too funny.
But let me try to explain this to you once again. Read it slower this time.
The claim that pedophilia is a normal, accepted and integral part of the homosexual community....is implying that all gays are virtual pedophiles or accept it as normal.
Now you can try to split hairs with your pathetic APA definitions...but unlike you...I don't accept the word of an organization that removes homosexuality from it's list of disorders simply because the gay lobby threatens them.
Stop promoting your APA pro-gay propaganda.
Actually no thats the other APA, you know Marmor, Spitzer, and the gang at The American Psychiatric Association who removed the pathology from the DSM. I was talking about the American Psychological Association. But since youve obviously not bothered to look it up either way its apparent your education doesnt go past the occasional reading the odd dictionary word.
ROFL! You come up with some definition of homophobe backed up by the pro-homosexual APA...
obscure weirdo Umm The APA is the one who invented the word but dont let facts get in your way this is fun. But youre right the APA is pro homosexual so why do you deny your own abbreviated definition invented and defined by the APA as being homosexual propaganda OR are you just the convenient hypocrite caught in a lie?
and accuse me "contortions" for using the term "homophobe" in it's generally understood context...
Its generally understood meaning is homosexual propaganda and should your memory have the capacity to remember your own words it was you who accused me of contortions if I recall.
which is a person who suffers from an inordinate fear and dread of homosexuals.
OK thats a start good buddy but he rest of the definition involves denial of latent tendencies which lay dictionaries conveniently leave out for PC reasons.
You know I'm right...admit it already.
Hell no this is too much fun. I give facts and you give opinion, its great bravado, lets let the lurkers decide whos full of sh!t and whos not. Carry on captain.
But it seems you are really keeping up on your gay lingo....almost as if it is your native language.....hmmmmm.
OK you caught me ...I'm "gay".
Everywhere you called someone a homophobe, short attention span eh?
Your so used to throwing accusations you cannot support at all those who disagree with you...that when anybody challenges you to prove what you say.... you come up with NOTHING. Pathetic.
I see
the history of your homosexual propaganda word is NOTHING? At least try to debate it being wrong instead of using some sort of juvenile guilt by association. Boy, talk about pathetic.
Nope it was to Polycarp. Nice try though
see my cite regarding your confusion.
Hehehe What a moroon.
The claim that pedophilia is a normal, accepted and integral part of the homosexual community....is implying that all gays are virtual pedophiles or accept it as normal.
Again for third TIME please cite anyone anywhere on FR who makes this claim. Either put up or shut up. Really!
Now you can try to split hairs with your pathetic APA definitions...but unlike you...I don't accept the word of an organization that removes homosexuality from it's list of disorders simply because the gay lobby threatens them. Stop promoting your APA pro-gay propaganda.
Again wrong APA Einstein, see above
oh and feel free to prove me wrong or is it just going to be more juvenile guilt by association notions in lieu of facts or logic.
Indeed the Church is torn and sundered. Worse yet, do you know the greatest enemy of Christian unity in the American Church today?
For 200 years (since the dawn of "Pre-Tribulationist Rapture Dispensationalism" in the 1830's), the end-of-the-world Pre-Tribulationist Rapture fanatics have essentially carved out their own Church. Theology used to be a "gentleman's disagreement" between Romans and Protestants -- sure, they burned us at the stake a time or two, but we still altogether more-or-less agreed with Augustine's amillenial "City of God".
The Church is the "City of God". The World is the "City of Man". We Live as Ambassadors; and the End will come... whenever it comes. The "End" could well be thirty thousand years from now. The Church MUST... and WILL... endure; because the "End" is not tomorrow.
Nowadays, many "American Protestants" make the-end-is-right-around-the-corner Eschatology a Test of Christian Fellowship.
The interesting thing is, even the Christ-Rejecting Zealot Revolutionaries of the First Century were not such fools as the Modern Protestant Apocalyptics of the 20th Century.
They knew EXACTLY what was happening. As the Talent-weight Hailstones of the Roman Artillery fell upon them, they did not cry, "The SUN is coming". This is not the Hebrew expression in question. As the Talent-weight Hailstones of the Roman Artillery fell upon them, they cried, "The SON is coming".
The Judgment of the Revelation of Jesus Christ was falling upon Jerusalem. RIGHT EXACTLY THEN. The Fulfillment of all Imprecatory Prophecy. And they knew it.
It is rather silly for "Protestants" to pretend that Rome is "Babylon the Great". Granted, she may act like a Whore ~~ but so does Protestantism. Regardless, the fact remains the same... JOHN WAS NOT LYING. The "Revelation" concerns matters which which "must shortly come to pass" in the First Century, and exactly as John declared, they already have.
Painful as it is to say, Luther was wrong. Rome (no matter how much she acts like a Theological Whore) cannot possibly be the Whore of Babylon. Most of Revelation has already happened.
We are left with Revelation 20 -- "The Millenium of the Church" (not exactly 1000 years, I suppose; But 1,000 years with the Lord is as a single Day). Just as Augustine himself exposited.
How long is the Revelation 20 "Millenium of the Church"? I don't know. Neither did Augustine.
Personally, I suspect it will last at least until the Roman Church returns to the Biblical-Pauline-Augustinian Gospel, and until the Protestant Church returns to... shucks, any "Gospel" at all.
Best, OP
If you find those three languages so easy, you apparently don't find them easy enough to compile a simple sentence in each.
Is this ALL you've got?
Just as I thought. You can't come up with ANYTHING.
You like to make wild and hysterical accusations against anyone who disagrees with you....then when anybody challenges you to prove what you say.... you come up with NOTHING.
The idea that calling someone a homophobe is gay propaganda is such a weak argument.
My sister tells me that her husband is a homophobe..that he gets freaked out around anybody who is gay. And he admits it.
Guess they are both promoting gay propaganda according to your rationale?
Give me a major break.
Nope it was to Polycarp. Nice try though see my cite regarding your confusion.
Let's see;
My post was addressed to "Clint N. Suhks".
It is the ONLY name that appears in the heading.
The only quote in the post is from "Clint N. Suhks" and it is followed by a response to "Clint N. Suhks" and nobody else.
Polycarp's name doesn't appear either in the post heading nor is Polycarp mentioned ANYWHERE in the post.
Yet you still insist it was to Polycarp.
And you call me confused?
Are you trying to make me laugh on purpose or what?
Again for third TIME please cite anyone anywhere on FR who makes this claim. Either put up or shut up. Really!
This is the FIRST TIME I've ever read such a request by you...and unlike you, I can back up my claims.
Polycarp posted that it is "an integral part of the homosexual subculture, and tacitly and explicitly accepted by the entire movement. Thus the call for lowering the age of consent for homosexual sex across the board by the homo movement."
(from ;"Even more posts on homosexuality...i'm curious as to why?" Posted on 05/01/2003 5:41 PM EDT by Polycarp)
Again wrong APA Einstein, see above oh and feel free to prove me wrong or is it just going to be more juvenile guilt by association notions in lieu of facts or logic.
Without attempting to untangle the incoherent mess of a sentence we see above...I will simply repeat that it is a well known and documented fact that the APA caved into the gay lobby when it remove homosexuality from it's list of disorders.
Excuse me, but you simply refered to the APA and made no such distinction in the post I was responding to.
It's not my job to research your posts to determine what sources of information you are citing...especially when you don't even bother clarifying them yourself.
And you use this weak point to criticize another's education? LOL!
In any case it doesn't matter. The wacky definition of "homophobe" you posted is clearly not the normally understood or socially accepted usage of the term.
obscure weirdo Umm The APA is the one who invented the word but dont let facts get in your way this is fun. But youre right the APA is pro homosexual so why do you deny your own abbreviated definition invented and defined by the APA as being homosexual propaganda OR are you just the convenient hypocrite caught in a lie?
What on earth are you talking about?
I simply refered to the FACT that the normal, the generally accepted and understood use of the term "homophobe" is a person who has an inordinate or irrational fear or dread of homosexuals.
What does stating this fact have to do with "homosexual propaganda" or "hypocrisy" or ANY of the numerous incoherant disconnected accusations you feel the need to throw at anybody who disagrees with you?
You are clearly hypersensitive and overly defensive to anybody using the term "homophobe". I wonder why that is?
OK thats a start good buddy but he rest of the definition involves denial of latent tendencies which lay dictionaries conveniently leave out for PC reasons.
Huh? What is PC about avoiding definitions of "homophobes" that make them look even WORSE, and more emotionally disturbed?
What's PC about a definition that makes "homophobes" look better?
Homosexual activists are the only ones I've heard attempt to label all homophobes as closet homosexuals.
You've got it backwards.
"But it seems you are really keeping up on your gay lingo....almost as if it is your native language.....hmmmmm."
OK you caught me ...I'm "gay".
I realize how hard it was for you to admit this.
But confession is good for the soul and it is the first step in recovery.
You're getting closer to the truth. Don't give up!
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