The Parishioners Speak out in Dallas

April 15, 2002 | Slyfox

[Slyfox]

I attended the protest at my church, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Dallas, TX, where our pastor, Fr. Stephen Bierschenk, was relieved of his duty on a trumped up charge of non-compliance with the diocesean "no tolerance" policy intended to weed out child abusers.

Fr. Bierschenk was given one month to come into full compliance, and as of today, well within the one month deadline, every background check has been completed. Being unjustly fired from his post at our church and after the urging of parish leaders and a multitude of the faithful, he has decided to take his case to Rome,

Fr. Bierschenk has a strong case. Two other priests in the Dallas diocese in the last two years, who were also inappropriately treated, have taken their cases to Rome and have won. According to Canon Law, a priest may not be removed from his post during his appeal.

During the Confirmation service tonight, with the bishop in attendance, every young person being confirmed took the name of Stephen as their Confirmation name. At the end of the service, as the altar servers and priests and the deacon came down from the altar to exit the church, the bishop took the side entrance so he wouldn't have to face the multitude and EDBCmedia outside.

[B-Chan]

To Romulus and All: For what it's worth, here is Fr. Bierschenk's farewell message:

My dear parish family, Many of you have read the press reports about the decision of our Diocesan officials to remove Fr. Ephrain Ortega as pastor of St. James Church because he had not properly implemented the Safe Environment program required by our diocese.

On March 19, our parish was visited by the independent agency that is auditing each parish to evaluate their compliance with this program.

Last Tuesday I was asked to meet with Bishop Grahmann, Bishop Galante, and Mary Edlund at the Chancery Office. During this meeting they told me that our school received very good marks for their compliance, but that the people who work in the church office and others who work in the CCD program and Youth Ministry and as parish volunteers had not had the proper background checks, so we had not followed the requirements. I accepted their assessment as accurate and take full responsibility for this fact.

At that time they told me that I would have to be moved from St. Thomas Aquinas because our parish was not in compliance with the Safe Environment policies. As our discussion continued, Bishop Grahmann stated that our parish had 30 days to be in full compliance, and at that time an audit would be conducted again. At that time, it was my understanding that if our audit was acceptable, I would not be moved.

On Friday, I was called to a meeting with Bishop Galante and Mary Edlund, and told that after more checking of facts, I was to be moved after all. On May 3, I will be appointed Pastor of St. Michael Church in McKinney, Texas.

This is not my decision, nor is it my choice. But, on the day I was ordained, I promised obedience to our bishop, to accept whatever assignment I am given and fulfill it to the best of my ability. I have done this for 26 years, and intend to continue doing so.

Today’s gospel reminds us that we cannot always see the face of Jesus as we walk down the road. But he is always there. I trust that he will continue to bless and guide the wonderful people of this parish, and pray that he will give me the strength to continue loving and serving him for many years to come.

Thank you for your care and support. As this Mass continues, may our special prayer be that we will keep the example of Jesus before our eyes, “Father, not my will, but your will be done.”

[Source]

Judging from the above, it sounds like this priest has the proper Catholic attitude towards obedience. Of course, I know nothing of this situation other than what's been written here, so I have no opinion on the subject, but I trust all will work out for the best.

[Slyfox]

parish volunteers had not had the proper background checks

Gee, I wonder if they did a background check on me. I am a volunteer in the choir.

[B-Chan]

When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life! If then you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who are least esteemed by the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among you wise enough to decide between members of the brotherhood, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren.

(1 Corinthians 6:1-8)

[pgkdan]

On the same note, George W. Bush was totally within his right to address a grievence and have a court rule in the matter. It is no different in this case.

It is not the same thing. Bush never took a vow of obedience. Your Priest did and no matter how much you people want him to stay on he should obey his bishop and leave.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

that a few staffers had not been checked

There's quite a disparity between a few and none.

[Slyfox]

Our pastor had no intention of gathering the media. In fact, he was told the media was not to be contacted before a formal announcement was made. But, guess what? We went to Mass on Sunday and the entire place was crawling with cameras and reporters, tipped off by the diocesean office. In an accident where people are killed we bemoan the fact that the family is not notified first, that they have to hear it in the news first. The bishop did not afford us the pleasure of a formal announcement before the media was contacted. It was a dirty thing to do.

[Slyfox]

Every single person who had direct contact with children had been checked. Someone like me who sings in the adult choir and volunteers to make phone calls occasionally was not checked.

[Saundra Duffy]

So . . . you're saying your Priest was NEVER involved in any cover up, right? Meaning that no innocent child was ever subjected to criminal behavior because your Priest shifted bodies around, right? Seems to me that if the accused is really innocent, then all he/she has to do is continue to fight with head held high. The truth will conquer all. Amen. Good luck. I admire your stand. For victory & freedom!!!

[Slyfox]

A vow of obedience does not include cowtowing to the the feminist working in the chancery office. Father has never attended the feminazi-led training sessions designed to turn men into wimps and for that reason he is having his face dragged through the mud. This has nothing to do with disobedience. This is payback for being a priest who listens to the Pope. He has a legitimate case that is being looked at right now by top Canon lawyers.

[B-Chan]

God bless you and all at St. Thomas A. You're on the prayer list.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

I know the head of the CCD program. She was surprised to hear them announce to her while they were waiting to go over to the church for the Confirmation that they had all decided to take the name Stephen. There was no pressure from any of us. I didn't know about it until afterwards. And I was one of the organizers.

I find it hard to believe that they would spontaneously do this without first having heard others in the protest (you are an "organizer" right?) gripe about the situation in a non-Catholic like way. In addition, the head of the CCD program clearly has failed to properly catechize these students for them to abuse a sacrament in this way.

Yes, that is true but bishops are also held to account when it comes to Canon Law.

Not by lay Catholics they aren't. If you want to write a letter to the Vatican, fine. But you, as a lay person, are not authorized or qualified to "organize" dissent against the bishop just because you happen to think he is a "petty dictator".

You will see that we are not a liberal parish. We are in fact considered the most conservative large parish in the whole diocese.

Your actions in this case appear to be well beyond liberal. It doesn't matter what the average income is in your parish, organizing dissent against your bishop is nonproductive, immature, and probably sinful. As a former protestant, I will point out that you are not the first to treat the Church Christ founded in this way. Others before you have fomented dissent against Her and ultimately ended up starting their own denominations. I encourage you to closely examine what it you are doing and discern whether or not you really want to be (or still are) Catholic. I hope that you will back down and work constructively within the Church. Remember, the Reformation was lead by the political conservatives of the era, not the liberals.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

If the records of background checks don't exist, how can you be so sure?

[Slyfox]

The media has not shown this to be the respectful protest that it is. We were all surprised at the decision of the students. Father is well within his rights to seek a hearing from Rome. And he is not the first conservative priest to have to resort to such an action. The diocese decided to make it a media circus. You do not know this parish. You do not know this diocese.

[galt-jw]

the arrogance of the catholic church in regard to their sect of christianity being the only legitimate one has come to fruition. read the bible. Christ died "for all men." reap the whirlwind. the catholic church is nothing but a brand, franchisees wanted.

[SelmerTS111281]

You stated in # 26
We went to Mass on Sunday and the entire place was crawling with cameras and reporters, tipped off by the diocesean office.

Any proof of this? I'm trying to understand what is fact and what is not in this situation.

Peace, TS

[Slyfox]

All of the background checks were finished as of yesterday.

Way before the Rudy Kos fiasco, my son's kindergarten teacher at St. Thomas was fired within the first semester of his hire. There were rumors going around about his "love" of children, although nothing untoward had happened. I was upset that he had been fired because he was an excellent teacher. Shortly after his firing, I started to recieve phone calls from this teacher. He wanted to take my son fishing. Then he'd call back and want to take my son to the mall. I gained a tremendous amount of respect for our pastor for firing this pervert before anything happened to any child.

[Slyfox]

We arrived at 11:45 on Sunday. Walking in to go to Mass we saw that EVERY local TV station had their satelite uplink van sitting out front, complete with the towering attena's. At least a dozen reporterettes were walking around with pads and pencils searching for somebody to interview. We went to sit at the pew and were followed by a sound tech placing some piece of equipment up on a pillar. He had placed a number of them around the church. Cameras from all angles could be seen. The media was not there because someone at the parish called them. The chancery did that.

There were many people choking back tears. The media never did report on that did they?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

We were all surprised at the decision of the students.

Then you all should look at their act as a sad, unintended consequence of your dissent.

Father is well within his rights to seek a hearing from Rome.

But you are not within your rights in the Church in attempting to help instigate one.

The media has not shown this to be the respectful protest that it is.

Respectful or not, this kind of protest has no place in any church. If you don't like the situation, work productively to fix it within the system. Attempting to undermine a bishop's rightful authority through mass dissent undermines Christ's entire Church.

The diocese decided to make it a media circus. You do not know this parish. You do not know this diocese.

I've seen nothing of this case in the media and am only going by what you have said here. By your own words, you appear to be behaving more like a Protestant than a Catholic. Please rethink your actions and your priorities. Christ and His Church do not appear to be at the top of your list.

[Slyfox]

I would be the very last person any of my friends and family and associates
and even casual acquaitences would ever accuse of being a liberal or disobedient.

[Slyfox]

this kind of protest has no place in any church

There was no protest in the church. There would have been no protest at all had the bishop
honored his decision to give Father until the end of the said month for total compliance.