THE CHRONICLES OF AVE MARIA©: Ave Maria University Administration Bans Me from Pro-Abortion AMU Donor “Tom” Golisano Press Conference, Threatens Me with Arrest and Prohibits Me from Entering University Private Property

November 5, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART

Ave Maria, Florida

Freedom of the Press in Ave Maria?  Think Again.

I am a writer for The Wanderer– America’s oldest Roman Catholic newspaper.  The Wanderer is presented every week to the Pope, members of the Roman Curia, as well as Bishops on both sides of the Atlantic.  No one disputes The Wanderer’s history of defending Holy Mother Church.  I also write for The Roman Catholic World (this blog).

Today, shortly before 11:00AM, my husband, my young children and I walked towards the Ave Maria University Student Union building in order that I could attend the  Golisano Press Conference, as a writer for The Wanderer and for The Roman Catholic World. 

This Press Conference was to include the announcement of a large sum of money donated by billionaire Blase “Tom” Golisano, a controversial donor who recently moved from New York to Naples– whose political background and pro-abortion history stands in stark contrast with Tom Monaghan’s advertised mission of Ave Maria University.

Ave Maria University and Socialist Tactics

Sheriff Deputy and Thomas Minick (Chief Security Guard) Threaten me with Arrest to Keep me Out of Pro-Abortion AMU Donor "Tom" Golisano Press Conference, at Ave Maria University

I was met outside the Student Union building by Mr. Thomas Minick, head of AMU’s Security, two Sheriff deputies and two security guards.  That makes five.  A Sheriff patrol car also waited nearby.  Yet, it is amazing that when the local Ave Maria jewelry store was violently robbed at gunpoint last year– they couldn’t even get one single Sheriff deputy out to this remote area, in time to catch the criminals– who are still at large.

I, on the other hand, had two Sheriff Deputies, plus three security guards– all assigned and ready for my arrest, plus a Sheriff patrol car ready to take me away.

Mr. Minick warned me that I would be arrested if I did not leave the university property.  I asked him why.  He said he had received orders to keep me away from university property because I am “disruptive.”  I asked him to explain, and I proceeded to ask him some questions, but he would not provide any answers.  He continued to warn me of my imminent arrest, if I did not leave.  One of the Sheriff Deputies moved close to me, and I was again warned that the Sheriff would proceed with my arrest.  Sadly, my young children, along with my husband, were witnesses to this incident.  I began to walk back to our car, but Mr. Minick insisted that he had to escort me out of the university property (as you would escort a criminal). 

Never before in my life, have I had an encounter like the one described above, nor have I ever been asked to leave any premises.

To Invite or Disinvite:  That is the Question

On November 4th at 3:49pm I secured permission from Branden E. Blackmur to attend the Press Conference.  Mr. Blackmur works for Falls Communications and is responsible for coordinating matters related to the press.  Today, at 9:15am, Mr. Blackmur contacted me by telephone to inform me that I was being disinvited to the Golisano Press Conference, because I had been “disruptive” at ” meetings;”  furthermore, he said that I am not permitted on Ave Maria University’s campus, which is private property, until notified otherwise.    I responded that I have never been “disruptive” at any meeting and that there is no reason why my invitation to the Press Conference should be withdrawn.  Mr. Blackmur would not go into further details, except to say that this decision was made by the university’s administration.  I told him that I would go to the Student Union building in hopes of obtaining further personal clarification concerning this ambiguous accusation. 

After all, Ave Maria University’s administration advertises itself as charitable and kind, and expects the rest of us to show absolute charity and kindness– even when one of  their university administrators gets in trouble with the law– an administrator whose responsibilities include setting an example for the students. 

After Father Fessio’s two firings, after today’s events regarding Ave Maria University administration’s acceptance of money from pro-abortion billionaire “Tom” Golisano– and their actions towards me in front of my young children and my husband– all of the claims made by AMU’s administration about high Catholic moral values, could not be further from the truth. 

When Overreaching is an Understatement  

It became obvious, to both my husband and I, that the meeting in question was a public meeting that took place on November 3rd, conducted by the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District in the town of Ave Maria.  This meeting was for property owners.  The meeting was audio recorded by the Board of the Stewardship District, and the recording must be made available by the District on their website (see below);  furthermore, all contents of the meeting, by law, must be made available to the public. 

This meeting for property owners in the Town of Ave Maria had nothing to do with Ave Maria University, nor with its administration.

It was my right to attend this public meeting as a citizen taxpayer and property owner in Ave Maria.  The audio recording of the meeting  demonstrates that at no time was I disruptive.  In fact, it was another resident who interrupted the meeting and interfered with the questions that I presented to the board of the Stewardship District– primarily, “why is this Special District in non-compliance of Florida statues, pursuant to the Report from the Auditor General of Florida?”  The board never answered my question, and said that they would have their attorney review the matter.

Paul Roney, Chief Financial Officer of Ave Maria University was present, as a member of the board.

The Ave Maria University administration is effectively punishing me for having spoken at a public meeting, by attempting to silence me as a writer for The Wanderer and The Roman Catholic World, and by banning me from university property.  At the same time, this “private” university uses tax-free municipal bonds and uses the coercive power of the government in the process.

The following two articles from the Naples Daily News explain this further:

“Ave Maria: Recipient of $128 million in tax-free bonds, so far”
“Ave Maria: Were tax-free bonds provided without proper accreditation?”

Today’s decision to ban me from university property was based on what the university’s administration perceives to be objectional questions presented to the  town’s governing board– regarding matters that, again–  have absolutely nothing to do with Ave Maria University, or its administration.

It is worthy of note that I have never attended a university meeting, nor have I ever been disruptive on university property, nor elsewhere;  therefore their reference to  “meetings” is the  Stewardship District meetings. 

The illogical and unfair action that the Ave Maria University administration took today is clear evidence of how this administration is overreaching into Ave Maria Town’s jurisdiction and government, as a way to further control and intimidate its residents and property owners.  This is another way in which the university’s administration silences public opinion, which is a violation of our constitutional rights.

Shock Waves

Today’s desperate attempt by the Ave Maria University administration to keep me away from the Golisano Press Conference is sending shock waves across the Catholic world of higher education, as well as the Church.  The volatile situation surrounding Golisano’s pro-abortion history and his large donation to Ave Maria University is a tremendous blow to parents, students, residents of Ave Maria– and Catholics across America.  This action on the part of the university’s administration constitutes a betrayal– since AMU’s administration claims to uphold the highest Catholic moral principles– an administration who recently took advantage of the Notre Dame incident to promote its “impeccable” pro-life image.

Pro-Life or Pro-AMU?

Ave Maria University has aggressively engaged well-intentioned and devoted Catholic students, as well as residents in the town of Ave Maria to picket outside of the new Naples Planned Parenthood Clinic.  Youth pro-life marches and an array of pro-life activities usually end up as promotional and fund-raising material for the university.

The pain over the betrayal of’ the unborn, being felt by these pro-life activists, cannot be described.  But remember, Ave Maria University’s administration has a grip on everyone.  Most of the students are on some form of tuition aid– and the faculty has a history of silence, that is deafening.

The Swamp– as an Alternative

“University private property”  includes the Oratory and its surrounding grounds, the Adoration Chapel, the chapel inside the Canizaro Library, the Ark Chapel inside the Student Union, the cafeteria inside the Student Union (which is open to the public)– not to mention all the intertwined areas where it is unclear to anyone, how far university private property reaches.

When my husband and I tore our lives apart to bring our young children to this so-called “Catholic town” with a “Catholic” university, we were promised access to the Oratory, chapels, libraries, amenities, etc.

Given the very large area that constitutes university private property– which I am being banned from, what is mostly left is a swamp.

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You may listen to the audio recording of the Nov. 3rd, 2009 meeting held by the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District on their website www.avemariadistrict.com   If the recording is not available yet, contact them at 877.737.4922

©All Rights Reserved   www.TheRomanCatholicWorld.com

THE CHRONICLES OF AVE MARIA©: Ave Maria University PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

Contact Information:  Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:  ContactTRCW@aol.com

UPDATE:  Click HERE

Sheriff Deputy and Thomas Minick (Chief Security Guard) Threaten me with Arrest to Keep me Out of Pro-Abortion AMU Donor "Tom" Golisano Press Conference, at Ave Maria University

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PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

As a writer for The Wanderer (a weekly Catholic newspaper) and The Roman Catholic World  (this blog) on November 4, 2009 I contacted Branden E. Blackmur at Falls Communications, who is  in charge of press matters for Ave Maria University to inform him that I would be attending the Press Conference scheduled to take place this morning at 11:00am at the Student Union Ballroom at Ave Maria University. He extended an invitation for me to attend this Press Conference. 

This morning at 9:15AM I received a telephone call from Mr. Blackmur to inform me that I am being banned from the Ave Maria University property until further notice, and that I am disinvited from the Press Conference.  He further stated that this was the decision of the university administration.  I asked why, and he said that it is due to my participation in the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District Meeting.

The Ave Maria Stewardship Community Meeting holds public meetings for property owners who are  taxpayers in said Special District.   I am a property owner in Ave Maria– as such, it was my duty and my right to be present at said meeting and to ask questions regarding the District’s non-compliance of Florida statues, as stated by the Auditor General of Florida.  These meetings are recorded, so they are a matter of public record.  The audio recording of the meeting shows that at no time was I disruptive.   This meeting took place on the Town of Ave Maria.  I have never attended a Press Conference at Ave Maria University, nor have I ever been disruptive on Ave Maria University property, nor elsewhere. 

This decision by the Ave Maria University administration to ban me from the Press Conference and from the university property is based on my critical views of their past decisions and actions.  It is further evidence of the way in which they silence public opinion inside Ave Maria.  This terribly unfair and illogical decision is being made by the administration of Ave Maria University, while claiming  to uphold the highest Catholic moral values.

  

THE CHRONICLES OF AVE MARIA©: Mass of The Dead

November 2, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART

Solemn High Requiem Mass

A Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated today in the Quasi-Parish of Ave Maria Oratory.  This is the first time that a Solemn High Requiem Mass is celebrated in the 25-year history of the Diocese of Venice.   Even more remarkable is the fact that it was celebrated in Ave Maria– where less than two years ago the Ave Maria University administration was issuing its own liturgical directives and celebrating “healing Charismatic masses”– while resisting Summorum Pontificum.  (Read The Chronicles of Ave Maria© ). 

Many faithful Roman Catholics are unaware that ”Healing Masses” are a defiance of  the Instruction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has clearly stated that it intends to put an end to this unlawful abuse, as quoted below, from Instruction on Prayers for Healing:

Art. 2 – Prayers for healing are considered to be liturgical if they are part of the liturgical books approved by the Church’s competent authority; otherwise, they are non-liturgical.

Art. 3 – § 1. Liturgical prayers for healing are celebrated according to the rite prescribed in the Ordo benedictionis infirmorum of the Rituale Romanum (28) and with the proper sacred vestments indicated therein.

Art. 5 – § 1. Non-liturgical prayers for healing are distinct from liturgical celebrations, as gatherings for prayer or for reading of the word of God; these also fall under the vigilance of the local Ordinary in accordance with can. 839 § 2.

§ 2. Confusion between such free non-liturgical prayer meetings and liturgical celebrations properly so-called is to be carefully avoided.

§ 3. Anything resembling hysteria, artificiality, theatricality or sensationalism, above all on the part of those who are in charge of such gatherings, must not take place. 

Read the full text containing the above instructions HERE. 

His Excellency, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, assumed  liturgical responsibility of the Ave Maria Oratory on March 31, 2008.  No “Healing Masses” have ever been celebrated under Bishop Dewane’s liturgical guidance of the Ave Maria Oratory.  The administrator that Bishop Dewane assigned to the Ave Maria Oratory, Father Robert Tatman, had to undergo rigorous training with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, in order that the Extraordinary Form of the mass could be celebrated for the faithful in Ave Maria.   Bishop Dewane’s respect for the Extraordinary Form of the mass is also manifested through the efforts he made in establishing Christ The King Catholic Church in Sarasota– a church where only the Extraordinary Form is celebrated.

Solemn High Requiem Mass

Today’s Solemn High Requiem Mass was reverently celebrated by Father Tatman.   The Deacon was Father Brian T. Austin, FSSP, and the Subdeacon was Father James Fryar, FSSP.   The liturgical music of Maurice Durufle, Heinrich Biber and Cristobal Morales was performed by Ave Maria University Organist, Professor Lynn Kraehling, AMU Chamber Choir and  the Ave Maria University Chorus, with Dr. Timothy McDonnell as conductor, and Rebecca Ostermann as assistant conductor.  Andrew Steele, baritone, sang the Offertory Antiphon Domine Iesu Christe.   Mary Remaniak, mezzo-soprano, and Elizabeth Bartell, cellist, performed the Communion Motet II Pie Iesu.   

The AMU Department of Music provided the liturgical music for this mass, as an independent initiative in support of the Quasi-Parish of Ave Maria Oratory, and in support of Bishop Dewane’s efforts in promoting Summorum Pontificum. 

In the meantime, the Ave Maria University administration remains uninvolved and detached from the Extraordinary Form — choosing instead to continue its emphasis and interest in Praise & Worship music.  This is evident in the newly acquired– and widely distributed green Canticle of the Franciscan University in Steubenville, which recently made its appearance, with multiple copies placed on each pew of the Ave Maria Oratory.  This Canticle contains hymns  like– “It is Good”, with such catchy lyrics as  lai-la lai-la -lai...  la-la-la-la- la- la… Elohim Baruch Hashem!

Question:  Did the university administration obtain permission from the Bishop, before distributing the Canticle inside the church?

Parting thoughts: 

Ave Maria is a study in contrasts.  A very elegant fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples  is being advertised to benefit Ave Maria School of Law– but Tom Monaghan, who is well-known for insisting on dress codes, will not be happy with what is going on almost 30 miles away–  back in the swamp. 

Unfortunately, a resident in the town of Ave Maria who has become a bit of a celebrity– and one of Monaghan’s most fervent and outspoken supporters,  decided on a more relaxed approach, by showing up at today’s  Solemn Mass of the Dead wearing shorts– perhaps expecting a ”Healing Mass.” 

(Click HERE for article about proper dress when entering church).

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Read related articles HERE

Read  The Chronicles of Ave Maria©

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TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:  Healing Masses are Unlawful According to Church Doctrine, Healing Masses in Ave Maria, Healing Charismatic Masses, Ave Maria University Administration, Tom Monaghan, Solemn High Requiem Mass, The Chronicles of Ave Maria, Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, Christ The King Catholic Church in Sarasota.

©  All Rights Reserved         www.TheRomanCatholicWorld.com

Rome and the African Continent

October 27, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART

Synod of African Bishops

During his visit to Cameroon earlier this year, Benedict XVI concentrated on the Church’s presence in Africa and its role in presenting Christ as the only mediator and redeemer,  to “enhance African traditions” and to “correct and perfect their concept of life, humanity and the family.”  

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

More of these powerful messages from Benedict XVI came out of the Synod of African Bishops, which included the “political implications”  at the center of this Synod, involving  reconciliation, justice and peace.  The Synod concluded with Benedict XVI’s appointment of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.   These synods, which carry a universal message, serve to unify and strengthen the Church, and are of tremendous importance to Roman Catholics all over the world, and of no less importance to politicians. 

Some questions come to mind:

Flag of the Communist Party of China

How will the new president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Turkson, along with the new secretary, Bishop-elect Mario Toso, address significant issues, such as Communist China’s growing presence in sub-Saharan Africa, and the danger that China presents to the Church’s mission of  justice and peace?  

North Darfur, Sudan

One of the misconceptions about African civil wars is that they are often looked upon as isolated and localized social and political struggles.  Yet, China plays a significant role– since it is a major supplier of military equipment to Africa, thus fueling and supporting the ongoing massacre (while deceptively acting as “peacekeepers”).  China has been actively building large infrastructure projects in African countries that are notorious for their violation of fundamental human rights.  Through its aggressive involvement in Africa, China has created an influential platform from which it can exercise economic and political control.  

In Sudan, the war-torn land of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the Chinese National Petroleum Company (CNPC) has developed an oil field and constructed a 900-mile pipeline to the Red Sea, so that oil can be sent to China.  Several African nations have entered into strategic partnerships with China, in exchange for lines of credit.   China has persisted in providing arms to Zimbabwe’s Marxist dictator, Robert Mugabe– a persistent  human rights violator.    The list goes on.

Given the current international socialist environment– how will the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace address the growing Marxist agenda, as evidenced in last week’s L’Osservatore Romano article by George Sans, where we are asked to reconsider Karl Marx?   Will it be able to handle political battles, while “maintaining the equilibrium” that the Holy Father mentioned when he addressed the African bishops?

In the meantime, the Synod of African Bishops has spoken against Catholic leaders in Africa for falling “woefully short.”  They also condemned non-Catholic leaders and foreign interests that have harmed the African continent and its people.   No specific individuals, titles or entities were mentioned.  

The report below includes Benedict XVI’s reflections on this historic Synod, as well as a brief summary of  the Synod’s 57 propositions  presented to the Holy Father, covering the denouncement of  sexual tourism, sexual slavery, attacks on the sanctity of life and family in Africa, and other social and economic injustices that, unfortunately, are not exclusive to the African continent.

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For questions or comments regarding this article you may write to MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART at  ContactTRCW@aol.com

©  All Rights Reserved         www.TheRomanCatholicWorld.com

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RELATED ARTICLES: 

“The Vatican and the Growing Salesian Presence” (Read HERE)

 “DIVIDE AND CONQUER:  The Present State of the Vatican“  (Read HERE)

“The Hijacking of L’Osservatore Romano”  (Read HERE)  and 

“Further Reflection on the Hijacking of L’Osservatore Romano” (Read HERE)

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:  Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Chinese Communist Presence in Africa, Marxism, Karl Marx, Socialism, L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Bertone, Bishop-Elect Mario Toso, Secretary of Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, African Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Turkson, President of Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Sudan, Saint Josephine Bakhita, Marxist Dictator Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe, Abortion, Sexual Slavery, Sexual Tourism, Violations of Human Rights

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FINAL GENERAL CONGREGATION OF SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) – During the twentieth and final General Congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, held this morning in the Synod Hall, the relator general, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, continued reading out the final list of propositions which he had begun during the session of yesterday afternoon. Subsequently the final vote on the propositions took place, using the procedure “placet” or “non placet”. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr, archbishop of Dakar , Senegal .

 At 1 p.m. the participants in the Synod attended a luncheon with the Holy Father in the atrium of the Vatican ’s Paul VI Hall.

Cardinal Sarr pronounced some words thanking the Pope for the “paternal concern, respect and diligence he had shown towards Africa and its peoples, the Churches of the continent and all their members” since the beginning of the Synod.

 At the end of lunch the Pope addressed those present, expressing his satisfaction for the progress made by the Synod, the theme of which – reconciliation, justice and peace – “was not”, he said, “an easy challenge”.

“The subject matter”, he went on, “clearly had strong political implications, even though it is obvious that reconciliation, justice and peace are not possible without a profound purification of the heart, without a renewal of the mind, a ‘metanoia’, without the newness that arises from the meeting with God.

“Yet even if this spiritual dimension is profound and fundamental”, the Pope added, “the political dimension is also very real because without political achievements the novelties of the Spirit are not normally realized”.

Hence the temptation could have been to politicize the theme, to speak less as pastors and more as politicians, and thus in a sphere which is not our own”.

Benedict XVI went on: “The other danger was that, precisely in order to escape this temptation, we should retreat into a purely spiritual world, an abstract, beautiful but unrealistic world. Yet a pastor’s words must be realistic, they must touch reality but within the perspective of God and of His Word.

“Maintaining this equilibrium means, on the one hand, remaining true to reality, careful to speak about what is really there and, on the other, not falling into purely political solutions. This means using words that are concrete but spiritual.

“This”, the Pope concluded, “was the great problem facing the Synod, and it seems to me that, thanks to God, we managed to resolve it. For me this is another cause to give thanks because it facilitates the preparation of the post-Synodal document”.

Before concluding his remarks, the Pope announced that he had decided to appoint Cardinal Turkson as the new president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in which role he succeeds Cardinal Renato Martino.

THE SYNOD PRESENTS 57 PROPOSITIONS TO THE HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) – The working sessions of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops concluded this morning with the approval of the fifty-seven propositions which the Synod Fathers have presented to Benedict XVI.

By order of the Pope, a provisional and unofficial version of the propositions has been made public by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. This is the third time that Benedict XVI has allowed the publication of the closing propositions of a Synodal assembly. Normally the propositions are given privately to the Pope for him to consider while preparing the Apostolic Exhortation, the official closing document of a Synod.

The first proposition aims at fomenting greater ecclesial communion at all levels, encouraging co-operation within the Church. The Synod Fathers wish to stimulate existing structures of ecclesial communion, at the same time promoting others such as, for example, the establishment of continent-wide councils for the clergy, the laity and Catholic women.

 The prelates launch a “heartfelt appeal to all those who are at war in Africa and make their people suffer so much: ‘Stop the hostilities and be reconciled!’” They likewise invite the international community “to give strong support to the struggle against all the manoeuvres which destabilise the African continent”.

In proposition 20 the Synod Fathers affirm as “unacceptable” article 14 of the Maputo Protocol. The article concerns the reproductive rights of women, “authorizing medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus”. Yet, they say, this is “in contradiction with human rights and the right to life. It trivialises the seriousness of the crime of abortion and devalues the role of childbearing”.

On the subject of the environment – another recurring theme of the Synod – the Synod Fathers note “an irresponsible degradation and senseless destruction of the earth, which is ‘our mother’. In complicity with those who exercise political and economic leadership in Africa , some businesses, governments and multinational and trans-national companies engage in business that pollute the environment, destroy flora and fauna, thus causing unprecedented erosion and desertification of large areas of arable land”.

The bishops also express their concern for “fifteen million migrants who are looking for a homeland and a place of peace. … The principle of the universal destination of created goods and the Church’s teachings on human rights, freedom of movement and the rights of migrant workers are increasingly violated by the world’s restrictive migration policies and laws against Africans”, they say.

In another of their propositions the Synod Fathers call for the defense of the family and of human life, which is facing the threat of “abortion, the devaluation of maternity (child-bearing), the distortion of the notion of marriage and the family itself, the ideology of divorce and a new relativist ethic”.

On the subject of women in Africa , the prelates “condemn all acts of violence against women, such as the battering of wives, the disinheritance of daughters, the oppression of widows in the name of tradition, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, trafficking in women and several other abuses such as sex slavery and sex tourism. All other inhumane and unjust acts against women are equally condemned”.

In another of the propositions, they describe HIV/AIDS as “a pandemic, together with malaria and tuberculosis, which is decimating African populations and severely damaging their economic and social life”. AIDS sufferers in Africa “are victims of injustice, because they often do not receive the same quality of treatment as in other places. The Church asks … that African patients receive the same quality of treatment as in Europe “. The Synod Fathers also call for “pastoral support which helps couples living with an affected spouse to inform and form their consciences, so that they might choose what is right, with full responsibility for the greater good of each other, their union and their family”.

“This Synod”, reads another proposition, “calls for the total and universal abolition of the death penalty”.

Finally the Synod Fathers underline the importance of “the professional training and ethical formation of journalists to promote a culture of dialogue which avoids division, sensationalism, disinformation and the offensive trivialization of human suffering, all of which could harm the harmony and peace of societies and communities”.

CHURCH IN AFRICA : ARISE!

VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2009 (VIS) – In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a .m. today the Pope presided at a Eucharistic concelebration with Synod Fathers to mark the closure of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.

Commenting on this Sunday’s readings in his homily, Benedict XVI explained that “God’s plan does not change. Through the centuries and the upheavals of history, He always aims at the same goal: the Kingdom of freedom and of peace for all. This implies His predilection for those deprived of freedom and peace, for those whose dignity as human beings is violated. We think in particular of our brothers and sisters in Africa who suffer poverty, disease, injustice, war, violence and forced migration”.

“The Church that is in Africa, through her pastors who have come from every country on the continent, from Madagascar and from the other islands, has welcomed the message of hope and the light to walk along the road that leads to the Kingdom of God. … Faith in Jesus Christ – when it is well understood and practiced – guides mankind and nations to freedom in truth, or, to use the three words of the Synod’s theme, to reconciliation, justice and peace”.

After then highlighting how the Church in the world is “the community of reconciled persons, workers for peace and justice”, the Holy Father made it clear that “for this reason the Synod has forcefully re-emphasised – and expressed – that the Church is the Family of God, in which there can be no ethnic, linguistic or cultural divisions. … The reconciled Church is a powerful leaven of reconciliation in single countries and in the whole African continent”, he said.

The Church transmits the message of salvation, “always associating evangelization with human promotion”, said the Pope. In this context he mentioned the “historic” Encyclical “Populorum Progressio”, saying that what Paul VI wrote there “missionaries have put into effect and continue to put into effect in the field, promoting a development respectful of local cultures and the environment, according to a logic that now, forty years later, appears to be the only one able to bring the African people out of the slavery of hunger and disease.

“This means transmitting the announcement of hope in ‘priestly form’”, he added, “that is, living the Gospel in the first person, trying to translate it into projects and deeds consistent with the fundamental driving principle, which is love”.

Pope Benedict encouraged the Church in Africa to arise. “Start down the road of new evangelization with the courage that comes from the Holy Spirit”, he said. “The urgent evangelizing action that has been much discussed in these weeks also carries with it a pressing call to reconciliation, the indispensable condition for creating in Africa relationships of justice among mankind and for building an equitable and lasting peace while respecting every individual and every people: a peace that needs and opens up to the contribution of all persons of good will beyond the respective religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and social affiliations”.

“Courage! Arise, continent of Africa !” the Pope cried. “Welcome with renewed enthusiasm the proclamation of the Gospel so that the face of Christ might illuminate with its splendour the multiplicity of the cultures and languages of your people. As she offers the bread of the Word and the Eucharist, the Church also dedicates herself to working with every available means to ensure that no African may be without daily bread. This is why, along with the primary task of evangelisation, Christians are active in the work of human promotion”.

The Holy Father concluded his homily by calling on pastors of the Church in Africa , when they return to their communities, to “transmit to everyone the call that so often resounded in this Synod, of reconciliation, justice and peace”.

ANGELUS: RECOLLECTION OF SYNOD AND PRAISE FOR DON GNOCCHI

VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2009 ( VIS ) – After celebrating Mass this morning, Benedict XVI emerged into the atrium of the Vatican Basilica to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Before the Marian prayer the Pope spoke of the recently-concluded Synod for Africa , describing it as “three weeks of prayer and of listening to one another, in order to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying today to the Church that lives on the African continent, but also to the universal Church”.

The Pope then referred to the happiness of the Synod Fathers “at the dynamism of Christian communities, which continue to grow in quantity and in quality. We are grateful to God for the missionary energies that have found fertile terrain in many diocese and that find expression in the sending of missionaries to other African countries and to other continents”.

The Synod also gave “particular emphasis to the family, which in Africa too represents the primary cell of society and which today is threatened by ideological currents, some of which come from outside. And what can we say of the young people exposed to this kind of pressure, influenced by models of thought and behaviour that contrast with the human and Christian values of the African people?”

The Synodal assembly also turned its attention to “the current problems facing Africa and its great need for reconciliation, justice and peace”, to which the Church responds with “the announcement of the Gospel and with human promotion”, making every effort to ensure “that no-one remains without vital necessities, and that everyone can lead a life worthy of human beings”.

The Pope then addressed “all the people of Africa , in particular those who share the Christian faith”, ideally consigning the final message of the Synod to them. “I encourage you with the words of the Lord Jesus”, he said, “be light and salt of the beloved land of Africa “.

Finally, Benedict XVI recalled that a Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops will be held next year, announcing that he will deliver that event’s “Instrumentum laboris” to participants during his forthcoming visit to Cyprus .

After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of this morning’s beatification in the Italian city of Milan of Fr. Carlo Gnocchi, “a great educator of children and young people”. During World War II he acted as a military chaplain in the Italian “Alpini” regiment, accompanying them on their retreat from Russia during which he escaped death by a miracle.

 ”It was then that he decided to dedicate himself entirely to works of charity. Thus, as Milan was being rebuilt, Don Gnocchi worked to ‘rebuild the human person’, gathering orphans and child victims of war and offering them help and education. He gave all of himself unto the end and, dying, donated his corneas to two blind children”.

“His work has continued over time and currently the Don Gnocchi Foundation is a leader in caring for people of all ages who need therapy and rehabilitation. I greet Archbishop Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan and … make the motto of this beatification my own: ‘On the side of life, always’”.

THE VATICAN and the Growing Salesian Presence

October 22, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART

 

Two appointments took place today in the Vatican.  The first one was quiet and expected– the second one, let’s just say… should draw our attention.

The First Appointment

Bishop-elect Jean Laffitte

Monsignor Jean Laffitte, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, was appointed secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family– a position which will elevate him to Bishop.   Monsignor Laffitte was born in 1952, in Oloron-Sainte Marie, France, and was ordained a priest in 1989.    His appointment was a normal choice, given his long-standing record of work in family and marriage issues.  Monsignor Laffitte holds a doctorate in moral theology.  He is a member of the Community of  Emmanuel.

 

 

The Second Appointment

Bishop-Elect Mario Toso

Father Mario Toso, S.D.B., a professor of Social Philosophy, who served as Rector Magnificus  from 2003 to 2007  at the Pontifical Salesian University,  and as consultor for the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is a well-known social philosopher in Italy.   Father Toso was born in Mogliano Veneto, Italy, in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1978.

Father Toso’s appointment today as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, elevates him to Bishop.  His appointment  adds to the growing influence of Salesians in the Holy See – like his close friend,  Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone.   Cardinal Bertone also oversees the operations of L’Osservatore Romano– a newspaper that has stirred much controversy, because of its approval of President Obama’s performance– and for such unpapal-like incursions into the world of Harry Potter and pop singer, Michael Jackson.  Today, as if we had not seen it all,  L’Osservatore Romano  published an article by German-born contemporary philosopher, George Sans, who prompts us to take a second look at Karl Marx’s theories.  Remember, Marx… the one that called religion “the opium of the masses.”    The article written by Sans was originally published in La Civiltà Cattolica, a Jesuit publication.  What is even more disconcerting is that this would lead one to conclude that Cardinal Bertone clearly approved this article for publication in L’Osservatore Romano– a newspaper that, again, operates under his watch.     (Read The Hijacking of L’Osservatore Romano here and Further Reflection on the Hijacking of L’Osservatore Romano here).

Bishop-Elect Mario Toso and Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, Secretary of State

While this commentary is about today’s appointments– and specifically that of Father Toso– it is important to discuss the events that are happening parallel to these appointments.  After all, the Vatican is a tapestry with many weavers surrounding the throne of Peter; unfortunately, not all weave in the same direction. 

A book written by Father Mario Toso, titled Toward What Kind of Society  (Verso Quale Societa?) was published in 2000.  In his book, Father Toso presents challenging questions about the Church’s role in a capitalist society, and discusses capitalism from the perspective of  Paul VI, John Paul II, Friedrich von Hayek, and others.  Surprisingly, he also quotes George Soros’ admonitions to the world, regarding  impending economic abuses.   Robert Moynihan, from Inside the Vatican, reported the following on June 19, 2009: 

George Soros

Toso writes that Soros, despite being a leading practitioner and supporter of capitalism, has warned against dangerous excesses.   “Capitalism needs democracy as a counter-weight,” Soros writes, in the passage cited by Toso. “Because in and of itself, the capitalist system has no tendency toward equilibrium. The owners of capital, left to themselves, seek to increase their profits to the maximum: left to themselves, they would continue to accumulate capital, and the situation would become unbalanced.”

Father Toso’s decision to quote George Soros is worthy of note, to say the least, given that in 1990– during  George Soros’ growing interest in the new markets of the former Eastern bloc, he  followed the advice of economist Jeffrey Sachs– whose claim to “expertise” as an economist was his “rescue” of the Bolivian economy, through  a “shock therapy” approach– which left Bolivia worse off than before.  It increased the unemployment rate, decreased the  industrial activity, and caused the GDP to fall.   When Sachs’  “shock therapy” was over, Bolivians were left with the coca leaf as a means of survival, as clearly laid out in U.S. Congressional Research Service reports.  Sachs went on to serve as head of the UN Millennium Project– a group notorious for promoting abortion.  In his book, titled Common Wealth:  Economics for a Crowded Planet, Sachs suggests the stabilization of world population ‘below eight billion’ by 2050 ‘through a voluntary reduction of fertility rates.’  One wonders if Toso considered not just George Soros’ activities and background, but also his associates– when he cited Soros’ advice on economic matters.

In addition to his long-standing support of individuals and groups that oppose the views of the Roman Catholic Church, George Soros has a well established record of  providing financial support to pro-abortion groups,  under the disguise of benevolent social causes–  and he does so aggressively through his Open Society Institute, established in 1979.   Of particular interest to Catholics is the fact that  Soros has been financially generous with two left-wing Catholic organizations who supported Barack Obama– Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United.  These two organizations played a key role in misguiding Catholics by masking Obama’s pro-abortion views and record.   It has been reported that in 2006 alone, Soros gave $100,000 to Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.  

The list of George Soros’ tentacles involving  long-standing “progressive” anti-life, and anti-family social programs is quite lengthy.

Father Toso’s appointment today is one that will be closely observed.

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For comments or questions regarding this article you may write to MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART at ContactTRCW@aol.com

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BENEDICT XVI Increases Traffic from Canterbury to Rome

October 20, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART

 

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet: I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.

The Pillar of Cloud,

John Henry Cardinal Newman

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If you are Anglican and  fed up with the “progressives” sitting next to you at church– Pope Benedict XVI has a solution: 

Head South to Rome!   

VATICAN CITY, 20 OCT 2009 (VIS) – In a meeting with journalists held this morning in the Holy See Press Office Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia O.P., secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, presented a note on a new measure concerning “Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering the Catholic Church”.

Commenting on the English-language note, which has been published by his dicastery, Cardinal Levada explained how, “with the preparation of an Apostolic Constitution, the Catholic Church is responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion.

“In this Apostolic Constitution the Holy Father has introduced a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony. Under the terms of the Apostolic Constitution, pastoral oversight and guidance will be provided for groups of former Anglicans through a Personal Ordinariate, whose Ordinary will usually be appointed from among former Anglican clergy.

“The forthcoming Apostolic Constitution provides a reasonable and even necessary response to a worldwide phenomenon, by offering a single canonical model for the universal Church which is adaptable to various local situations and equitable to former Anglicans in its universal application. It provides for the ordination as Catholic priests of married former Anglican clergy. Historical and ecumenical reasons preclude the ordination of married men as bishops in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches . The Constitution therefore stipulates that the Ordinary can be either a priest or an unmarried bishop. The seminarians in the Ordinariate are to be prepared alongside other Catholic seminarians, though the Ordinariate may establish a house of formation to address the particular needs of formation in the Anglican patrimony”.

“The provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church, particularly through the efforts of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The initiative has come from a number of different groups of Anglicans” who, said Cardinal Levada, “have declared that they share the common Catholic faith as it is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and accept the Petrine ministry as something Christ willed for the Church. For them, the time has come to express this implicit unity in the visible form of full communion”.

The cardinal further indicated that “it is the hope of the Holy Father Benedict XVI that the Anglican clergy and faithful who desire union with the Catholic Church will find in this canonical structure the opportunity to preserve those Anglican traditions precious to them and consistent with the Catholic faith. Insofar as these traditions express in a distinctive way the faith that is held in common, they are a gift to be shared in the wider Church. The unity of the Church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows. Moreover, the many diverse traditions present in the Catholic Church today are all rooted in the principle articulated by St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: ‘There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism’.

“Our communion”, the cardinal added in conclusion, “is therefore strengthened by such legitimate diversity, and so we are happy that these men and women bring with them their particular contributions to our common life of faith”.

In a joint declaration on the same subject, Catholic Archbishop Vincent Gerard Nichols of Westminster and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury affirm that the announcement of the Apostolic Constitution “brings to an end a period of uncertainty for such groups who have nurtured hopes of new ways of embracing unity with the Catholic Church. It will now be up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution”, which is a “consequence of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

“The on-going official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion provides the basis for our continuing co-operation”, the declaration adds. “The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) agreements make clear the path we will follow together.

“With God’s grace and prayer we are determined that our on-going mutual commitment and consultation on these and other matters should continue to be strengthened. Locally, in the spirit of IARCCUM, we look forward to building on the pattern of shared meetings between the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Church of England’s House of Bishops with a focus on our common mission”.

For comments or questions concerning this article you may write to MARIELENA MONTESINO de STUART at ContactTRCW@aol.com

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INCENSE AND WHISPERED PRAYERS: Solemn Pontifical Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

Sunday – October 18, 2009

The Roman Catholic World

by Marielena Montesino de Stuart

 

 St. Peter must be smiling today– and so are millions of Roman Catholics who are fervent followers of the Latin mass.   

Within the walls of the Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament, the whispered prayers of the old rite blended with the sublime and reverend sound of sacred music– as Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura,  celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica this morning.   The vestments worn today were from the Vatican treasury.

Many low old rite masses have been celebrated over the years in various chapels inside St. Peter’s Basilica, particularly since Summorum Pontificum; however, a Solemn Pontifical Mass had not been celebrated in St. Peter’s in 40 years.

After the mass, Benedict XVI prayed the Angelus from his window– as the crowd gathered in the piazza. 

Here is a video of this historic mass, courtesy of Jan Bentz:

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Benedict XVI will Meet with Fraternity of St. Pius X to Reexamine Vatican II

The Roman Catholic World

 

by Marielena Montesino de Stuart

 

The following announcement from the Holy See shows that Benedict XVI is not afraid to define his pontificate:

 

FIRST MEETING WITH THE SOCIETY OF ST. PIUS X

 VATICAN CITY, 16 OCT 2009 ( VIS ) – Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. released the following declaration yesterday afternoon:

 The first of the planned meetings with representatives of the Society of St. Pius X will take place on the morning of Monday 26 October.

 For the Pontifical Commission ‘Ecclesia Dei’ the meeting will be attended, apart from its secretary Msgr. Guido Pozzi, by Archbishop Luis F. Ladaria Ferrer S.J., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and by the previously appointed experts: Fr. Charles Morerod O.P., secretary of the International Theological Commission; Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, vicar general of Opus Dei; and Fr. Karl Josef Becker S.J. All three experts are consultors of the Congregation for he Doctrine of the Faith.

The meeting will take place in the Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio. The contents of the discussions, which will focus on unresolved doctrinal issues, will remain strictly private.

At the end of the meeting a communiqué will be released.

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THE CHRONICLES OF AVE MARIA©: AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY– Tom Monaghan Speaks! …about “Money” and “Doors”

October 13, 2009

 

The Roman Catholic World

by Marielena Montesino de Stuart

“An ungracious man is like a story [Greek: mythos] told at the wrong time, which is continually on the lips of the ignorant.” 

The Septuagint (Sirach 20:19) 

Abandoned Construction Site of "Coming Soon" Gas Station in Ave Maria, Florida

Many families in Ave Maria, including those who bought homes in support of Tom Monaghan’s never-to-be-delivered  “Catholic town” (built in partnership with developer Barron Collier) and still pending “Catholic university”  are struggling to make ends meet, with foreclosures on the rise–in what an Ave Maria resident recently described to the Naples Daily News as “the middle of nowhere.”   

In the meantime, Tom Monaghan enjoys sharing one of his indulgences,  the Ave Maria Foundation for the Arts (AMFA)  with the Naples Illustrated, September 2009 print edition, a magazine catering to the very wealthy – where one can find ads for homes, offered at bargains like $5,499,000.  

Here is one of Monaghan’s quotes in the Naples Illustrated:

I hope I have enough money just to cover the expenses of the university until it can wean itself  from me.  And I have to make sure I keep myself in a position to keep the doors open.”

Ave Maria Fire and EMS Station

Thanks, Tom, for such gracious and encouraging news!    What exactly do you mean by ”I hope I have enough money…” ?   Don’t you know how much money you have?   Is it enough to keep the doors open until the Spring– or is it just until the end of December?  

Oh… by the way,  how is that  Money Back Guarantee coming along? 

If the photos of the Ave Maria abandoned gas station construction site, or the Ave Maria Fire and EMS Station seem too depressing, then click on www.NaplesIllustrated.com where– as one of the magazine ads puts it– you can find “even more of the luxury lifestyle.” 

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Read about Monaghan’s Two-for-One Deal– his  Money Back Guarantee in,

 ”Ave Maria:  The Promise, The Reality”  Part 4)

 Or Read The Wanderer’s Series,

  “AVE MARIA: The Promise, The Reality” Part 1,  Part 2,  Part 3 and Part 4

 

or,

 

You may click on  The Chronicles of Ave Maria© 

for absolute enlightenment!

 

Topics for Discussion:  Ave Maria, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria University Council, Status of Ave Maria University Accreditation Process, Ave Maria University Board of Trustees, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Father Joseph Fessio SJ, Firing of Priest, Fiduciary Responsibility, Institutional Instability, Tom Monaghan, Nicholas J.  Healy Jr., Barron Collier, Ave Maria Development, Ave Maria University 2nd Mortgages, Ave Maria Real Estate, Naples Daily News, The Wanderer Catholic Newspaper, Open Letter to the Ave Maria University Board of Trustees, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Summorum Pontificum, Latin Mass, Communion Rail, Catholic town identity, Charismatic Movement, Healing Masses, etc.

 

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THE CHRONICLES OF AVE MARIA©

 

by Marielena Montesino de Stuart

Ave Maria, Florida

Click on the following link to access

The Chronicles of Ave Maria©

“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” 

G.K. Chesterton

The Everlasting Man, 1925

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Topics for Discussion:  Ave Maria, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria University Council, Status of Ave Maria University Accreditation Process, Ave Maria University Board of Trustees, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Father Joseph Fessio SJ, Firing of Priest, Fiduciary Responsibility, Institutional Instability, Tom Monaghan, Nicholas J.  Healy Jr., Barron Collier, Ave Maria Development, Ave Maria University 2nd Mortgages, Ave Maria Real Estate, Naples Daily News, The Wanderer Catholic Newspaper, Open Letter to the Ave Maria University Board of Trustees, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Summorum Pontificum, Latin Mass, Communion Rail, Catholic town identity, Charismatic Movement, Healing Masses, etc.

© All Rights Reserved     www.TheRomanCatholicWorld.com