Vatican Meeting: Americans Attempt to Replace D.C. Area Bishops

3/13/2009
Christian Newswire (www.christiannewswire.com)

Randall Terry led a group to Rome to attempt to replace Archbishop Wuerl of Washington and Bishop Loverde of Arlington.

WASHINGTON (Christian Newswire) - Randall Terry, Operation Rescue Founder, led a delegation of nine pro-life leaders in an unprecedented series of meetings with Vatican officials from March 2-6 in Rome. (Names below.) The reactions ranged from shock to heartfelt agreement.

The purpose was to beg Vatican officials to intervene decisively in the American Catholic Church. Vatican officials were presented with irrefutable evidence that a majority of US bishops refuse to uphold key teachings of the Church.

The entire document -- Oves Sine Pastore (Sheep Without a Shepherd) -- is at www.humbleplea.com. The complete list of requests at tab 5.

Mr. Terry States:

"Our first request was that the Holy See relocate Archbishop Donald Wuerl (D.C.) and Bishop Paul Loverde (Arlington V.A.), and to replace them with bishops who will uphold the laws of the Church -- namely, bishops who refuse to serve Communion to any politician who supports the killing of children by abortion.

"Recent headlines proved our point. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Kansas, recently excommunicated Governor Kathleen Sebelius. President Obama selected her to head Health and Human Services, where she will promote abortion. When she comes to DC, Archbishop Naumann will be scoffed at, she will receive Communion with Archbishop Wuerl's or Bishop Loverde's tacit approval, and American Catholics will descend further into scandal and confusion.

"If these two bishops are relocated, and Bishops of the caliber of Naumann are put in the D.C. area dioceses -- which are watched by the whole world -- it will show all humanity that the Holy See is serious about defending innocent life, and that the Eucharist is not to be profaned or scandalized. It will also tell all U.S. Bishops that the days of fear, equivocation, and outright disobedience are coming to an end."

The delegation met with:

His Excellency, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect, Apostolic Signatura;

His Eminence, Antonio Ca�izares Llovera, Cardinal, Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments;

His Eminence, James Francis Stafford, Cardinal, Major Penitentiary, Apostolic Penitentiary;

Father Thomas Powers, Congregation for Bishops;

His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, Titular Archbishop of Voghenza, President, Pontifical Academy for Life;

Father Kevin Lixey, Pontifical Council for the Laity;

Father Victor Ghillo, Pontifical Council for the Family;

Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; and

Monsignor Richard Soseman, the Congregation for Clergy.

Delegation names -- available for interviews:

Randall Terry 904 687 9806

Tom and Sue Cyr 214 685 1079

Mario and Sandra Paveglio 717 571 7892

Joseph Landry 406 860 9738

Ed Faddoul 563 419 3600

Francis and Catherine Smith

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1 - 10 of 17 Comments

Marie DiCicco
3 years ago
I think the above article is very hard on the Pope but people must have told St. Peter things too. God Bless our Pope
CatholicXVI
4 years ago
Reply to Mike:

I am not saying that I asgree with Mr. Terry's actions. However, I think that all the bishops should read Archbishop Burke's words. I love listening to Archbishop Wuerl, but I just hope that he will choose to do what is right and refuse communion. It is one thing for the bishop to sit down, speak with Sebelius, and try to give her guidance, but we must protect the Holy Eucharist. It is wrong to receive communion when you are publicly rejecting Church teachings. But, please do not think that I am saying that I suport Terry's actions.
Joseph Landry
4 years ago
Karen,

Bishop Loverde publicly dissented from Canon 915.

http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/podcasts/2008-04tot_podcast/tot2008-11-24.mp3

(its a long podcast but towards the end is the Q & A he rejects canon 915)

He also was heralded as a hero saying he is willing to get thrown in jail to protect his hospitals from abortion yet arrested those that tried to keep the man out of office that will make hospitals death camps.

"If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?" Jer. 12:5

I strongly recommend reading the full text of Oves Sine Pastore (http://ahumbleplea.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/to_the_bishops.pdf)I think it will help you understand where Mr. Terry is coming from.
William Coda
4 years ago
I pray that the issue of abortion stops tearing apart our church community. I pray that abortion is stopped all over the world. I pray that every church leader and member of our church follow our great Pope and our church teachings against abortion.

I pray that Catholic politicians let their faith in our beliefs about abortion guide their actions instead of political ambitions or whatever reasons they have for disobeying our church position against abortion.

I pray for any Catholic, or any human being, to be forgiven for pro abortion actions or beliefs. I also pray that God fills their heart with love for our church, our Pope, our teachings, and the victims of abortion. I feel that is the only way to end this tragedy.
Karen E. Shea
4 years ago
Bishop Paul Loverde is deeply dedicated to the protection of the unborn. He has spoken very clearly from the pulpit about crimes against life, and attends many demonstrations in front of abortion mills. I urge Mr. Terry to consider the whole truth, and refrain from inflammatory accusations.
Karen Shea
Thomas Ryan
4 years ago
The bishops must be consistent. The Holy Eucharist must be given the honor and the respect that the Lord earned for us. This is the most precious gift that we have in our church. Handing it out to "public sinners" who are not contrite is a scandal to the entire church and demoralizes the Faithful. Pro-abortion Catholics and politicians should be excommunicated and denied the Eucharist.

If they are not, then the anti-abortion rhetoric of our bishops should stop because they are simply empty sentiments.

Our bishops should be going to jail in the effort to prevent abortion. It is time for them to lead.
CatholicXVI
4 years ago
Archbishop Burke said that the Bishops don't have a choice whether or not to refuse communion to people in the situations like Sebellius, so she should be refused communion everywhere. Any bishop who does not refuse should read or listen to what the Archbishop Burke said. I am sure that the Holy Father is not pleased with the fact that the laity had to speak up because certain bishops were not upholding Church teachings. I hope that Archbishop Wuerl will hear the cry of the Church and do what is right.
Mike
4 years ago
Though I understand the frustration, I think the bishops are doing what they think is best for the greater flock. Remember when Jesus was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners by the Pharasees? Jesus said that a physician doesn't help those who are well but those who are sick. So too, I think the bishops are trying tend to the members of the Church who are spiritually in need of help and prayers.
Mrs. Rene O'Riordan
4 years ago
Would this have a precedence with St. Catherine of Sienna going to Avignon to persuade the Pope to return to Rome? And maybe other times when the laity did in fact take up the cudgel for the sake of the Church? I think it is important to glance back at history to see if this has in fact happened before, and what was the outcome. We all know there is a hidden schism in the Church to-day, people who disagree with Church teaching instead of leaving the Church have decided to stay and work from within. Blessings - Rene
Jim
4 years ago
Mr Terry is way off base.He is an extremist who should be labeled as such by any responsible editor

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