July 24, 2019
Greetings Father Lucas and Reverend Martel and Pastoral Council:
Respectfully, I please request that you remove anti-ICE literature from narthex of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Stacks of anti-ICE literature have been in the narthex for on the order of one year….
The object and intention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, when evaluated morally, are seen to be very good. The object of ICE actions is to help safeguard the American public from dangerous people and materials. Same-sex activity, for example, is intrinsece malum, intrinsically evil, malum in se, evil in itself, a mortal sin, and may never be done. The act of enforcing border security in America, however, is no more intrinsece malum than it is in the wall surrounding the Vatican itself….
What America owes to citizens of the United States is not equal to what America owes to the whole world. The population of the world is nine billion. America does not have enough money to help all humans….
Again, respectfully, I please request that you remove anti-ICE literature from narthex of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
In Christ,
John P. Conricode
King City
Oct. 2, 2019
Dear Bishop Garcia:
Respectfully, I request that you remove anti-ICE literature from the narthex of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, King City. Stacks of anti-ICE literature have been in the narthex for on the order of one year. There is a distinction between legal immigration and illegal immigration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol perform the vital task of securing our border, without which there is no nation.
Please find enclosed my letter of July 24, 2019 to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Respectfully yours in Christ,
John P. Conricode
Nov. 1, 2019
Dear Mr. Conricode:
….The information provided at St. John the Baptist Church merely advises parishioners of their rights under the United states Constitution. These are the same rights that we all enjoy, to be free of searches and seizures unless law enforcement has a warrant signed by a judge. These are not anti-ICE, but pro-constitutional rights literature. There is nothing in these documents that suggests that parishioners disobey lawful process….
Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia
Bishop of Monterey
Nov. 12, 2019
Dear Bishop Garcia:
Thank you for informing me that your parish narthexes are venues for addressing Constitutional issues for parishioners. Respectfully, I therefore trust that you will similarly advise parishioners, in your narthexes, that illegal immigration to the United States is in direct contradiction of the Constitution of the United States. Immigration law is not only just, it is also a Constitutionally enumerated authority granted to Congress.
Therefore, in keeping with your mission to address Constitutional issues for parishioners, in your narthexes, I respectfully request that you also distribute the Constitutional flyer shown here.
Respectfully yours in Christ,
John P. Conricode
Nov. 16, 2019
From Jeff Gorman, another layman in the Monterey diocese:
Interesting for me to see your letter, as I recently paid a visit to San Carlos Cathedral, where I saw the attached posted on the bulletin board. An obvious appeal to emotion, undermining the enforcement of law.
Many weeks ago, I sent a letter to Bishop Daniel Garcia and I did not receive a reply. So you are ahead of me. It appears he had plausible deniability about what, exactly, is being advocated in your church, there in King City. Your second letter certainly makes it plain.
Conricode-letters
Anti-ICE Flyer
Garcia letter
SanCarlos
Proposed Constitutional Announcement
Allowing a flyer informing immigrants about their constitutional rights is no more problematic than permitting pro-life flyers to be posted in the narthex of a Catholic Church. Both types of flyers seek to provide information to help people in addressing an injustice.
I’d rather see information about pro-life then the othe thing. I don’t see pro-life as problematic
Disingenous at best and the pastor and bishop rely on folks to stand still for this nonsense.
I live in the Monterrey diocese and look to a local SSPX chapel for the sacraments. I can assure those reading this that the nonsense portrayed and support by Bp Garcia does NOT occur there.
Masses offered by the beloved SSPX are not licit, not unlawful. This is so especially when there are valid and licit Masses–whether in the Ordinary Form or in the Extraordinary Form–being within the general area. Go at the risk of committing the sin of disobedience; go at the risk of your own salvation, folks. Be warned.
Pope Francis gave the “OK” to SSPX sacraments — – no such thing as “sin of disobedience,” or “risk of your salvation.”
“This is so especially when there are valid and licit Masses–whether in the Ordinary Form or in the Extraordinary Form–being within the general area.”
2003 letter from the PCED msgr perl.“Can I fulfill my Sunday obligation by attending a Pius X Mass” and our response was:
“1. In the strict sense you may fulfill your Sunday obligation by attending a Mass celebrated by a priest of the Society of St. Pius X.”
His second question was “Is it a sin for me to attend a Pius X Mass” and we responded stating:
“2. We have already told you that we cannot recommend your attendance at such a Mass and have explained the reason why. If your primary reason for attending were to manifest your desire to separate yourself from communion with the Roman Pontiff and those in communion with him, it would be a sin. If your intention is simply to participate in a Mass according to the 1962 Missal for the sake of devotion, this would not be a sin.”
Read sake of devotion and not a source for Sede.
Secondly, Pope Francis has extended SSPX and the sacrament of confession.
Is it better that I should follow the example of Wuerl, Cupich, McCarriks and Garcia’s?
BRAVO, Keith w. Petersen! Good for you!
The 2003 Letter from Ecclesia Dei which KW Peterson quotes actually proves my point. Notice how Msgr. Perl had to write, “We have already told you that we cannot recommend your attendance at such a Mass [by the beloved SSPX] and have explained the reason why.” You ask, “What is the ‘why'”?
I’ll tell you: Msgr. Perl wrote an earlier letter in April 2002 to which the September 2003 Letter (quoted by Peterson above) was referring to. In that earlier April 2002 Letter Msgr. Perl answered “NO” to the question “May a Catholic attend a Mass celebrated by a SSPX priest or a priest from a community close to this Society and receive Holy Communion on a Sunday?” Msgr. Perl answered “NO. Holy Mass must be offered in communion with the Church, the Pope and the local Bishop. Attendance at Masses offered by priests who are not in union with the Church is allowed only in extraordinary circumstances, when access to a Mass offered in union with the Church is impossible. Now, the priests of the Society of St. Pius X are not in union with the Church because of their adhesion to the schism that Archbishop Lefebvre created when consecrating bishops against the will of the Pope, who called this act, accomplished on June 30, 1988, a schismatic act.”
jon– No one will ever get into Heaven, unless they “love thy neighbor,” as Christ said! Keith and many other good Catholics, just want to go to Mass! They are not crazy “radicals,” “against the Pope,” or something! And the Pope gave the “OK” for SSPX sacraments! What more do you want?? Many Catholics are sick of all the Church problems! Wonderful, for Catholics to go to Mass– wherever they want! To me– maybe an SSPX Mass is a lot better than the silly Pope and his latest goofball Synod– and his dumb (heretical, too!) “Pachamama” naked, pregnant fertility goddess idols, at that dumb Vatican ceremony! What a laugh!!
I’m sorry to say that they may indeed be “crazy radicals” to use your own words. There is nothing more radical than to thumb one’s nose at the solemn teachings of the entire Church at Vatican II, or to despise the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Ordinary Form. One cannot be a good Catholic while separating oneself from Christ’s Own Vicar on earth. One can be seemingly devout outwardly, but internally in one’s heart is full of discord, division, hate, and fear.
jon– You seem to think normal Catholic laymen, who only seek to quietly worship God, and attend a Pope-approved SSPX Mass, with good intentions — and are sick of all the Church problems– are a bunch of hateful, schismatic, . political, vengeful, Pope-despising, New Mass-despising, nutty “radical activists!” Is that all you young people know, in life?? These Catholics are NORMAL people, jon– who just want peace with God! Isn’t that what YOU want, too?? “Love Thy Neighbor!”
Sorry, but “Anon’s” protestations do not win my sympathy, because for the most part he/she contradicts him/herself. There can be no peace with God unless one is at peace with His Church, for it is His Church that carries on His ministry and His work in the world. Additionally, I am not convinced that disdain for the sacraments of the Church in the Ordinary Form as well as for Vatican II display genuine love for His Church, His Bride.
It is terribly bad manners, very ignorant, and completely against Christ, for a sick-minded, egotistical, fanatic church-goer, to viciously attack and violently persecute other nice, decent church-goers, that he never even met before— and make false accusations of the motives in their hearts! That is Satanic!
I agree. We can also say that it is not only bad manners, but also irreverent, disrespectful, ignorant, and very egotistical to viciously attack, malign, persecute, and deride the anointed shepherds of the Church–namely Pope Francis and the bishops of the Catholic Church. It is also Satanic to attack and belittle the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Ordinary Form. THAT is of the devil. Listen to the living Magisterium! Respect life!
jon– you cannot possibly know what is in someone’s heart, when they go to Mass! Impossible! To go to a simple, little one-hour Mass, at an SSPX chapel– is NOT committing a crime, and NOT “disobedient to the Pope and his Church.”
One may not know what is in a person’s heart as someone goes to a Mass celebrated by the beloved SSPX, but the fact that that same Catholic is going to such a Mass deemed by the Church as illicit and unlawful, then the Catholic, de facto, has committed a disobedient act! De facto, apart from any personal culpability out of ignorance.
Pope Benedict XVI withdrew the excommunication noted by Pope JP II. They have said several times that the SSPX was within the Church. The SSPX prays for the pope as being the head of the Church and teaches obedience as long as what is directed is in compliance with the eternal teaching of the Church. The Code of Canon Law specifically states that when on is schismatic he is excommunicated. How can one NOT be excommunicated and be a schismatic? Impossible.
Can. 1364 ß1 An apostate from the faith, a heretic or a schismatic incurs a latae
sententiae excommunication, without prejudice to the provision of Can. 194 ß1, n. 2; a
cleric, moreover, may be punished with the penalties mentioned in Can. 1336 ß1, nn. 1, 2
and 3.
Pope Benedict may have removed the excommunication from those beloved SSPX bishops, but the same Pope said in that same declaration that lifted the excommunications that the beloved SSPX remains–as a whole– without a canonical and legitimate status in the Church. Pope Benedict wrote: “As long as the Society does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church.” The excommunication pertained to the discipline of individuals (in this case, those bishops who disobeyed John Paul II).
Jon –
“..or to despise the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Ordinary Form”.
I’ll leave you with one final comment.
I will be able to stand before our Lord and Judge and be willing to justify my attendance at SSPX Mass and Confession.
Pax–
Good for you, Keith! Excellent! At many parishes that offer the old Latin Mass, they sell traditional Latin Tridentine Mass items, from SSPX sources— no problem! For example– they sell the 1962 Missal, from the SSPX booksellers– at Star of the Sea church, in San Francisco! And the SF Archbishop approves of it!
Sorry, but I am just not impressed nor moved by blatant acts of disobedience of any kind. Our Lord was obedient to the Father. You chose not to be obedient to His Church, His Bride, who continues His ministry here. Good luck in your attempts to justify that to God Almighty.
And I have one final comment for KW Petersen: “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus.”
jon– there is also NO Salvation, without sincere LOVE OF GOD and neighbor– Christian Love, found in a deep union with Christ! Christ called the wicked, legalistic, heartless Pharisees, “whitened sepulchres!” They were all proud and egotistical, and pretended to follow God’s Law rigorously– and accused everyone (like Jesus) of “disobedience” — just as you do! They were all spiritually dead! He summed up all the ecclesiastical Laws, with His teaching of Love of God and neighbor!
“Anon” Christian love is indeed “found in a deep union with Christ,” but only THROUGH THE CHURCH and IN THE CHURCH! This is because Christ is inseparable from His Church! The teachings of all the popes and countless encyclicals have repeated that same Catholic dogma!
jon, a good Catholic, with good manners, who loves God and neighbor– might make a kind and truthful remark, such as– ” I see that the Pope now accepts SSPX sacraments. We have to be mindful, though, of their status with Rome–
and watch and see what future steps may be taken, for full communion with Rome.” Now, that is all you have to say!
“Anon”: The Church has not categorically “accepted” the sacraments celebrated by the beloved SSPX. Pope Francis may have allowed for the legality of the sacrament of reconciliation and even marriage (but not the nuptial Mass) by the beloved SSPX. But not the rest. Why? Because as Pope Benedict wrote, which I quoted above, “As long as the Society does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church.”
Good manners is a necessity, in relating with all our Christian brethren– Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, everyone! The Vatican is always charitable and well-mannered, with all of our Christian brethren– and sets a good example!
It’s a shame the Catholic church is taking sides on this. They should realize what these illegals doing is breaking the law. How can they teach the ten commandments when they are for this
I recently found out that the Church for years has been receiving large sums of money to help reestablish refugees. And that resettlement money has been reduced recently. I’m wondering out loud, if there was no money involved in immigration, would so many in the Church hierarchy be as interested?
Don’t get me wrong. I support our Pope, Bishops, and our priests. All their sacraments are valid. I do also understand sin is a temptation for them, as well as for us. And we certainly see how weak some of them are and many of us.
I agree with many, that for too long, many immigrants were encouraged to break the law to come here. Then continue to break the law by not fixing their situation by applying for citizenship. Most of our sins have consequences. It’s a shame it was not addressed years ago and we even have DACA kids, and little girls holding up signs not to have their dad deported.
Have we taught this little girl, consequences, to fess up when you lie, to not deceive others, to make amends? Or the opposite? Many immigrants even cheat someone when they steal someone else’s social security number when they apply for work. They are given fake cards and IDs. That is a crime in America. Even collecting benefits you have not earned in some cases.
Take some direct action and remove them yourselves! Have some courage and don’t let lefty politics have a home in your parish. Think of the guy that splashed the pagan idols from the Amazon Synod into the Tiber. That also, was the right think to do.
The horrendous thing about open borders is that drug lords, sex traffickers and quack doctors take advantage of it. When people are smuggled across the borders and border patrol is taking care of them, the drug lords sneak illegal drugs across the border.
In Virginia there have been women mutilated by doctors who have performed genital mutilations, hysterectomies and so forth without their permission. These doctors can flee easily to another state or across the borders to do damage elsewhere. When someone who is pushing open borders has a crime committed against their loved one, they will think differently. Many politicians do not care because they are profiting from all this.
The USCCB gets a lot of money through its “immigration programs.”
https://onepeterfive.com/welcoming-the-tranger-whats-really-motivating-the-usccb-on-immigration-refugees/
Nuf said!
If you can look up Dr Taylor Marshal interviewing George Neumeyer about the USSCB conferences. It’s an eyeopener
How many times have I heard the race card pulled when discussing immigration laws? If you believe a particular race does not need to obey the laws than I say you are the racist.