Letter to the Archbishop of Anchorage re: Episcopal Bishop "consecration" at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

I ask that anyone that reads my blog to please read this post, and seriously consider joining us in our effort. (For more info please see the other posts regarding this issue.)

After extensive prayer we have decided to write a letter to the Archdiocese of Anchorage, and the Archbishop, his Excellency Roger Schwietz, asking that the Episcopal "consecration" which is scheduled to take place on September 4th at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Anchorage, is moved from the Church and performed elsewhere.

In that effort we have drafted a letter, which we have decided to make public, to give our readers across the world the opportunity to add their names to it before we send it. We do this with humble and heavy hearts. We do not wish to send this letter, but we feel called as faithful Catholics to do so. The truth and Sacredness of our Catholic churches and the teachings of the Church must be protected from that which fight against it. Although Ecumenism can produce good fruits when implemented correctly, it is very, very apparent that in this case Ecumenism has slid into giving scandal.

Signing our names to a letter is not enough though. In fact, if all we did was send a letter, there is little hope that the hearts and minds of those involved would change. So I ask, that along with pledging your names to our letter, that you also pledge something to the spiritual bouquet that we plan to send along with the letter. So, we ask that if you would like us to place your name on the letter that you submit these things to: angelsdefendus@gmail.com

• Name
• Parish
• Diocese
• A prayer, fast, or almsgiving that you are donating "spiritually" for the Archbishop or for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

We are hoping to send this letter off in the next few days, so please do not delay in sending me that email. It only takes a quick second. If you have any questions, regarding either the letter or the spiritual bouquet, please contact me.

A final note: This issue is not the "concern of a small group of Catholics." It actually spans across the country, and for that matter the world. The Archdiocese, the Archbishop, and the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been pulled into this. We found out about this situation on Saturday, and after doing a quick search we come to find out that this issue has spread across the "Catholic Blogosphere and Forum" world. We must stand together as a faithful Catholic community of Christ to defend the truth of the Catholic faith.

[[Update (2:19pm): The Archbishop has posted a letter to the Archdiocesan website. He explains why he originally agreed to let the Episcopal church use Our Lady of Guadalupe, and why he still stands by that decision. This letter is obviously a response to the questions raised previously elsewhere and similar to those that we posted on this blog. We still intend to send this letter, and in fact feel it is even more appropriate in light of the confusing statements made in the Archbishop's letter.]]

[[UPDATE (2:33pm): We are a little confused, but the Archdiocese has taken down the Archbishop's letter originally posted on the front page of their website. You can still find that letter here. We are in patient and prayerful hope that there may have been a glorious change of hearts and minds, and so we wait in joyful anticipation to find out exactly why the link was taken down. More to come...]]

Please sign our letter (email: angelsdefendus@gmail.com), please contribute to the spiritual bouquet, and please continue to pray.

The Most Reverend Roger Schwietz, OMI
Archbishop of Anchorage
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage, Alaska, 99501

Your Excellency Archbishop Schwietz:

We, the undersigned faithful, humbly and regretfully write to you regarding the planned use of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Anchorage, by the Episcopal Church on September 4th, 2010. The planned consecration of a new Alaskan Episcopal bishop by Ms. Katharine J. Schori comes as a shock and gives grave scandal to all Catholic faithful that learn of it.

In the 1993 Vatican document: Pontificium Consilium Ad Christianorum Unitatem Fovendam, the application of principles and norms of Ecumenism were outlined for the Catholic faithful. In that document the Pope, through the writing of Edward Cardinal Cassidy, conveyed to the Catholic faithful the way we should bridge the divides of Christian disunity. He said the proper method is in truth. Precisely it was stated that:

“The Second Vatican Council clearly asked Catholics to reach out in love to all other Christians with a charity that desires and works actively to overcome in truth whatever divides them from one another.” Para. 9

Because of Ms. Schori’s well known and outspoken opposition to Church teachings, we the undersigned feel that allowing this consecration to occur in a Catholic church gives scandal to the faithful. The reason this extends beyond Ecumenism and into scandal is because the consecration will be performed by a woman bishop who teaches that female ordination is a positive development, that openly and active gay & lesbian priests are a positive component of the faith, and that individual salvation (the idea that we as individuals can be saved through a personal faith or trust in Jesus) is a “heresy.” Therefore, we the undersigned humbly ask that this event be prevented from occurring within a Catholic church.

We are quite ignorant in the ways of Ecumenism, and have not found a suitable answer as to how this is beneficial to the Catholic Church or its faithful. Therefore, we seek clarification as to our misunderstanding of the way in which the use of a Catholic Church for such an event, by the personalities involved, helps bolster, ultimately, Holy Mother Church. We ask this out of a sincere desire to better understand our Catholic Faith and our role as the Ecclesia Militans.

Our confusion stems from the fact that the Archdiocese has a very committed and strict adherence to the vetting policy that Your Excellency has put into place. Many of the undersigned have expressed situations where faithful Catholics have had difficulty leading, participating, and promoting events of a Catholic nature within the Archdiocese due to this policy, and yet see this Episcopal event planned and approved. Therefore they are confused in their understanding of the vetting policy.

We, the undersigned faithful humbly request that you answer certain questions so that we can better understand why this event has been given clearance in light of Canon Law, the Catechism, and the Archdiocese of Anchorage Vetting Policy. We ask these questions sincerely, and with humble hearts, in light of the teachings of the Catholic Church:

• Will the Eucharist be removed from the Tabernacle during this event?
• Will the Altar be used for any reason, or for Episcopal Communion?
• Will Consecrated vessels which belong to the Archdiocese, Parish, or Catholic Priests be used in any of the ceremonies?
• Who from the Archdiocese will oversee this event to ensure that no desecration to any Sacred elements occur?
• Is there any prohibition or set of guidelines imposed upon those Episcopal leaders who will be officiating in terms of what they can physically do, their use of the Sacred Sanctuary, their use of any items, or specifically what they can say in terms of theological teaching?
• Is this event open to the public or can a representative of our choosing be selected to witness this event for the sake of understanding, Catechesis, and Ecumenism?
• Since this will be a non-Catholic ceremony, with non-Catholics in charge, is there a contingency plan as to what will happen should the ceremony, or those leading it, undertake actions or words that are contrary to the teachings and Sacredness of the Faith or the Church?

Finally, we humbly ask that this event not occur at Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is sadly ironic that it is slated to be officiated by a woman bishop who is clearly in defiance of the Magisterium and the teachings of the Church, in a church dedicated to Our Lady who was so accepting of the will of God. The striking contrast between Our Lady of Guadalupe and Ms. Schori are difficult for many to accept. Therefore, for the sake of preventing Scandal; out of reverence for the sacredness of the Church, Altar, and Sanctuary; the fact that those participating are directly opposed to the teachings of the Catholic faith; and that there are many outstanding questions which the faithful fear don’t have answers, we humbly request that Your Excellency think of his Catholic faithful first and move this event from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

We present this letter to you with humble hearts. We have no desire to appoint blame or indict anyone in this situation. We honestly and sincerely desire only to preserve the honor and glory deserved of Holy Mother Church, Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist, and the faith and humility of the undersigned.

We ask that a written response be presented to us as soon as Your Excellency can produce it, and we will continue to pray for you, all the priests, and the whole Church. We do not envy your role as shepherd of us most unworthy flock of sinners, and humble ourselves before God as we send this brazen letter. As a sign of our faith, we have also included a spiritual bouquet from those who sign this letter for your Excellency, and for the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
We ask all of this through Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Jesus.

Respectfully,

cc:
Prefect Archbishop William Joseph Levada
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine Faith
Piazza del S. Uffizio 11-00193
Rome, VATICAN CITY

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
Piazza Pio XII 10-00193
Rome, VATICAN CITY

Reverend Steve C. Moore
Vicar General
Archdiocese of Anchorage

Reverend Thomas T. Brundage
Moderator of the Curia & Judicial Vicar
Archdiocese of Anchorage