In the news, Monsignor James gave no reason why he decided to resign as delegate of coadjutor archbishop for church patrimony. According to the Pacific Daily News dated June 21, 2017:
"I write this letter to let you know that after much prayer and reflection I have decided to tender my letter of resignation as Delegate to Coadjutor Archbishop for Church Patrimony," Benavente said in a June 16 letter addressed to Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes.
The letter does not cite a reason for the resignation.
Benavente, when sought for comment, said he resigned from the post on his own.
"The decision was mine to make without any internal or external influence," he said in an email Wednesday morning. He declined to cite specific reasons.
It was on June 20th that Rohr published this information on his blog:
Last Friday, June 16, days after he was completely blocked from a position on the newly elected presbyteral council, Msgr. James Benavente submitted his resignation to Archbishop Byrnes for his position as Delegate for Church Patrimony.Below is a screenshot of the above comment:
Although Monsignor James did not give a reason for his resignation, Tim Rohr already accused the NCW for Monsignor James' resignation and gave no substantial evidence for his accusation. Five days later, Rohr changed his story and wrote the following comment (the bold is mine):
TimJune 25, 2017 at 3:39 PM
No, Byrnes didn't knife Msgr. James in the back. His fellow priests did.
Eight hours after Tim wrote the above comment, an anonymous comment came through my blog. Whoever this person is also knew that Monsignor James was betrayed by other priests. I published his comment at first and then immediately deleted it afterwards. Rather than publishing his comment, I have decided to forward it to certain authorities, whom I will not mention. Why? Because of certain things that were made in his comment:
A particular priest has givem false informtion about his fellow priests, and has worked hand in hand with the author of a particular blog to manipulate the leaders of your archdiocese to stir things in his favor.........
Why is this important information? Simply becuase it is important we publish it before he does it in order to prove that he has been the one behind the accusations against your previous bishop and other priests.........
Unfortunately he did not realize that the very people he trusted to particapte in his scheme were already suspicious of him but going against him would mean retaliation.
Because there is a priest among the clergy leaking out information to the Junglewatch blog, unity among the clergy is difficult. The priests already have a difficult time trusting each other. They are aware that their words are being recorded in the clergy meeting and their personal emails are also being leaked out. The anonymous poster warned that there will be retaliation and persecution to those local priests who stand against the Junglewatch nation. In fact, Father Jeff is already being badmouthed in the jungle. Archbishop Byrnes has his hands full, trying to unite the clergy.
In order to have unity, the truth needs to come out. Christ is the TRUTH, and ONLY Christ can bring unity. If things are kept in the dark, Satan wins. It is only when the light of truth is brought out can unity be accomplished. Naturally, the truth will hurt at first. Why? Because God is a purifying fire, which can sanctify the darkness of sin.
John 3:20-21 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Diana why don't you give it to archbishop Byrnes to because he needs to know about the deceit that's going on and he can send it to Rome because he can give it as evidence
ReplyDeleteThe time for appeasement is already past. Something needs to be done to stop the person from leaking confidential information to the JW blog. How does Byrnes expect the clergy to find unity when there is no trust? How does Byrnes expect the clergy to trust each other when they know that someone is recording their conversations in a meeting and confidential documents meant only for the priests' eyes are being leaked out to JW?
ReplyDeleteWith all the complaints from the jungle, ccog, lfm about "outsider priests", it seems that all the dysfunction in the diocese is really from the local priests. The priests who are constantly mentioned in the media are Monsignor James Benavente, Father Paul Gofigan, Father Jeff San Nicolas, Father Mike Crisostomo. The "local homegrown" priests need to clean up their acts, look to Jesus Christ for direction, reconcile with all clergy, then the possibility of "unity" can begin.
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ReplyDeleteArchbishop Krebs aware of this "particular priest"
ReplyDeleteInteresting fact about Father X " Particular Priest" He moves furniture back stage never on stage. Call him CNN.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear God is one,
DeleteI do not quite understand what you are saying. What email are you referring to?
Dear God is one,
DeleteI apologize. I think I deleted you comment by mistake, so let me repost it.
No I deleted it sorry for the inconvenience
DeleteOk. I apologized. My mistake. I removed the re-post.
Deletediana you should listen to this past sundays angelus address of his holiness because its a most beautiful and most touching one because he talks about persecution and hes praying for the people who are getting persecuted so hes praying for us here on guam
ReplyDeleteGuarantee you No peace in Archdiocese of Agana because of Monsignor James.I can live with neo but i cannot live with a liar who fooled me.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:19 pm,
DeleteThere will be peace once the truth is out because the truth will set us free.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Diana.
Jungle Watch Members defected today over position of Monsignor James.
Diana, Tim is now accusing an RMS priest for leaking out a recording of the convivience.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:20 am,
DeleteNo one leaked out a recording of the convivience. The recording was on the internet. This is the part Rohr deliberately left out in order to fool his readers. When Rohr published it in his blog, we took it off the internet. The recordings of the clergy meeting and personal emails of the priests, on the other hand, were leaked out.
Thank you for this post, Diana. It's obvious by now that Tim not only leaves information out, but he changes his story. You pointed out in your post that Tim blamed the Way for Mon. James resignation. Then suddenly, he changed his story and blamed the local priests.
DeleteDear Diana, what do you mean that the recording was on the internet? Do you mean that the convivence was recorded officially and then posted by the NCW on the internet? That's pretty unusual isn't it?
DeleteDear Anonymous at 10:53 am,
DeleteThe annual convivience is always recorded. Usually, CCD disks are made for each community. However, there was only that one time that the recording was placed on the internet. If I am not mistaken, I think the intention was to have the recording easily made available so that the Responsible of each community can download the recording onto a disk themselves.
Nevertheless, the recording was not leaked because it was available on the internet. The recorder was a member of the NCW, and he was the one who placed it there. He later pulled the recording off the Internet after Rohr published it on his blog. Father Pius knew that Rohr downloaded the recording, and his response was, "Good. He can listen to it and hopefully, it will convert him." 😀
Ror has nothing else to write about? Is he running out of material?
DeleteHe knows the time and place of everything that goes on in NCW. He knows we meet on Tuesdays/Wednesdays for Celebration of the Word, he knows we have Eucharist on Saturday nights, why doesnt he just show up and see and listen for himself? By Golly he also knows we have the Annual Convivence every October, why doesnt he just call Debbie to book him a room?
But no, he chooses to be a defender of the Faith, an Apologetic, a Soldier for Christ behind his blog. A true practicing Christian, who scrutinizes and insults the cloth.
We must pray for those poor souls who have fallen for his deceit. What fools they have become. To prefer the gossip and vomit that is spat out of that blog rather than to taste and see the fruits of the Spirit working through the NCW.
Its not about finding out who is leaking the information out concerning what we do in the NCW, if people really want it, they can come to our meetings. Its not important to find out who the Priest/Religious leaker is. What is important is that they atleast know the damage they are doing among their fellow religious and among the lay faithful.
We have come to this point of crisis in our local church by means of our own clergy and religious. They lead and we follow. It may seem like those opposing groups started all on their own but the reality is that they all started with the blessing and encouragement of someones spiritual director. Just as how we have catechists to help us on our walk, the leaders of these groups and blogs also have spiritual directors/advisors and confessors. It is obvious now that they are obedient just as we are to those whom we have placed our trust in.
Its time that rather than bashing one another we look to our priests and religious to pressure them into making the first move to peace.
They lead and we shall follow.
Pas!
-Jokers Wild
ReplyDeletekitchen renovations!!!!!!
Monsignor James.
Will St. Anthony Church publish a financial report detailing the expenses of the renovations at the rectory regarding the personal living space and office for Monsignor James? Retired Monsignor Bibi had to move out to make room for these palatial renovations. Hope a report is made for the parishioners to see where their collections are being used for.
DeleteReally? Are parishioners allowed to see where our collections are going to? Can we see Monsignor James' new space?
DeleteFrom Tim:
ReplyDelete"Do they think I'd be so obvious as to work directly with Msgr. James?"
Yea. You were so very obvious. You were the one who revealed Mon. James' resignation before it was reported in the news. That info can only come from none other than Mon. James.
If there was approval from parish and finance council and the Chanchery then there is nothing wrong with the renovations.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you find out from the parish and finance council before you attack.
Was it appropriate to move out retired pastor Msgr Bibi to make room for Msgr James renovation expansion for his personal use? Don't think the parish council would have approved of kicking out their beloved former pastor. I guess that is one of the perks of being the new pastor - to be able to build your own kingdom. Parish council, finance council - these are just advisory groups. Pastor makes final decisions for the parish. Nice to have rich parishioners sent to St. Anthony by the jungle. Jungle, lfm and ccog seem to believe that St. Anthony Church is the only legitimate Catholic church on Guam.
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Before the Angelus:
Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
In today’s Gospel (Cf. Matthew 10:26-33), the Lord Jesus, after calling and sending His disciples on mission, He instructed and prepared them to face the trials and persecutions they would encounter. To go on mission is not to engage in tourism, and Jesus admonishes His disciples: “You will encounter persecutions.” Thus He exhorts them: “Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed [. . .] What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light [. . .] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (vv. 26-28). They can only kill the body, but they do not have power to kill the soul: have no fear of them. Jesus’ sending the disciples on mission does not guarantee them success, as it does not shelter them from failures and sufferings. They must take into account be it the possibility of rejection be it that of persecution. This is somewhat frightening, but it is the truth.
The disciple is called to conform himself to Christ’s own life, who was persecuted by men, knew rejection, abandonment and death on the cross. Christian mission dominated by tranquillity does to exist. Difficulties and tribulations are part of the work of evangelization, and we are called to find in them the occasion to verify the authenticity of our faith and of our relationship with Jesus. We must regard these difficulties as the possibility to be even more missionaries and to grow in that trust of God, our Father, who does not abandon His children in the hour of the storm. In the difficulties of Christian witness in the world, we are never forgotten, but always helped by the Father’s loving concern. Therefore, in today’s Gospel, for a good three times Jesus reassures the disciples saying: “Have no fear!”
In our days also, brothers and sisters, persecution against Christians is present. We pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted and we praise God because, despite this, they continue to witness their faith with courage and fidelity. May their example help us to not hesitate in taking a position in favor of Christ, witnessing Him courageously in everyday situations, even in apparently tranquil contexts. In fact, a form of test could also be the absence of hostilities and tribulations. In addition to being “sheep in the midst of wolves,” in our time also the Lord sends us as watchmen in the midst of people who do not want to be awakened from worldly torpor, who ignore the words of Truth of the Gospel, constructing their own ephemeral truths. And if we move and live in these contexts and say the Words of the Gospel, this annoys and we will not be looked at well.
However, in all of this the Lord continues to say to us, as He said to the disciples of His time: “Have no fear!” Let us not forget this word: When we have some tribulation, some persecution, something that makes us suffer, we must always listen to Jesus’ voice in our heart: “Have no fear! Have no fear; go on! I am with you!” Have no fear of one who derides you and mistreats you; and have no fear of one who ignores or honors you “before” others but “behind” you combats the Gospel. There are so many that smile before us but behind us they combat the Gospel. We all know them. Jesus does not leave us alone: each one is precious for Jesus, and He accompanies us.
May the Virgin Mary, model of humble and courageous adherence to the Word of God, help us to understand that, in witnessing the faith, successes do not count but fidelity, fidelity to Christ, recognizing in any circumstances, even the most problematic, the inestimable gift of being His missionary disciples.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
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This is sad, Diana, but sadly not surprising. If you search in quotes "The Judas Crisis" you will find many examples of what you have written here. For some priests have learned that the most effective way to avoid being targeted by a witch hunt is to join it. Betrayal is as old as the Gospel. Keep writing the truth, the bold truth. With blessings, Father Gordon J MacRae
ReplyDeleteYou should see Mons bathroom in St. Anthony. Power gates, double glazed windows. How many Tumon residents have power gates?
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