Transubstantiation

I added a few new comments in my post.

The Neocatechumenal Way believes in Transubstantiation in which the bread and wine turns into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  This has always been the belief of the Early Christians, and only the two oldest Christian Churches have kept this belief - the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church. 

The Early Christians who celebrated in homes in small communities never receive the Body of Christ by tongue.  It had always been by hand because in those times, they made the bread......something which is also done in the Way.  They did not have the host that dissolves once it is in your mouth.  Receiving the Body of Christ by tongue came at a later time, and with the creation of hosts that can easily dissolve in your mouth. 

I would like to add that one of the fundamental beliefs of Catholicism IS transubstantiation. All Catholics regardless of whether they are walking in the Way or not believes in Transubstantiation.....that the bread and wine transforms into the Body and Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation was defined by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent and is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. All Catholics regardless of whether they walk in the Way or not follows all Church doctrines. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

CCC 1376   The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation."206 

This is what the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church teaches, and this is a teaching that all Catholics accept. Just as all Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so too do we believe in Transubstantiation.....that it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ that we consume. The Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of our Blessed Mother are the two infallible doctrines declared in ex cathedra by the Catholic Church; therefore, we accept and believe ALL that the Catholic teaches and holds as Truth.

Transubstantiation is also truth taught in the Catholic Church. It is a truth taught by Christ Himself when He stated "This IS My Body" and "This IS My Blood." The belief in Transubstantiation is extremely important. A person who does not believe in what Christ and His Church teaches about Transubstantiation can easily mistreat the Body of Christ during the Eucharist.

 

Effective Communication

An anonymous commenter wrote the following (spacing and bold is mine), which I feels summarizes some of the things in the Neocatehcumenal Way.  It is true that there are people out there who are not interested in an open and honest dialogue.  To be open to communication means to "listen" to what the other side is saying.  If one comes with their biases and prejudices, it only closes up the communication, and eventually all civil dialogue would break down.  In other words, if a person comes in believing that everything we say is a lie, then their motive for open dialogue is suspect. 

AnonymousFebruary 5, 2015 at 3:10 AM

So many misconceptions, so many misunderstandings. This battle will never end because even when we share the truth, they tell us we're liars.

Truth 1: The Initial Catechesis is given to all those in the church. It is not until the initial sessions are complete that those who have attended are given the choice to continue the itinerary, form a community. They are not asked to leave the church, but are encouraged to continue celebration at a time.

Truth 2: Elitists exist in all walks of life. There are radicals that feel they represent the majority. There are those who have received many graces from their experiences/involvement, lives have been saved through the NCW, it is not wrong for them to present/share/encourage this grace onto others.

Truth 3: We are all called to be Salt and Light. It is an ongoing process. Imagine if we were all simultaneously salted, there would be no need for this salt. Imagine if we all lived in the light, there would be no sense/meaning of darkness.

Truth 4: Although we all have a chance to be saved, there is this "free will" that has also been given to us. I remember my college professor, at the start of the semester he gave us all a 100%, he then told us, the hard part is keeping this 100%. Do the work, complete it, you will be fine.

Truth 5: Although the Catechetical Directory has been composed by Kiko Arguello. It belongs to the church. This directory is only an instruction guide to help outline the steps of the NCW, which is done so in a manner similar to the RCIA. If you want to know what is in this Directory, just get a copy of the CCC and also be familiar with most of encyclicals and exhortations of the Popes.

Truth 6: Our Baptism is not disregarded in the NCW. The Statutes of the NCW also include an opppurtunity for the non-baptized. The Trinitarian Formula of Baptism is what is recognized by the church. As long as the prescriptions are followed, there is no need for a New Baptism.

Truth 7: Natural Religiosity is not condemned. Catechumens are encouraged to go beyond this Religious Man who runs to God ONLY in times of suffering and petition. Is God not only our Father but also our friend, is Jesus not only master and savior but Brother? Is it not right to begin a dialogue with our God?

 

WHO IS GOD FOR YOU? WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?

Salvation In The Way

 

Under my last post, there was a discussion between an anonymous commenter and me regarding salvation.  According to the anonymous commenter: 

AnonymousFebruary 2, 2015 at 6:32 PM

Dear Diana at 6.14. Read the passage from Romans. I am not suggesting that Baptism prevents us from sinning personally, but clearly the author is saying that we are no longer under the dominion of sin because our Baptism changes everything. The NCW do not get this distinction and therefore treat all new members as though their baptism is meaningless without the steps of the "Way"

 

My response to this comment: 

 

Dear Anonymous at 6:32 pm,

The Holy Bible says that "not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of God but those who do the will of my Father in Heaven."

Baptism becomes meaningless if one does not live their baptismal promises through conversion. In other words, even a baptized person can lose their salvation. We are not like the Protestants who believe in the "once save always save" concept. We are Catholics who believe that we are in the process of being saved. A process involves "step by step".

St. Paul even described this step by step process when he told the Church in Corinth that he could not instruct them in spiritual matters yet because they were not yet ready for it.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

We are called to become like Christ, and for many of us that takes a very long process.

He/She then stated: 

AnonymousFebruary 2, 2015 at 7:35 PM

Dear Diana at 7.03pm. Ok then. Tell me what happens to our salvation after spending 30 years in the Way, having completed all the steps. Are you saved by this? And if not, why is it then necessary to have this step by step, as you say. Are you not then in exactly the same situation as any other baptised Catholic? If not, how do you differ. What would happen if you suffered amnesia then. Would you have to start all over again? Or would you still be considered as one of the "elect"?

Apparently, this anonymous commenter did not understand that in Catholicism, living out our baptismal promise is a "step by step" process.  According to the anonymous commenter, he/she stated that the NCW "treat all new members as though their baptism is meaningless without the steps of the "Way" when actually it was the Catholic Church all along that has taught that a step by step process is needed to live out one's baptismal promise.  Simply check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the bold is mine): 

CCC 1231   Where infant Baptism has become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a very abridged way. By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate. Not only is there a need for instruction after Baptism, but also for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth. The catechism has its proper place here. 

According to the Catholic Church, infant baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate.  The Neocatechumenal Way fulfils the Catechism of the Catholic Church by providing a post-baptismal neocatechumenate as an instrument at the service of the bishops for the rediscovery of Christan initiation by baptized adults (Title II, Chapter !, Art. 5 of the Statutes). 

Conversion is a step by step process (See CCC 1439).  Some of our Christian brothers believe in a "once saved always saved" philosophy and can even tell you the date they were saved.  Catholics, on the other hand, believe that we are in the process of being saved and understand that our salvation can be lost because we still have the free will to reject God despite that we are already baptized. Christ said:  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:28-29). 

It is true that we belong to God and no one can snatch us out of His hand; yet, what is to prevent us from walking out of His hand?  God has never taken away our free will, and the moment we choose to leave His hand is the moment we lose our salvation.  Salvation comes from God alone.  Through His death, Christ has liberated and freed us from the sin that held us bondage.  It was through Adam's disobedience that brought sin and death to all mankind, and it was through Christ's obedience that brought us eternal life.  When Adam and Eve fell, their sin affected all mankind and the entire world.  It brought separation from God and disharmony.  The descendants of Adam and Eve were born with original sin.  But Christ's death and resurrection conquered death, redeemed man, and opened the gates of Heaven so that man can enter God's kingdom whereas before these gates were once closed to man.  Although our baptism took away Original Sin, we still struggle with personal sins on a daily basis.  Nevertheless, we have Christ to pick us up when we fall.  We have the sacrament of reconciliation to bring us back to God and His Church. 

Salvation comes from God alone, and one can find salvation in the Church because Christ is the Head of the Church and present in the Sacraments.  Salvation can be found in the Neocatechumenal Way as well as other organizations within the Church.  God, in all His mercy and His desire to save all men, has established many ways to call His children to Him so they can live out their baptismal promises to walk like His Son Jesus Christ.  This walk to imitate Christ is important for all Catholics.  Why?  Because being a "Catholic" will not save you.  Anyone who believes that ONLY Catholics will go to Heaven are in grave error for the Catholic Church never taught that. 

CCC 837    "Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but 'in body' not 'in heart.'"  

Deception From The Jungle

An anonymous commenter wrote the following: 

AnonymousJanuary 31, 2015 at 10:11 PM

Gosh, Tim absolutely nailed you on this Canon 766 didn't he? I'd love to see how you would argue against that!

 

I did not realize what he/she was referring to as Tim does not make any comments in my blog, so I assumed he/she must be referring to something Tim posted on his blog.  At any rate, let us look at how the jungle speaks.  According to Tim Rohr: 

 

You reference Canon 766. Let me copy it in full here:

Can. 766 Lay persons can be permitted to preach in a church or oratory, if necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems advantageous in particular cases, according to the prescripts of the conference of bishops and without prejudice to ⇒ can. 767, §1.

Notice the ⇒ can. 767, §1 at the end of the canon, so let's copy that too:

Can. 767 §1. Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is preeminent; in the homily the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian life are to be explained from the sacred text during the course of the liturgical year.

The intelligent among us can easily see that "preaching" permitted to lay persons, while it may occur in a "church or oratory", is preaching which occurs OUTSIDE the Mass. This is made clear in Can. 767 §1 by distinguishing the "homily" from other forms of preaching, noting specifically that the "homily...is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon."

 

The jungle is now trying to convince people that Canon Law 767 is saying that the preaching of lay persons must be OUTSIDE the Mass.  Do you see the word "OUTSIDE" anywhere in Canon 767?  No.  Do you see the phrase "outside of the Mass" anywhere in Canon 767?  No.  Canon 767 is simply saying that the homily is reserved only to a priest or deacon, and not to a layperson.  In other words, Canon 766 clearly says that lay persons are permitted to preach in a church or oratory, and Canon 767 goes on to explain that the kind of preaching must not be a homily because it is reserved only to a priest or deacon.  In no way is it saying that the lay person must preach outside the Mass. 

 

Tim Rohr also stated the following: 

 

We have no doubt that the Archbishop is giving these people permission to "preach during the homily" because we have seen the Archbishop himself invite lay people to the pulpit during the time reserved for the homily to give their testimony to the NCW. The question is though: "Does the Archbishop himself have permission to permit this practice?" The answer is "NO".

 

This is false.  The Archbishop of Guam has the authority to permit this practice. Canon Law 765 gives him that authority.  According to the following website "Canon Law Made Easy" (the bold is mine): 

Note, however, that this prohibition pertains only to the preaching of a homily.   There are other kinds of preaching which don’t constitute a homily.  In such situations, canon 766 applies.  This canon asserts that with regard to non-homiletic preaching, the lay faithful may be allowed to preach in a church, if in certain circumstances it is necessary.

The Instruction quotes canon 766, but rightly notes that the wording of the canon makes clear that the laity have to have permission to do this by competent authority (in this case, the diocesan bishop):

Canon Law Made Easy

The lay person have to have permission to preach in the Church according to that Catholic weblink I cited.  So, contrary to Tim's statement, the Archbishop does indeed have the authority to permit this through canon law.  Lastly, according to Tim Rohr (the bold is my emphasis): 


The new Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983.  Twenty years later, the Vatican had accumulated a list of abuses long enough to prompt John Paul II in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia to call upon the Congregation for Divine Worship (CDW), as the USCCB puts it: to develop an instruction explaining the deeper level of liturgical norms in the light of recent abuses of liturgical law throughout the world.

Tim Rohr cited the 1983 code, and is unaware that Canon Law 766 was approved in November 2001. 

Furthermore, Tim Rohr took out of context the Redemptoris Sacramentum.  Tim only cited RS 66 to make everyone believe that any preaching cannot be done within the Mass, but outside the Mass.  To understand RS 66, one needed to look at RS 65 (the bold and underline is mine): 

[65.] It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.[145] This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.

 

[66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.[146]

 

See what I placed in bold and underlined in RS 65?  As I mentioned previously in this post, Canon Law 767 never had anything to do with preaching outside the Mass (as Tim claimed).  It had to do with laypersons preaching the homily which is forbidden.  RS 65 makes it clear that the non-ordained faithful is prohibited from giving a homily and in RS 66, this prohibition is extended to seminarians, students of theological disciplines and even to pastoral assistants.  So, RS 66 is not saying that lay persons cannot preach within the Mass.  It is saying that lay persons cannot preach the homily.  Tim Rohr also cites RS 74, which states: 

 

[74.] If the need arises for the gathered faithful to be given instruction or testimony by a layperson in a Church concerning the Christian life, it is altogether preferable that this be done outside Mass. Nevertheless, for serious reasons it is permissible that this type of instruction or testimony be given after the Priest has proclaimed the Prayer after Communion. This should not become a regular practice, however. Furthermore, these instructions and testimony should not be of such a nature that they could be confused with the homily,[156] nor is it permissible to dispense with the homily on their account.

 

This is the reason why the permission of the Diocesan Bishop is needed for a lay person to preach within the Church or oratory.  Canon Law 766 says the layperson can preach in the Church and oratory as long as they have the permission of the Bishop while Canon Law 767 reminds everyone that the homily is reserved only for the priests and deacons.  The NCW has the permission of the Archbishop to preach their testimony in the Church, and their testimonies are not homilies.

 

 

 

Internal Report: Part II

There are already 100 comments in my post "Internal Report of Cathedral Bascilica and Catholic Cemeteries," and it appears that people still want to discuss this topic. There has also been a few divergent comments under that thread, so please folks do not diverge from the main OP as much as possible.  

I only included part of the report, which stated the following: 

Between January 2009 and July 2014, Msgr. Benavente received payments of $326,913.61 by simultaneously drawing payroll and stipends from the Catholic Cemeteries, and stipend payments from the Cathedral-Basilica.  Upon the change of administration, credit cards in the name of the Archdiocese were discovered holding balances in excess of $60,000; the credit card in the name of The Catholic Cemeteries was specifically used by Msgr. Benavente for restaurants, air fare, the Shangi-La Hotel in Manila and other five star Hotels.  In the same period, The Catholic Cemeteries and the Cathedral-Basilica expended more than $123,000 towards credit card payments to First Hawaiian Bank and American Express.  Other payments for a credit card in the name of Msgr. Benavente, a gas card, and cellular/data phone privileges, which were paid for by The Catholic Cemeteries, accounted for an additional $23,000.  Notably, $13,000 of cemetery funds were paid for Msgr. Benavente's 20th Anniversary reception.  Total advances documented between January 2009 and July 2014 by both entities for Msgr. Benavente are nearly $475,000.  This does not include cemetery family crypts valued at 380,000.00, which were gifted by Msgr. Benavente to his close friend and family: in other words, no fee was charged for these cemetery plots.

The rest of the Internal Report can be found in the Archdiocese of Agana website: 

http://www.aganaarch.org/8188/archdiocesan-internal-review-report-cathedral-basilica-catholic-cemeteries-2/

It was Monsignor James who first brought the scandal of financial mismanagement to the media. The first time the public heard of the financial mismanagement of Monsignor James did not come from the Archbishop. It came through Tim Rohr's blog, which is a social media. It was on July 26, 2014 when Tim first posted about hearing the removal of Monsignor Benavente.

It was in the morning of July 26th when a letter from the Archbishop was delivered to Monsignor James. This letter did not go to the Media. It only went to Monsignor James. Monsignor James then wrote a letter to the employees of the Catholic Cemeteries, the Catholic Gift Shop, and the Catholic-Bascillica informing them of his removal. That letter (which stated "Confidential") was given to Tim Rohr and published on his blog.  It was through Junglewatch that the public learned about the reason for Monsignor's removal.   

At 9:17 pm, KUAM picked up the story because someone sent KUAM the same letter. It was also through Junglewatch that the public learned the reason for Monsignor Benavente's removal.  Tim Rohr published the following information of Monsignor James Benavente on Saturday, July 26, 2014. 

http://www.junglewatch.info/2014/07/msgr-james-benavente-removed-as-rector.html

This was where it all started.  The Umatuna did not mention any financial mismanagement. It only mentioned that Monsignor James was transferred and that Monsignor David would take over his position.  Now, CCOG wants to know why the Archdiocese released the Internal Report regarding Monsignor James and not privately speak to Monsignor James about it.  I think they should start from the beginning and ask why did Monsignor James went to the media first to reveal the scandal regarding himself.   

Canon Law 766

Now that the annual catechesis is taking place in some parishes, a few people are complaining that a lay person does not have the right to get up and preach during the homily.  The NCW has been telling them that they have the permission of the Archbishop.  Yet, they feel that the Archbishop is wrong.  According to Canon Law 766, a lay person can be permitted to preach in a church or oratory as long as they have the permission of the Bishop.  Of course, the homily is always reserved for the priest, but what the NCW is doing during the Mass is NOT a violation. They have the permission of the Archbishop as well as the parish priest.   

The brothers who are preaching are giving their testimonies.  They are not giving a homily, which is reserved for the priest alone.  Also, as I mentioned...they have the permission of the Archbishop and the parish priest.  Tim Rohr is not the Bishop (although I would not be surprised to find that he would love to be the Bishop).  The Archbishop is not violating any laws in giving his permission for allowing a layperson to speak their testimonies in the Church.  Tim Rohr is the one who is in violation for he has no right to tell the Archbishop what to do. 


Can. 765 Preaching to religious in their churches or oratories requires the permission of the superior competent according to the norm of theconstitutions.

 

Can. 766 Lay persons can be permitted to preach in a church or oratory, if necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems advantageous inparticular cases, according to the prescripts of the conference of bishops and without prejudice to ⇒ can. 767, §1.

 

Can. 767 §1. Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is preeminent; in thehomily the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian life are to be explained from the sacred text during the course of the liturgical year.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (the bold is mine): 

On November 14, 2001, the Latin Church members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved complementary legislation for canon 766 of the Code of Canon Law for the dioceses of the Latin Church of the United States.

The action was granted recognitio by the Congregation for Bishops in accord with article 82 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus and issued by decree of the Congregation for Bishops signed by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect, and His Excellency Most Reverend Franciscus Monterisi, Secretary, and dated November 27, 2001.

Complementary Norm: Preaching the Word of God is among the principal duties of those who have received the sacrament of orders (cc. 762-764). The lay faithful can be called to cooperate in the exercise of the Ministry of the Word (c. 759). In accord with canon 766 the National Conference of Catholic Bishops hereby decrees that the lay faithful may be permitted to exercise this ministry in churches and oratories, with due regard for the following provisions:

If necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems useful in particular cases, the diocesan bishop can admit lay faithful to preach, to offer spiritual conferences or give instructions in churches, oratories or other sacred places within his diocese, when he judges it to be to the spiritual advantage of the faithful.

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-766-lay-preaching.cfm

So, who is Tim Rohr to tell the Archbishop what he can and cannot do?  Is he the Pope??  It is not the NCW leadership who is telling the Archbishop what to do.  It had always been Tim doing that. 

During the KUAM newstalk today, a parishioner came on and said that he was upset with Father Alberto because a layperson was giving his/her testimony during the homily.  Father Alberto already told this parishioner that they have the permission of the Archbishop.  This parishioner insisted that the Archbishop was wrong and was in violation, and Father Alberto walked away.   

Internal Review Discloses Specific Details

The following article appeared in today's Pacific Daily News:

The Archdiocese of Agana yesterday disclosed specific details of alleged financial mismanagement by Monsignor James Benavente, the former administrator of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica and The Catholic Cemeteries.

An Archdiocesan internal review report, which was distributed inside yesterday's issue of Umatuna Si Yu'os, the archdiocese's newspaper, alleges Benavente used funds for the two entities interchangeably, used clergy stipends to make personal credit card payments and used cemetery funds to pay for his 20th anniversary reception, along with other allegations.

"The Archdiocese of Agana in the past several months has been conducting an internal review of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica and The Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc. following a determination by the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, that The Catholic Cemeteries was not auditable," the review report stated.

The report also states during Benavente's time as administrator of the two entities, he developed projects that resulted in the Archdiocese incurring $7 million in debt.

Pacific Daily News made several attempts to contact Benavente yesterday, but was unsuccessful.
Tim Rohr, a friend of Benavente, said Benavente had been asked by Vatican officials not to respond to the allegations.

"The real issue is that he's never been given a chance to respond to the allegations to the Archdiocese," Rohr said. "In any protocol, you don't go to the media or the public first, you go to the person. He hasn't been given a list of the accusations. These aren't new, and this is a severe breach of confidentiality."

Benavente released a statement in August after allegations were first made against him.
"Despite my repeated pleas to be presented with the written allegations of financial mismanagement and the opportunity to respond, the decision was made to go to the media and public first," Benavente said. "I am confident that this entire situation could have been resolved amicably in order to spare our community the hurt and division that exists today; however, the lesser road was chosen."

Projects Benavente administered account for 37 percent of the total debt of the Archdiocese while the remaining debt is spread among all parishes and Catholic schools, according to the report.
Upon changing administration, credit cards in the name of the Archdiocese were discovered holding balances in excess of $60,000, the report states.

"The credit card in the name of The Catholic Cemeteries was specifically used by (Monsignor) Benavente for restaurants, air fare, the Shangri-La Hotel in Manila and other five star hotels," according to the report.

In the same period those charges were accrued, The Catholic Cemeteries and the Cathedral-Basilica expended more than $123,000 toward credit card payments to First Hawaiian Bank and American Express, and an additional $23,000 of The Catholic Cemeteries' funds were allegedly used to pay for a credit card in Benavente's name, a gas card, and cellphone and data privileges, according to the report.

Additionally, the report states that $13,000 of cemetery funds were used to pay for Benavente's anniversary reception, the report states.

Operating in the red

The Cathedral-Basilica is currently operating in the red, and according to the report, this is because of actions taken by Benavente.

According to the report, Benavente offered scholarships, medical donations, employee loans and other donations from parish funds, despite a lack of available funds.

Past-due obligations for both the Cathedral-Basilica and The Catholic Cemeteries total $400,000, which does not include the $7 million owed to First Hawaiian Bank, the report states.
The monthly income generated by the Cathedral-Basilica is "insufficient to pay for both past due and current" obligations, according to the report.

Monsignor David Quitugua, who is the Cathedral-Basilica's current rector, issued a letter to parishioners yesterday that said the parish will need to increase revenues in the coming months and years to address incurred obligations.

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20150126/NEWS01/301260006/Internal-review-discloses-specific-details

The Church Will Never Fail

The following was a comment from my last post.  To the commenter who made this comment under my last post, thank you.  Although it is a long comment, but well worth the read.  Those who oppose the Archbishop claim that THEIR Church is being taken over by the Way.  In the first place, it was never "their" Church.  The Church belongs to Christ.  Furthermore, how can they believe that the Catholic Church would be taken over?  She has stood for over 2000 years, and suddenly...they believe that she would be taken over?  Where is their faith in Christ who promised to be with her until the end of time?  I like these words spoken by Cardinal Consalvi (bold is mine):   

"As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "Je détruirai votre église" ("I will destroy your Church")." Wen informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hafa Adai Diana - I discovered a post written by a Father Landry back in 2002. While he was writing about the sex scandal in the church, I have attached a section of it because it relates to this "scandal" occurring today here in Guam. Because of its length, I have to send it in two parts.

Part 1:
"The Church will never fail

For almost three years of my life in the early 1990s, while in my car I listened to nothing but tapes by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, one of the greatest Catholic preachers in American history. On a couple of his tapes for priests' retreats, Bishop Sheen said that he preferred to live in times when the Church has suffered rather than thrived, when the Church had to struggle, when the Church had to go against the culture. It was a time for real men and real women to stand up and be counted. "Even dead bodies can float downstream," he said, pointing that many people can coast when the Church is respected, "but it takes a real man, a real woman, to swim against the current."

How true that is. It takes a real man or a real woman to stand up against the current that is flowing against the Church. It takes a real man or a real woman to recognize that when you are resisting the flood of criticism, you are safest when you stay attached to the Rock on whom Christ built his Church. This is one of those times. It's a great time to be a Christian.

Some people are predicting that the Church is in for a rough time, and maybe it is. But the Church will survive because the Lord will make sure it survives. One of the greatest comeback lines in history was uttered two hundred years ago. As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "Je détruirai votre église" ("I will destroy your Church")." Wen informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?

The Cardinal was pointing to a crucial truth: Christ will never allow his Church to fail. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:18); that the barque of Peter, the Church sailing through time to its eternal port in heaven, will never capsize-not because those in the boat won't do everything sinfully possible to overturn it but because Christ, who is captain of the boat, will never allow it to happen.

Part 2.

The magnitude of the current scandal might be such that some will find it difficult to trust priests in the same way as in the past. That is regrettable, though it might not be a completely bad thing. Yet you must never lose trust in Christ! It is his Church. After Judas's death the eleven apostles convened; the Holy Spirit chose Matthias to take Judas's place, and he proclaimed the gospel faithfully until he was martyred for it. In the same way today, even if some of those the Lord chose have betrayed him, he will call others who will be faithful, who will serve you with the love with which you deserve to be served.

This is a time in which all of us need to focus ever more on holiness. We are called to be saints, and how much our society needs to see this beautiful, radiant face of the Church! You are part of the solution-a crucial part. And as you go forward in Mass to receive from the priest's anointed hands the sacred body of your Lord, ask Christ to fill you with a real desire for sanctity, a real desire to show his true face.
...
Maybe this scandal can kindle in you the same thing. If you choose, this scandal can lead you down to the path of spiritual suicide. But it should inspire you to say finally to God, "I want to become a saint so that I and the Church can give your name the glory it deserves, so that others might find in you the love and the salvation that I have found."

Jesus is with us, as he promised, until the end of time. He is still in the boat. Just as out of Judas's betrayal he achieved the greatest victory in the universe-our salvation through his passion, death and resurrection-so out of this new scandal he may bring, wants to bring, a new rebirth of holiness, a new Acts of the Apostles for the twenty-first century, with each of us-and that includes you-playing a starring role. Now is the time for real men and women of the Church to stand up. Now is the time for saints. How will you respond?"

It is unfortunate that Mr. Rohr is insisting that all the faithful do not contribute to the charities appeal. It is unfortunate that he feels money will hurt the church. Jesus Christ was clear ... You cannot serve God and money. I hope that in the midst of all this, every catholic faithful will ask, "what would Christ do?" and then respond accordingly.

Internal Report of Cathedral-Basilica And Catholic Cemeteries

An anonymous commenter in my last post alerted me to the fact that Tim Rohr had published the Internal Report of the Cathedral-Basilica and the Catholic Cemeteries.  How did he manage to obtain a copy of the Internal Report should not be a mystery since he already admitted that he has spies in the Chancery.  I wonder if Monsignor James was aware that Tim Rohr has just made public this Internal Report showing evidence of his financial mismanagement.....because I do not see it in the Pacific Daily News or KUAM.  Did the Archdiocese of Agana plan on publishing this information without first speaking to Monsignor James?  The alternative would be for Monsignor James to come forward and admit his wrongdoing so the Archdiocese would not need to publish their findings.  That opportunity is now gone since Tim took it upon himself to make the findings public in his blog.   

Since the media monitors Tim's blog, I am sure he will be flooded with inquiries from the media. Thanks to Tim, we now know that the Archbishop was telling the truth all along.  I think that the following piece below mentioned in the report is very interesting.  This most likely explains why Monsignor James' family was very upset by his removal.  I suppose they did not want the public to know that they received FREE cemetery plots valued at $380,000.  According to the Internal Report: 

Between January 2009 and July 2014, Msgr. Benavente received payments of $326,913.61 by simultaneously drawing payroll and stipends from the Catholic Cemeteries, and stipend payments from the Cathedral-Basilica.  Upon the change of administration, credit cards in the name of the Archdiocese were discovered holding balances in excess of $60,000; the credit card in the name of The Catholic Cemeteries was specifically used by Msgr. Benavente for restaurants, air fare, the Shangi-La Hotel in Manila and other five star Hotels.  In the same period, The Catholic Cemeteries and the Cathedral-Basilica expended more than $123,000 towards credit card payments to First Hawaiian Bank and American Express.  Other payments for a credit card in the name of Msgr. Benavente, a gas card, and cellular/data phone privileges, which were paid for by The Catholic Cemeteries, accounted for an additional $23,000.  Notably, $13,000 of cemetery funds were paid for Msgr. Benavente's 20th Anniversary reception.  Total advances documented between January 2009 and July 2014 by both entities for Msgr. Benavente are nearly $475,000.  This does not include cemetery family crypts valued at 380,000.00, which were gifted by Msgr. Benavente to his close friend and family: in other words, no fee was charged for these cemetery plots.

http://www.junglewatch.info/2015/01/dear-archbishop-savio-hon-tai-fai.html

Now that Tim Rohr has made public the findings of the Internal Report, which was dated January 23, 2015, is he going to call the Archbishop a "liar?"  Will he be calling him a bully?  How was he a bully when it was Tim Rohr who made the findings of the Internal Report "public" after the information was leaked to him?  Archbishop Apuron said that he removed Monsignor James for financial mismanagement.  That is the truth. 

Building Up The Church

According to our Statutes, the Neocatechumenal Way is for those who have fallen away from the Catholic Church, those who desire to deepen their faith, and those who come from Christian denominations not in full communion with the Catholic Church. 

In the Way, mission families and itinerants are sent to foreign countries to evangelize non-Christians.  A Catholic needs to be prepared to evangelize non-Christians.   Preaching fire and brimstone to non-Christians will not convert them.  Sometimes, the best way to evangelize is through one's behavior.  As I mentioned before, Ghandi once said that he likes Christ but he does not like Christians.  Ghandi did not reject Christ, but he also did not convert to Christianity because he saw that the behavior of Christians were far from Christlike.  The NCW is an itinerary so that we can live out our baptism to be like Christ.  If Ghandi had met Mother Teresa, he probably would have a different view of Christians.     

The NCW currently has 102 Redemptoris Mater Seminary affiliated with the Lateran University in Rome.  This seminary has produced many priests to do diocesan and missionary work.  In the past, Guam has asked for priests from other countries such as the Philippines because we were unable to produce enough priests for Guam.  With the establishment of two seminaries, we no longer need to ask other countries for priests.  Rather, we are now in a position to help other countries who are lacking priests.  The more priests are produced on Guam, the more we build up the Catholic Church. 

Members of the Way are told to attend Sunday Mass with the parish once a month.  However, there are some of us who attend Sunday Mass with the parish more than once a month due to the fact that we have become more involved in our parishes.  There are NCW members who have joined the church choir, become lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and alter servers but we do not have a sign on us proclaiming that we are from the Way.  We do not need to announce ourselves.   Others build up the parishes by doing volunteer work in cleaning and maintaining Church grounds.  Others participate in the parish council, work in parish offices, and even volunteer their time teaching CCD in the Church.  

The youths in the NCW are also active in the celebrations.  Many of them love music and chose to be cantors.  Many of them participate in the monthly scrutacio reading the Bible and reflecting on the biblical readings.  Families of the NCW are also transmitting the Catholic faith to their children during morning prayers.  The youths are the future Church, and it is great to see the youths involve in the Church and speak about Christ our Savior.