Tasty Pies - by Br. Dysmas

 

Just so we are clear, the number 1 finding of the Canonical Visitation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer in Chch 2023 was that their church is too small. Not crimes or abuse… Bigger church. Number 1 finding – Bigger Church

Sheffield needs a Bigger Pie Shop

“Hold on”, you might say, “Hasn’t Christchurch Diocese been closing churches? Haven’t all the parishes been consolidated into arch-parishes named after the four points of the compass? Why is the church in Rutland St too small? Why do they have so many faithful attending Mass?”

I’m not sure but it could be the same reason that people will travel from far and wide and wait in queues for a Sheffield or Fairlie Pie… Their pies are just better than anyone elses.

Sheffield Pies -World Famous in South Island, N.Z.

Now imagine we were in fact talking about a nationwide (even worldwide) company. The Rutland St Branch had shown such growth and success that they had grown out of their premises while other branches in the same city had to shut their doors. The manager would get a bonus, their success story would feature in the company newsletter and an investigation would be commissioned to determine the reason for their success with a view to teaching ‘their ways’ to the other branches.

But the Catholic Church is not a mere corporation, so things are done a little differently. An investigaton is carried out, not to emulate them but rather to find out what is wrong with them. All staff are fired without reason, their licenses revoked and ordered to leave the city within three months. Their story is featured in the newsletter warning all with big words like “illicit”, not to visit the Rutland St Branch. And it’s safe to say that their manager is still waiting for his bonus.

Then the poor Rutland St employees, who can’t really see the reward in this staff incentive scheme, appeal to the employment court and obtain a hearing. Meanwhile the branch continues to operate, and public opinion is still a little too high. People have even been calling up head office and asking if they can still visit the Rutland St Branch in the meantime. This must be stopped. To solve this problem the media are deployed. Nothing explicit, no witnesses or evidence, which can be disproved, just trigger words, rumours and fill-in-the-blanks puzzles. That will sort the public opinion out.

Something tells me that this style of management is not conducive to company growth but that's a story for another day.

Nevertheless, in spite of all this, many faithful customers still visit the Rutland St Branch daily. Weekend numbers are high as ever and the pies still taste darn good. If you haven't stopped by before I encourage you to go along and see for yourself. They have even recently expanded to a second location in North Canterbury. Ah well, at least the head office did something right in the end and gave them a new premises. No no, don't be hasty, they had to buy it themselves... From the competition!

"Will Never Cede Control" - Fr Yousef Marie

Setting the record straight. Accusations that Fr Michael Mary "will never cede control" and enjoyed having control over other people contradicts the facts of election.

Fr Michael Mary and all those who govern resigned at the First and Second General Chapter as required by Canon Law and the Constitutions of the Son of the Most Holy Redeemer. The election was open to all the perpetually professed members.

Fr Michael Mary was first appointed superior by the Bishop of Aberdeen in 2012 until the First General Chapter.

The First General Chapter was held in 2015 in the presence of the Rt. Rev. Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., Bishop of Aberdeen. The perpetually professed members voted. Father Michael Mary was elected in the first ballot and duly installed by the Bishop of Aberdeen. 

The Second General Chapter was held in September 2021 in Montana, USA. According to Church Law the election ws held in the presence of the Episcopal Delegate and two Tellers.

Father Michael Mary was elected Rector Major in the first ballot as was solemnly attested by the Episcopal Delegate and the two Tellers.

The result of the election was conveyed officially to Rt. Rev. Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., Bishop of Aberdeen who promulgated this news to the Diocese of Aberdeen on 29 September, 2021. 

Therefore the accusation that Fr Michael Mary "will never cede control" is a baseless lie spread by the Press and by those making such comments. 

Picturesque Lies - by Brother Nicodemus

 

Repeating a story, in itself unfounded, and adding a dangerous word, facilitates a "published story" being later quoted as a kind of historical evidence. Thus the nasty little new word becomes "fact". In the repertoire of our detractors, these creeping lies have become key.

- The Press enquired (see previous post) before publishing its 30 November full broadsheet page "about" us, stating that nearly three decades ago Fr Michael "instructed people to strip off their habits and swim in a different river"... (Our emphasis.)

- More than a week after their enquiry, they published an article in which this had now morphed into: "followers were told to strip naked, leave their habits where people could see, and swim in the river anyway... (Our emphasis.)

- By the evening the online version had the following footnote: *CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said Father Mary asked followers to strip naked to bathe in a religiously significant stream at Lourdes. Father Marshall says they actually stripped their habits. (Amended 6.16pm, November 30, 2024)

- Their story now reads: "were told to strip off their habits*, leave their habits where people could see, and swim in the river anyway"...

You can see very clearly from this that the word "naked" had been interpolated into the text, and was, by the newspaper's admission, false. The original enquiry text had the exact same wording as the "corrected" text: "strip off their habits" The word "naked", like the other untruths that have been pronounced against us over and over again, is the poison that changes a silly, skewed and incorrect  account into something outrageous. While you can correct it in an online footnote, what is written remains on the paper and in the minds of all who read this.

Note too in this line alone how the narrative "improves" from "instructed people", which becomes "followers were told", which becomes in the correction "asked followers", and in the text "followers were told"; How "people" becomes the poisonous "followers". 

This modus operandi seems reminiscent of what FM Dostoevsky makes Fr Zozima say to Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov: “A man may know that [he has invented the insult for himself], has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill - he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it.”

Media Correspondence - What is Said Vs What Is Printed - by Will

 For any interested enough and especially for any reading the articles printed by Stuff wanting an idea of the information they receive vs what they go ahead and print, I have copied the below correspondence. The first email is in reply to Stuff journalist Sinead Gill. Her questions are numbered, lettered, and in italics.

Emails begin below:

Hi Sinead, 

Always interesting to hear from you! 

Before responding to the points I'll again point out the frustration of dealing with the opinions of anonymous people regarding our situation. It's hard to see the benefit of using news media as the middle-man in this "conflict" which leads me to believe it is being done intentionally to air grievances that cannot be satisfied through any valid channel--i.e criminal or canonical. It would, as always, be helpful to be privy to specific claims or complaints so they can be scrutinised. 

Moving on. 

a) Former members say this recent blog post, on the a site managed by Fr Michael, illustrates how community members have been led to believe FSSR's way is the only valid form of mass. A former FSSR priest, who still gives mass in TLM, believes this is a means to keep people loyal to the Sons and scare them from attending other mass.

I reject that Fr. Michael has done anything like this or believes that the FSSR is the only offerer of valid Mass. This is factually false and no one at the Oratory believes this. The Mass in the Extraordinary Form is sought out by devout Catholics for many different reasons. I can speak confidently for my own family and many others on this matter. To give a couple of examples, one family attend TLM because of the clear Graces they receive from doing so. Another family attend because the Novus Ordo was "destroying their faith." The list goes on and on. Hypothetically, if the Sons were removed from New Zealand, we would engage the SSPX to come down and fill their space so we can continue to celebrate The Holy Traditional Latin Mass. 

           b) A former member says FSSR leadership is too involved in the personal lives of members and has too much control - multiple former members and the parent of a person in your community believe people have been "brainwashed" and believe anything Fr Michael/leadership tells them

This is a mind-boggling statement. If I were to tell you, Sinead, that I think you are too involved in the personal life of a friend of yours, how would you react to that? You would rightly tell me it was none of my business to whom you were inviting into your home and spending your time with. Let these people worry about their own families, social lives, and brains. It must be noted that any involvement in the personal lives of the congregation with The Sons happens under invitation only. The Sons do not request or demand they be invited over for dinners or other social events. There is no intrusion but only the charity and joy of receiving them. 

           2. a) Former members and a current priest who follows TLM believes it is wrong and  disingenuous for the Sons to be holding regular mass, despite the Bishop's orders, and saying it is OK because it is being described as private.

This is their opinion. According to the Canon Law we are right. According to the Bishop of Dunedin, and as he has advised at least one enquiring young-gentleman, The Sons' Mass is valid. We wish to remain objective. +Gielen has not the right to stop the Mass in the manner he is attempting. 

                b) They say FSSR bringing in visiting priest without permission but saying they don't need permission - when the Catholic Church of Aotearoa have safeguarding rules - is an example of FSSR not respecting authority or following rules.

Again, Canon Law says differently; Priests do not need to seek permission to say Mass. This is a fact. The Catholic Church of New Zealand know and understand that we have our safeguarding in place and that it is strictly adhered to. It would be disingenuous of them to say otherwise

                c) They believe that Fr Michael is "a law unto himself" and "no one can stop him 

What on earth does this imply?!? Law unto himself in what regard? When, what, who, how? No one can stop him from doing what exactly? On two separate occasions, The Sons have offered to leave the diocese and both times their offer was rejected. Does this sound like the actions of individuals who are "laws unto themselves"? If they wanted to "stop" Fr. Michael they've had ample opportunity. Instead his presence has been both requested and required.

                d) They describe Fr Michael as "domineering" and theatrical, choosing to preach things that are scary, "extreme"/ "fire and brimstone".

Are we on trial now for the personal style of sermons given by Fr. Michael? I can tell you, I don't think I have missed a sermon by Fr. Michael in the last four-or-so years and they are few and far between. It may surprise these individuals that the Christian faith deals with matters such as life and death, Heaven and Hell. Matters of the soul. These are all grave matters--shall we recommend to Fr. Michael that it is only sunshine and rainbows on the pulpit from henceforth? We have a very good balance of sermons/reflections typically from 4 different priests who each carry their own style and deliveries. They are all a joy to listen to.

                 3. a) One former member showed me an email from early 2022 from Fr Anthony Mary, who warned people against attending a private mass by an  unauthorised priest. In it, Fr Anthony said it was a "source of division, which is from the depths of hell" and the former member believes this is hypocritical when FSSR are holding what they call private mass themselves. They ask why this is any different.

Ah the infamous email. I think Fr. Anthony has well and truly had his penance for this one. The priest in question had no standing in The Church whatsoever; he was a breakaway from the SSPX. The FSSR and many other orders are in good standing with The Church and in full and undisputed unity with The Church. This is the basis of Fr. Anthony's warning and that is why it is different.

                4. a) A representative of the Anglican Church, which owned the Ohoka church FSSR recently bought, said at no point in the dealing was the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer mentioned. They believed they were selling it to a trust called "friends of St Albans". Why was FSSR/your lawyer not forthcoming about this?

It had been discussed in some depth between members of the congregation, our need for a church or other building to accomodate our growing community. It is, in my opinion, completely inappropriate that a congregation our size should have to, every holiday season, go hunting to borrow another church in the diocese, or school hall, or rural town-hall to celebrate our Mass. We don't all fit at the Oratory during these times you see. Given +Gielen's hostility toward TLM and The Sons, and him being in somewhat "cahoots" with the Anglicans, and his already having blocked a purchase of a church down in Timaru some time ago, we thought it wise to secure a purchase under a trust instead. Despite all this I am told the Anglicans did in some capacity understand the purchase involved The Sons. I don't know what motivates them to say otherwise after the fact.

                5. a) Liz Gregory of the Gloriavale Leavers Trust is concerned there are parallels between the FSSR community and Gloriavale. In her support of ex-FSSR members, she is concerned members were led to believe they will go to hell if they don't stay loyal to FSSR/follow their rules. She said the group has the markers of a "cult"/"high control" group, in that there is a charismatic leader, people are isolated from outside networks (rely heavily on community and spiritual leaders to meet their needs, making it feel near impossible to leave, she said) and pitted against each other (referencing how some ex-members have faced accusations of lying or having personal vendetta for challenging the leadership and believing people who say they experienced abuse).

As I have stated above in one of the first points, we are here for TLM. TLM is the centre of our lives--not The Sons. Gloriavale is a Hutterite style group that incorporates entire families living, working, and educating in common. Members of Gloriavale, as I believe, sign documents of obedience. We are none of these things and no such thing has happened where people are advised they will go to hell if "they don't stay loyal to FSSR/follow their rules." This is absolutely ridiculous. None of the members of The Sons would say that the FSSR is the only way to Heaven, not only is it a factually false statement, it calls to question the integrity of whomever made the statement! Are they even Catholic? Do they understand all the Eastern Rites and other valid orders and forms of the Mass? There is no cult. There is no control. What are the examples of this? The only instruction I have personally been given is that it is my duty as a Catholic to fulfil my Sunday and Holy day obligations--one will receive the same advice from any Catholic priest around the world.

Is it a negative thing to have support from a community of people who are close to you? No one is being pitted against anyone, in fact it remains that these accusers are still largely anonymous! How can we be pitted against those we do not know? How can we have personal vendettas when we don't know who has made accusations!? People come and go from the community constantly, I see new and old faces regularly, people come and go as they please which is their right. 

                      b) An academic with no involvement in advocacy says people should feel alarmed about FSSR, based on what she has read about the group. Her description of a "high demand" religious community (she does not like the word cult) aligns with Gregory's description of FSSR.

Remember no charge has been brought, no accusation levelled. What she has read about "the group" are lies, embellishments, rumours, and hearsay. Same applies to the point/woman directly above. So basically an academic and an ex-cultist are alarmed about falsehoods. Good on them and all the best with their careers. 

                      6. a) A former priest of FSSR believes that Fr Michael liked having control over what people did, even if at the time the temporary rules seemed small and on a whim. He gave an example of a short period of time where members of the order had to walk around with large crosses on their belt weighing about 3 pounds.

No idea what is being spoken of here but remember that Fr. Michael is the elected Superior General of a religious order. His entire job is to govern, whether he likes it or not. I am not privy to the lives, inner workings/structures, or disciplines of the various religious living around the globe. Seems a small and strange detail. The phrase, "scraping at the bottom of the barrel" rings a bell. [Update in the morning], one of our monks has told me he was present wearing his own cross on this occasion and that it didn't weigh 3-pounds as claimed. It was worn for three-hours in memory of our Lord's passion probably some time in 1992...32 years ago. 

                          b) Re: dislike of authority, he gave an example of when the order was living in France in the 90s. He said Fr Michael was angry that the authorities would not let them swim in a stream in Lourdes, significant to St Bernadette, and out of anger instructed people to strip off their habits and swim in a different river, which he felt was just public indecency.

Literally laughed out loud at this. So Fr. Michael hates authority because one time, 30-years-ago he couldn't swim in a stream? Very good. 

 

                          c & d) He said prior to the reconciliation, Fr Michael said the Pope wasn't valid. What is Fr Michael's view of the validity of the current Pope?

                                     In his opinion he said this clash between Fr Michael/the Sons and the church was inevitable, and expects that Fr Michael will split from the church before agreeing for the Sons to leave the diocese.

I don't think any of this is relevant to the current situation and is just injected to attempt to drum up further conflict--this is just his opinion. I will say however that reconciliation would not have been possible if one was denying the validity of the Pope. 

To finish I will attach in a separate email a document from Fr. Michael to +Gielen. In this document, and for the third (?) time, Fr. Michael offers to his one of his superiors, +G,  to leave the diocese. Though this time with the caveat that the faithful here in Christchurch be properly administered to once The Sons have left. Something we greatly appreciate as we are dealing with a bishop who clearly doesn't care for our needs. Again, this was rejected but clearly shows Fr. Michael's acknowledgement of authority. 

Email 2:

Thank you for this response Will. I just came across old press releases - dated July and August 2023 - from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) which includes some specific wording on what the allegations were. These were published online and largely are allegations I've seen reported by media already, so I believe they were put to Fr Michael/the Sons at the time, but just in case there is something new to these allegations you'd like to comment on please let me know today. Linked them below.

That in 2021 SNAP "received complaints of prolonged exorcisms and religious confessions involving sexual deviancy".

A separate press release: "The allegations involved children being told they were possessed by Satan, having lengthy exorcisms performed on them without prior medical examination, priests’ sex-testing children, sexualisation a penitent disclosure in confession, and isolation of parents from their children."

Response:

Hi Sinead, 

These were the accusations that formed the basis of Paddy Gower’s hit-piece. These have already been responded to many, many times and have been thoroughly rejected by us, the police, and the former Bishop of Christchurch. 

Kind regards,

Will

How I feel about it - Father Michael Mary

The spit continues. Accusation, detraction, calumny. I read it with my eyes and each word is like thick spit. I can wipe the spit from my face, brush it off, but it still penetrates my mind and inner sanctum. And I know that anyone for ever searching the Internet could read it and doubt me; mock me and scorn; spit again behind my back.

So how do I feel about it? It is not easy, but it is getting better.

I thought tonight of the prophet who was given a scroll with words written on both sides of the parchment. He was told to swallow it. He ate it and said that it was bitter to swallow but it turned into something sweet in his stomach. Beautiful image! (Ezk 3:1, Apoc 10:9) I think that this is what all this is supposed to be like.

I read the detractions and calumnies and have to swallow them. They are bitter, humiliating. Digestion is slow. But little by little, with the help of Our Lord, they will become a beatitude, and I pray for that. For He said: Blessed are you when these things happen to you for His sake and get ready to rejoice. So that's my optic on it all. It's the tough "Yaka" of our life with Christ.

 I am not the only one who faces these things. Many face worse calumnies. Let us all swallow whatever is written, for the love of Jesus. I say to myself "it's good for me!" whatever it is. Pray and let Our Lord's Crowning with Thorns and Mockery lead us on the road through painful indigestion of the scroll, to eventual peacefulness and spiritual sweetness, to finally rejoicing for the love of Him. That's the treatment we must follow for our souls. It is the way for every person who suffers from detraction and calumny for the love of Christ. 

Remember also what St Alphonsus teaches: He says that the dog only bites the stick that hits him and doesn't see the hand that hits. Which means that it is foolish for us to be angry and bite those who have detracted and calumniated us. They are the sticks. But the hand that hits is the Hand of God. Since God gives us this thrashing, we should submit to it for His glory and in submission to His purposes. It sounds tough, and it is tough, but it is right and just and true. That's us. Forgiveness is a work. It costs. We must pay well for the grace to get it right.

But there is more. It would be incomplete to avoid the charity of stating that every detractor has a moral obligation to reparation. I fear for our enemies. I say that in charity.

We have now reached a depth of detraction and calumny that is gravely immoral, way over the top. Now deep damage has been done and continues to mount. St Alphonsus teaches that each priest and monk possesses nothing in this world except his reputation. The reputation of our community members has now been most unjustly and gravely wounded, practically destroyed. Catholic media calls a Catholic Religious Congregation a "sect". We have become the offal of Christchurch diocese and now is true that "Any stone is good enough to throw at a dog!"

Be that as it is. May our enemies know that I love and pray for them, that I would willingly talk with them and help them to undo the damage that they have caused or contributed to knowingly or unknowing. As God Wills, that the peace of Christ may dwell in our hearts.

Devotedly

Father Michael Mary  

Response of Christchurch born Brother Ernest Maria.

 A 16th-century Italian priest, St. Philip Neri, gave this penance to a woman who confessed to spreading malicious gossip.  First, she was to go to the market, buy a chicken, pluck it, and scatter the feathers as she walked home. The next day, when she returned for the rest of her penance, he instructed her to go about the town and collect all those feathers she had plucked and scattered. She objected, saying that it would be impossible, for the wind had spread them everywhere. The saintly priest replied, “Let this be a lesson for you, for it is exactly the same with your wicked words. Just as the chicken feathers have been scattered by the wind in every direction, so have your wicked words been scattered in every direction by other people, repeating your stories!”

I am a young member of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, and a native of Christchurch. Not withstanding the pain of having been given, not by name but in effect, an exile order from my own home, I wanted to express the pain and frustration of seeing the men and the Congregation I love so unfairly caluminated.

For what it is worth, in the over three years I have spent with the Congregation, as a member of the faithful and within the Congregation itself, nothing has given me a moment of concern or suspicion. There is not a culture of secrecy; we are all part of the same family. The (normal Religious) obedience required in the Congregation has, in my experience, been nothing but fatherly and just, polite even. Indeed, much more so than one would get from any boss, maybe even from a spouse or parent. I have never been asked to do anything that my seniors have not done or would not happily do themselves. No treat or privilege is reserved only for fathers. Just like a family, we share in everything: the joys and woes. Any accusation of a culture of bullying, of practises psychologically harmful, of abuse and love of power on the part of the fathers of the Congregation, or, indeed, of their having any nefarious designs, are absurd. They are completely backwards. I can only give my own case.

Before discovering the Oratory and the Congregation I was certainly depressed. Though never diagnosed, I was physically diminished on account of my psychology and mindset. Through the Latin Mass, and the reordering of my life by the direction of the Sons, I improved quickly and decisively. Since joining the Congregation I have never been happier. I talk to my family at least monthly, and, when in Christchurch, see them often. They are not members of the faithful but they, too, have noticed the change for the better in me. They can see that there is genuine and informed love for the life we live and for the Congregation itself.

The media has spread lies, and have even made many up of their own accord. But, by his actions, the Bishop of Christchurch has given credence to those lies. He has a large share in the responsibility for the damage done to the Congregation, and to souls. It cannot be overstated: people are scandalised; reputations have been permanently marred. The chicken has been plucked and the feathers have been scattered on the wind. Nothing can fully repair the damage that has been done. Even so, it is high time the culprits, particularly the Bishop, start picking up some feathers.

 

- By Brother Ernest Maria

 

 

Brother Ernest Maria is presently in Papa Stronsay, Scotland. He is due to return to Christchurch before Christmas. He has been absent from New Zealand for a little over one year in order to complete his canonical novitiate in Papa Stronsay, our novitiate house, where he is one of  the four NZ novices present there. As of today we have a total of 19 novices and temporary professed. Of the 19 there are 7 New Zealanders and 2 Samoans. Please pray for their perseverance.