Below is the email response sent by
Archbishop Harry J. Flynn to the general public on March 20.
Following the Archbishop's message
is a brief commentary from the DesertVoice Webmasters.
To interested party
Thank you for your recent
note. I appreciate that you have benefited spiritually from Fr. Altier’s
homilies. He has done much good work and is not being “silenced.”
Fr. Robert Altier is a
priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in good standing. He
wrote to ask me for permission to extend his radio ministry. I reviewed the
situation and discerned that a break from his multi-media apostolates might be
beneficial to him and to the parish of Saint Agnes. His primary responsibility
has been and continues to be as assistant to the pastor there in ministering to
the parishioners. The specific reasons for this decision are within the context
of a bishop’s relationship with his priests. It would be most inappropriate to
discuss them with others.
Many people have leaped to
inaccurate and unkind conclusions. They do a disservice to Fr. Altier and to
me. I pray that Lent will be a time for them to examine their consciences and
grow in charity. They would be well-advised to listen to or read some homilies
about the perils of rashly judging others and about the respect owed to the
successors of the apostles.
Some people have mentioned
concerns with regard to the “safe environment” programs for children. Let me
assure you that pastors in this Archdiocese have a number of options from which
to choose and that parents always retain the right to withhold their children
from any program to which they object.
I hope that you may avail
yourself of some of the other good spiritual resources on the radio, Internet
or in good, old-fashioned books. I personally enjoy the insights of the
periodical missal Magnificat. You are also free to visit Saint Agnes where Fr.
Altier continues to actively minister.
With every good wish, I
remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Harry J.
Flynn, D. D.
Archbishop of Saint Paul and
Minneapolis
From the Webmasters:
In all due respect, we have to maintain that although Father Altier has not been canonically silenced, he has indeed been silenced according to secular understanding. The entry for the term silence appears as follows in Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary:
"1. To make silent or bring to silence. 2. To curtail the expression of: SUPPRESS" (emphasis appears in original dictionary entry)
It remains that Father Altier has been prohibited from being able to give homilies, spiritual talks and spiritual direction on both the Internet and the Catholic radio station Relevant Radio. This request has resulted in making him silent to Internet viewers and radio listeners worldwide.
The Archbishop has expressed his wish for Father Altier to focus on his primary responsibility to the parishioners at Saint Agnes. Father Altier continues to pray Mass daily at the parish church and preaches a homily at each of these Masses. As the DesertVoice website is run by parishioners who are responsible for all the duties connected to the website, Father Altier's schedule has never been impacted by the operation of the website. He has exactly the same amount of time to devote to parish duties today as he did prior to Ash Wednesday when the Archbishop's request to shut down the website was delivered.
In his message, Archbishop Flynn is encouraging people "to visit St. Agnes where Fr. Altier continues to actively minister." By this statement, one would conclude that the Archbishop does not see any error in the preaching of Fr. Altier, or he would not encourage people to go there. He himself says that Father Altier "has done much good." However, for those of you who do not live in close proximity to Saint Paul, for those of you who live in various countries throughout the world, it will never be feasible for you to attend Mass at Saint Agnes and hear Father Altier's homilies.
It may very well be that Archbishop Flynn did not realize that the website was run by parishioners at no trouble whatsoever to Father Altier. Therefore, we remain hopeful that he will correct this inadvertent mistake that this work may continue for the glory of God.
God bless you always,
DesertVoice Webmasters