Father Robert Altier issued the
following statement on March 4 to Michael Brown, the editor of Spirit Daily:
Praised be Jesus Christ! The people who take care of the Desert Voice website informed me of your interest in the case in which I am involved with Archbishop Flynn. It is certainly fine with me if you want to write something about it, but there really does not seem to be much of a story, on the surface, to write. The fact that this thing has taken on a life of its own with no help from anyone in particular should tell you that it is really not about me at all. Rather, it is about something much larger than me.
Beyond that, I really do not have much to say other than what was said of the Apostles 2000 years ago, i.e., that they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [Acts 5:41]. All of this is part of God’s loving providence and He will bring about a greater good from this than any of us can ask or imagine. Can you think of a better way to live out the Lenten observance?
Regarding the letter from the Archbishop, I will not release it to anyone. This is done solely out of respect for the Archbishop. He did not request that I not release the letter; it is my decision to act in this manner out of respect for his Excellency.
The Archbishop acted within the bounds of his jurisdictional rights (canon 831 §2) and I simply have to obey. The rest is up to our Lord and Our Lady. It is so wonderful because I am at peace and filled with joy knowing that through obedience I am doing the will of God.
Who could ask for anything more in this world than to know with certainty the will of God for you at any given moment and to be able to live it out in peace and joy? The whole thing is a pure gift from God. This is my take on the whole situation, but as I mentioned above, this cannot possibly be about me. I am merely an instrument that God is using for a much larger purpose. So, if you want to write an article, you really do need to look at what God is doing here.
Father Robert Altier, associate pastor of the Church of St. Agnes
Father George Welzbacher, the pastor of the Church of St. Agnes, published this statement on March 12. click here It is a transcript of the comments he made on Sunday March 5 regarding the situation with Fr. Altier. The emphasis in this transcript appears in the original statement published in the Pastor's Page of the parish bulletin. Following the statement is a brief additional comment by Fr. Welzbacher.
Deluged as the rectory was, beginning Thursday, March the second, with telephone calls and e-mail transmissions with respect to the current status of Father Altier, I felt constrained as pastor of St. Agnes Parish, to compose a brief statement assuring one and all that Father Altier still serves in good standing as the associate pastor of St. Agnes Parish. At all of the Masses offered here at St. Agnes on the weekend of March 4th and 5th my statement was read from the pulpit without further comment. Since many have asked for a copy of that statement, I am printing a transcript here.
* * * * *
Let me state at the outset that neither was I consulted about the command issued recently by the Archbishop to Father Altier nor was I informed about it prior to its announcement in the media. And for very good reason: the Archbishop is under no obligation to explain to his priests the reasons for his commands. During the ceremony of ordination priests take a vow of life-long obedience to their Bishop and to his successors. Fr. Altier accordingly (and quite predictably) honored that vow, submitting at once to the Archbishop’s command by withdrawing from hosting his weekly call-in show on Relevant Radio and by removing the content of his website The Voice in the Desert.
It is important to make clear that Father Altier’s
faculties for maintaining his sacramental and teaching ministry here at St.
Agnes Parish remain essentially intact; he will continue to say Mass, to hear
confessions, to preach and teach and to give spiritual direction exactly as he
has done in the past. I can offer no further comment because what
I have just told you constitutes the entire sum and substance of my knowledge
of the whole affair.
Should anyone question the Archbishop’s authority to restrict or even to
terminate an apostolate conducted by any of his priests via the electronic
media, the code of Canon Law, canon 831, section 2 clearly states: “It is for the conference of bishops to establish
norms concerning the requirements for clerics and members of
religious institutes to take part on
radio or television in dealing with questions of Catholic doctrine or morals.”
The National Council of Catholic Bishops accordingly adapted canon 831 to
the conditions prevailing in the United States by adding the following
complementary norm for canon 831, section 2: “The National Conference of
Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of canon 831, article 2, hereby
decrees that, provided no harm to the Church could result from their presence, clerics and members of religious institutes may
participate in radio and television programs which treat of Catholic doctrine
and morals. A cleric or religious who regularly takes part in such programs must
be qualified by his or her knowledge of the subject and the teaching of the
Magisterium, and must obtain the
permission of either his or her proper diocesan bishop or the diocesan bishop
of the place where the radio or television program is originally broadcast.
In the case of members of religious institutes, permission of the competent
superior is also required.”
This complementary norm was submitted to the Roman Congregation of Bishops
and was officially approved as having regulatory force by the Cardinal Prefect
and by the Secretary of that Congregation. “This norm 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 Francisco Monterisi, Secretary, dated November 27, 2001.”
All of us are edified by Father Altier’s instantaneous
and unquestioning submission to the Archbishop’s command, surely proof, were proof needed, of his humility. And as Psalm 149
assures us: “The Lord adorns the humble with victory.”
I have no further comment to make. I commend the Archbishop and Father
Altier to your prayers.
* * * * *
A final word to parishioners who are
parents of children and teenagers: the St. Agnes Schools will NOT — repeat
NOT
— be using the “Talking About Touching” material as part of our participation
in the mandated national program to protect children
from sexual exploitation. We will be using the vastly more appropriate
Arlington-Harrisburg program which incorporates the essential delicacy and
discretion that teaching about chastity requires. This is the
program that I am told on good authority Archbishop Flynn himself prefers. As
long as I am pastor of St. Agnes parish our school at its various levels will
give appropriate instruction on the virtue of chastity, a virtue without which
the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be attained, but secular sex education will have no place in our curriculum.
Father George Welzbacher, pastor of the Church of St. Agnes