August
11, 2000
Open Letter
to:
Most Reverend
Gabriel Montalvo
Apostolic Nunciature
of the Holy See
3339 Massachusetts
Ave.
N.W. Washington,
D.C 20008
Dear Bishop
Gabriel Montalvo:
The Church rejoices
as the sanctity of Pope John XXIII is recognized and celebrated through
his elevation to the altar of the Church to be safely imitated by all.
We are moved
by Canon 212 #3 to write and ask you to inform Pope John Paul II that we
do not receive the proclamation of the sanctity of Pope Pius IX as a model
for us to follow in our quest for a holy life which the canonical proclamation
of sainthood suggests.
Please convey
this message to the Pope and ask him to reconsider his decision based on:
1. The protests
of the people.
2. The facts
of history.
3. The contradictory
message being sent by associating Popes John XXIII and Pius IX.
4. The lack
of devotion of the faithful in seeking his intercession as demonstrated
by the abandonment of his tomb in the Church of San Lorenzo where reliable
eye witnesses claim that no one has come to pray at his tomb in the last
ten years.
5. The resulting
alienation and consternation of our Jewish, Irish, and Protestant brothers
and sisters who were persecuted by Pope Pius IX.
6. The credibility
of the Church will be honestly questioned and put at risk by asking people
to honor and imitate Pope Pius IX
Sincerely yours
in Christ,
Robert E. Schutzius,
Ph.D.
Advocacy Committee
Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) 3150 Newgate
Florissant
MO 63033 |