NJ Catholic Priest will Bike to Raise Money for the NY Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Community Center

A Bergen County, NJ, priest will be delivering a sermon on compassion three days in a row next week, but he won't be speaking from a pulpit.

Believing actions often speak louder than words, the Rev. Peter Wehrle will be cycling from Perryville, Md., to New York City from Friday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 12, to raise funds for people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Also taking part in the 265-mile fundraiser, Braking the Cycle will be a Montclair cyclist who manages a brewery in New York and a former Cliftonite who serves as a corporate tax accountant.

While he has ridden with priests and Baptist ministers in past fund raisers, Father Wehrle, parochial vicar at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Oradell, NJ, will be the only clergyman taking part in the 2004 LGBT benefit.

"The ride will be my ninth for patients with HIV/AIDS" he says. "Why did I select this particular fund raiser? Because I want to help people live and die with dignity. That's not always the case. I have a friend who is currently living with the illness. I also lost another friend to AIDS, so their plight is close to my heart."

"This will probably be my shortest ride," he exclaims. "Past AIDS benefits had me cycling 350 miles from Boston to New York and 525 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles."

The 41-year-old native of Connecticut, formerly of Holy Family R.C. Church in Nutley and Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church in Ridgewood, says the longest distance he ever cycled was 1,500 miles when he made a non-charity cycling trip from Seattle to Los Angeles.

"Having cycled in Rome when I was in seminary, the upcoming ride will be a piece of cake," Wehrle chuckles.

The compassionate clergyman says his parishioners have been extremely supportive and generous. Thanks to their kindness, he has managed to raise $5,000 for AIDS/HIV patients. The minimum pledge is $3,500.

Though he has participated in several AIDS/HIV rides in the past, Montclair resident Eric Ottaway says this year's event may be a little more challenging. But it has nothing to do with distance.

"It will be a big test because I had back surgery in June," he explains. "I almost thought I would have to bow out while recuperating, but I'm determined to give it a try. The pain that I may suffer is a minor issue considering what AIDS people go through.

"The greatest challenge will be getting to Day Two," he explains. "On Day One, you're excited about getting started. You're full of energy. On Day Two, you get up and your muscles say, 'you're going to do what?' On Day Three, you're motivated about coming home."

"It's a cause that has fallen off the radar screen as an issue, but not for the people affected," he says. "While there has been some progress toward a cure and better treatment, there has also been a big cutback by government, and unfortunately the need for funding and prevention is stronger than ever."

Ottaway says he will not be riding for anyone in particular, but for all AIDS/HIV patients. But he will remember a friend of his parents passed away from AIDS long before anyone knew about the illness.

The ride will be the second for Tom Powell, a former Clifton resident who currently lives in Mahwah.

Having ridden 320 miles from New York to Boston three years ago, Powell isn't worried about cycling from Maryland to New York next week.

But he believes that he will have a few aches and pains because he has not been practicing every single day.

Among those cheering him on will be enthusiastic co-workers and company officials who have made pledges on his behalf.

"Absolutely never," he says. "Spectators are always warm, exuberant and receptive. I have yet to meet anyone contrary."

The corporate tax accountant says he is making the ride because he has always been an advocate of charity.

Phone: (201) 261-0148, Fax: (201) 261-0369
Masses: Saturday 6:00 p.m.; Sun, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 p.m.

Most Rev. John J. Myers, J.C.D., D.D.
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark
P. O. Box 9500
Newark, NJ 07104-9500
973-497-4005

This priest is doing Satan's work against the Church, trying to turn it into Sodom and Gomorrah. He should be defrocked and then excommunicated.

Ditto.

The Lesbian & Gay Community Center is in Manhattan on West 13th Street, at the upper end of the West Village, and is surrounded by gay bars, S&M clubs, and other sleaze, masquerading as a trendy neighborhood. It is also right
near a Catholic elementary school & church whose immediate past & present pastors are fully supportive of its agendas - with the full knowledge of the Arch of NY chancery office.

The name of this particular priest is vaguely familiar - but in what context, I am not sure. That he is doing evil is beyond question.

This has nothing to do with compassion for the sick and dying. As others have iondicated here, there are many hospitals and hospices which care for those suffering with this disease. The priest doing this "charity" is serving evil due to a lack of spiritual wisdom - and ultimately due to a complete lack of the Catholic faith in his heart.

But the problem is that nobody - and I mean NOBODY will tell these AIDS sufferers the truth: that they got AIDS because of their immorality, and that this disease is God's judgement upon them.

Most importantly, nobody will tell them that this final prolonged illness is MERCY - in and of itself. Any person who is afflicted with a lingering illness is being given a final chance at the redemtion of their soul. They have the choice to either turn to God in repentance, ask forgiveness, and use this suffering as an offering in reparation for the sins of their life - as a living penanace - so that they might purge themselves, and attain heaven. Better to suffer a little while here, then to burn forever in hellfire.

Sadly, most of them do not do this, and die as they live: mired in their sin. They either shake an angry fist at God, or ignore the "elephant in the living room" (which in this case is God, and the reality of this sin & its consequences), and live a martyr-like existance, "proud" of their sin until the end.

Such stubborness is sin leads them to reject the tender call of Our Lord and Our lady to conversion - even at the last moment of life, and the spiritual graces to do so.

Any priest who involves themselves in such causes should of right to be cast out of the priesthood, as he is leading souls astray, consciously. His personal sin is one thing - and is bad enough. But he no right to cheat others of the chance to save their souls.

The Bishops who will not restrain & chastise such errent priests are themselves guilty of the sin of leading souls astray. For a Bishop - like a priest - is repsonsible, before God, for each and every souls in his charge.

When I say every soul, I mean every soul Even the non-Christian ones within his jurisdiction. Did he ever try to preach to them, pray for them .......sleep on the floor in penance for their souls?

"Thou fool! This night thy very soul may be required of thee. Hast thou made no provision for the day of judgement?"

Good grief. I spent the first 7 years of my life in Ridgewood, NJ. I was baptized, had my first communion at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It was a beautiful Church, alter rail and everything.

The priest who married my parents, Fr. Fisher, was the pastor there, he baptized me too. He was a British import, always pining away for the English fields, etc. My Ma told me that whenever she went in to talk to him, his office would be full of presents, perfectly wrapped, sitting around collecting dust. He never bothered to open them! Such a sweetheart, he got his wish and he went back to England, and he died in the sacristy as he was preparing to say Mass.

According to Ma, the priest who was left in charge was a bit of a drunkard. Always had a red face, and forgot me and my sister's names at our 1st communion (the two of us were the only ones in the class)

Apparently things are still a bit nutty.

sigh.sigh.sigh.

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