Some Benedictine Monks [still!] recruiting Gay men

[Dignity Discussions] email loop/ www.benedictinecommunity.org | 9/17/03 | [Dignity Discussions] email loop

[ninenot]

Please see my post. Rembert is NOT at Latrobe, except for an occasional visit. He's here, eating at our expense.

[Tantumergo]

"This is a very serious issue that the bishops are just not paying enough attention to it nor are they intervening in it. Complacency is the word."

I just wish Ratzinger would hurry up and get this document on queers in the priesthood promulgated. At this rate the Pope will die before it is released and then the whole thing will just be shelved.

[ninenot]

Those who have hope, of course, also have a plan. The plan should include a kind of 'roadmap'--and the roadmap should include spots marked "danger."

Knowing where danger lurks--whether with certain Bishops, priests, Cardinals, or other laymen--is important.

One of the best resources in that regard is FR.

[ninenot]

Complacency is the word

Willful ignorance?

[ninenot]

Should be a very interesting document, indeed. The 1961 Instruction was applied to Orders--and although common sense would tell one that it applies universally to the priesthood, it obviously was ignored.

There have been two statements made on the topic from the Vatican--Navarro-Valls' "they should NOT be ordained" and a more circumlocutious comment by a Cardinal, just short of "NO!"

Ratzinger & Co. have to figure out how to say what needs to be said without effectively 'tossing' all the extant homosexuals out of the priesthood.

[SuziQ]

I looked at the website. They proclaim they are an independent community under the authority of John Paul II, but it seems, in the light of the memo you posted above that they are guilty of false advertising.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I've met some great Jesuits lately despite their current level of corruption. They are older and I am impressed.

I've considered joining the Benedictines' lay order. Unfortunately, I'm still looking for a monastery which is close by and still traditional.

[Dajjal]

I e-mailed a monk I know. Here are his two replies (edited to remove names):

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I'm not surprised that such a group exists, however I've never heard of them before. The only two independent Benedictine communities in the US that I know of are Mt. Savior Monastery in Elmira, NY (which is presently petitioning to joining the ***** congregation) and Weston Priory in Weston, VT.

In order for them to get started as a Benedictine house they would have had some initial ties to a community that belonged to one of the recognized congregations or they were a foundation from either Weston or Elmira. Given their ministry (lectors and eucharistic ministers) no one in the community is ordained. My suspicion is that these "monks" are actually Benedictine oblates (third order members).

There is no Independent Benedictine Congregation. If there were, there would be no reason for Mt. Savior Monastery to be required to join an existing congregation. As of now, both Mt. Savior and Weston Priory are under the guidance of the Abbot Primate in Rome.

This whole thing sounds screwy, but that really should surprise either of us!

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I sent a copy of the web link to Br. ***** and we were reviewing it once again this morning. It turns out that the telephone number they have listed is not available through any public directory (even though they claim to be in existence since 1988). Also, their mailing address is a P.O. Box.

There isn't another Benedictine monastery that I have ever heard of that doesn't have an actual street address. My suspicion is that this "monastery" is actually operating out of someone's home and that "they" have an unlisted phone number so they can screen the calls they receive.

The fact of the matter is that the only person listed on the website is Br. Gerald. The pictures that are shown can be from any monastery. In fact, one of the pictures looks like it might be from a Buddhist monastery since the "altar" area doesn't appear to be the least bit Catholic.

[Barnacle]

Good research and post. I should know better than to shoot from the hip.

Let's pour a B&B and chill out on this this Sunday afternoon.

[ArrogantBustard]

he is living at the Benedictine Archabbey at St Vincent's in Latrobe, PA

Hmmm.... That's nice to know. Whenever I want to "fart in his general direction", I'll know which way to turn. ;=}

[neocon]

Thanks for your kind words, Romulus. My health is a bit improved, and I'm hoping to meet with Askel when she comes up this way in a few weeks.

I hope you're doing well also.

[holyokecatholic]

Hello, Canticle

I too have wanted to join a traditional Benedictine monastery as an Oblate. Have you heard about the new Fontgombault Abbey (Solesmes Congregation) foundation in Oklahoma?

yours in Christ,

Robert Tetreault

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I haven't. Do you have a link?

[Pyro7480]

Clear Creek Monastery

They had a fundraiser for this monastery almost a year ago in the DC area. I attended, and I won one of the door prizes, which was a nice bottle of wine!