Priest in a Cult? Please Help

[Canary47]

Hello everyone,

I must say I am quite glad I found these forums!

I’ve recently found myself in a dilema. You see, I’ve done some research and found that the two young priests serving my parish belong to a questionable group called Misioneros de Cristo Sacerdote. This group has an unapproved devotion to La Virgen del Rosario del Pozo, whom they claimed appeared in Puerto Rico in 1954. Here’s an article about the ‘appirition’.

vivificat1.blogspot.com/2006/11/puerto-rico-catholic-bishops-nix-local.html

and about the group, here

misionvirgendelpozo.org/advertencia.html

(it is in spanish but can be translated via google or some other search engine)

It is my understanding that the groups are cult-like and are willing to go against the authority of the Church.

I tried to find out more, and found this about the female branch.

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?Pgnu=1&Pg=Forum24&recnu=22&number=524914

The one responding warns the person to “get away immediately from these people”, and that the ‘apparition’ is “condemned by the Church.”

I don’t know just what to make of it or who to ask for help. I wonder now about the validity of their ordination and of the Sacraments and wether or not I should address this to them. They really seem to be honest and charitable people, and I don’t know if they’re aware of all this.

If anyone has any idea as to what course of action to take or anything at all, please let me know. I’m feeling rather

 

[lizaanne]

Contact your Bishop. It is his place to investigate, validate, and deal with this - not yours.

~Liza

 

[mangy_dog]

Hello everyone,

I must say I am quite glad I found these forums!

I’ve recently found myself in a dilema. You see, I’ve done some research and found that the two young priests serving my parish belong to a questionable group called Misioneros de Cristo Sacerdote. This group has an unapproved devotion to La Virgen del Rosario del Pozo, whom they claimed appeared in Puerto Rico in 1954. Here’s an article about the ‘appirition’.

vivificat1.blogspot.com/2006/11/puerto-rico-catholic-bishops-nix-local.html

and about the group, here

misionvirgendelpozo.org/advertencia.html

(it is in spanish but can be translated via google or some other search engine)

It is my understanding that the groups are cult-like and are willing to go against the authority of the Church.

I tried to find out more, and found this about the female branch.

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?Pgnu=1&Pg=Forum24&recnu=22&number=524914

The one responding warns the person to “get away immediately from these people”, and that the ‘apparition’ is “condemned by the Church.”

I don’t know just what to make of it or who to ask for help. I wonder now about the validity of their ordination and of the Sacraments and wether or not I should address this to them. They really seem to be honest and charitable people, and I don’t know if they’re aware of all this.

If anyone has any idea as to what course of action to take or anything at all, please let me know. I’m feeling rather

I can only echo what Lizaanne said in her thread - Call your Bishop and have him address the potentiality of this concern. He is equipped to handle these matters.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[Canary47]

I thought about contacting the Bishop but don’t really know how. The prospect of chatting with the Bishop makes me queasy.

Does anyone know what the status of their ordination might be? I believe a Bishop is the only one who can confer this Sacrament, and I can’t see any other way as to how they became priests. I’m more than likely going to attend Mass in the same parish (as I have for a few years) and I’m concerned about the validaty of the Mass.

I’m also planning to go to Confession sometime this month, should I bring this up…would this issue affect the validily of the absolution?

 

[lizaanne]

I thought about contacting the Bishop but don’t really know how. The prospect of chatting with the Bishop makes me queasy.

Does anyone know what the status of their ordination might be? I believe a Bishop is the only one who can confer this Sacrament, and I can’t see any other way as to how they became priests. I’m more than likely going to attend Mass in the same parish (as I have for a few years) and I’m concerned about the validaty of the Mass.

I’m also planning to go to Confession sometime this month, should I bring this up…would this issue affect the validily of the absolution?

Pick up the phone and call your Bishop. What you are suggesting about these men is extremely serious. Don’t play detective. Just call the Bishop.

~Liza

 

[Canary47]

I’ve decided to send an email to the Bishop.

Is there a proper way of doing this and is is the only option? What if he doesn’t respond?

I guess speaking to the priests is out of the question

 

[Sr_Sally]

You can send a regular letter or an email, you don’t have to speak to anyone directly. And really, it is unlikely that you’d get the Bishop on the line when you call his office. Just say that you have heard/found this out (state your sources if possible) and you are concerned and then ask him to investigate/reassure you. You will likely receive a form response at first (got your letter, looking into it kind of thing.) If there is nothing to worry about, you will probably hear that soon. If they decide to investigate, you may never know the result. Don’t expect the Bishop’s office to keep you appraised of every step.

If the Bishop does say not to worry. Please believe him and put all of this out of your mind. And also, in the meantime, please put this out of your mind as much as possible. It does your faith no good to be constantly worried about things out of your control.

With no specific, authoritative evidence I also hope you will not discuss this with other members of the parish. And there is no reason for you to bring it up in confession. Confession is about your sins and absolution, not the priest’s.

Finally, if you cannot get any of this out of your mind, it might be best for you to attend Mass at another church for awhile. There is no point in riling yourself up, if another Mass is available.

 

[mangy_dog]

I thought about contacting the Bishop but don’t really know how. The prospect of chatting with the Bishop makes me queasy.

Does anyone know what the status of their ordination might be? I believe a Bishop is the only one who can confer this Sacrament, and I can’t see any other way as to how they became priests. I’m more than likely going to attend Mass in the same parish (as I have for a few years) and I’m concerned about the validaty of the Mass.

I’m also planning to go to Confession sometime this month, should I bring this up…would this issue affect the validily of the absolution?

You seem to be overly preoccupied over the validity of their ordination. Are they from Puerto Rico? If so, are you concerned of the validity of their ordination because they’re from Puerto Rico?
Ask yourself these questions before you go calling the bishop. I hope I’m wrong but, it seems to me (I don’t know anybody else) that your concerns are in another direction.

 

[Canary47]

You seem to be overly preoccupied over the validity of their ordination. Are they from Puerto Rico? If so, are you concerned of the validity of their ordination because they’re from Puerto Rico?
Ask yourself these questions before you go calling the bishop. I hope I’m wrong but, it seems to me (I don’t know anybody else) that your concerns are in another direction.

I am concerned over their ordination because it would affect the validity of the Sacraments (Confession, Holy Communion), right?

I’m not sure were they are from, I believe that they didn’t know much english when they arrived but have progressed immensly.

They’ve made an tremendous contribution to my spiritual growth and I would hate to see them active against the Church.

 

[Chellow]

Before you contact the Bishop you should inform the priests in question with a copy of your information, the letter from the Bishop may not have reach them since their not in the Archdiocese of San Juan any more.

 

[glenaitken]

Pick up the phone and call your Bishop. What you are suggesting about these men is extremely serious. Don’t play detective. Just call the Bishop.

~Liza

Lisa is completely right. Call the Bishop and leave the rest up to him and Christ.

 

[lizaanne]

Before you contact the Bishop you should inform the priests in question with a copy of your information, the letter from the Bishop may not have reach them since their not in the Archdiocese of San Juan any more.

She needs to contact her LOCAL Bishop - he is who would have jurisdiction over these priests, not the Bishop who ordained them.

~Liza

 

[po18guy]

I thought about contacting the Bishop but don’t really know how. The prospect of chatting with the Bishop makes me queasy.

As queasy as allowing this to continue?

Does anyone know what the status of their ordination might be? I believe a Bishop is the only one who can confer this Sacrament, and I can’t see any other way as to how they became priests. I’m more than likely going to attend Mass in the same parish (as I have for a few years) and I’m concerned about the validaty of the Mass.

Once ordained and incardinated, they are priests as any other. Any sin or disobedience they have is immaterial to the mass, as long as they use the proper form.

I’m also planning to go to Confession sometime this month, should I bring this up…would this issue affect the validily of the absolution?

Again, if they are properly ordained and incardinated by the Bishop, everything they do in Christ’s name will be valid.

Do not be afraid.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[Leopard]

I’ve decided to send an email to the Bishop… What if he doesn’t respond?..

He may not, other than to acknowlege receipt of your e-mail, as sensitive matters involving priests may be considered privileged matters that while you may have a right and duty to report if you have reasonable grounds to think something wrong is going on, but you do not have the right to be apprised regarding any subsequent investigation.

Additionally, you should give the bishop your name and complete contact information as he probably will not initiate any investigation against his priests based on a rumor from an unsubstantiated source. Also, if he does decide to investigate this he may need additional information from you.

 

[mangy_dog]

I am concerned over their ordination because it would affect the validity of the Sacraments (Confession, Holy Communion), right?

I’m not sure were they are from, I believe that they didn’t know much english when they arrived but have progressed immensly.

They’ve made an tremendous contribution to my spiritual growth and I would hate to see them active against the Church.

Unless they are Marxist atheist spies trying to infiltrate the catholic church in your area, chances are 99.999% that their oridination is valid.
If you tune in to the catholic channel in these days and listen to Father John Corapi - you will find that the personal activities (within reason) of an ordained priest, do not diminish the powers of their ordination.
I promise you that I’m not trying to be arrogant or rude, but just because these priests have a devotion to an “unapproved” apparition of the Virgin Mary, does not in any way diminish their powers as ordained priests.
If the sins of a priest were to diminish his powers - there wouldn’t be a single valid sacrament in the world.