www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Smithtown Church & Fr. Daniel Bitsko

Latin Trad:

quote:
Uhh, Chotki, I really don't know anything about this incident (I am originally from LI, though!).

We as Parishoners of both Smithtown and Westbury
do know about this incident and know the Priest
involved for over 30 years.
We also know the Bishops track record of closing churches in Florida,Hartford CT, and Brooklyn and also in the Parma Eparchy where he once served as Bishop.
We'll give him the benefit of doubt when he tells
us what his real plans are and why he fired Father
Bitsko.

I am sure nobody knows the true facts except for the Bishop and Fr. Bitsko. He may have had the same reason for closing the CT church. Who knows. Lets see if the truth comes out shortly. It really does not matter who knew who and for how long. The fact that the Bishop and Fr. Dan are mum about the incident should speak volumes. I do not believe a person gets fired or resigns because they are tired after the bizzar.

In October, St. John's in Trumbull celebrated it's 100th Anniversary and Bishop Andrew Pataki did not show up, he was "under the weather". Trumbull is the closest church to Holy Trinity in Bridgeport, CT. Holy Trinity parishioneers had been writing him and calling him and had not gotten a reply. Now the church is closed. What a man, eyh? Jesus please help us!!!

Openyoureyes:)

The truth is out there somewhere!
The truth will end all our speculations.
WE THE FAITFULL DESERVE THE TRUTH NO MATTER HOW
PAINFULL IT MAY BE.
It seems to me that everyone on this forum and all
the parishoners of the closed churches love their
Church and will never lose their faith.
AMEN.
SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
MAY THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD SAVE US AND OUR CHURCH!

Has anyone from the parish visited the Bishop's office, or asked Bishop Pataki for a meeting to discuss his decision?

There are certain 'proceedures' which must be followed in closing a parish. Has anyone checked to make sure that all these have been followed exactly? If they haven't been, then is there a case for an appeal to higher authority?

If the bishop can't meet with the parishioners, then is it time to write the Archbishop, or the Nuncio for help, mediating the situation?

Nick

Nick,
Getting an appointment is next to impossible. The next higher level would be the Metropolitan and he asked that they not bother him. I assumed a metropolitan was responsible for the whole of the metropolia, but it appears NOT.

I think there is some type of "The Great OZ has spoken" mentality here.

Sam

I would suggest to those in LI...to get yourselves on the record of requesting a meeting to discuss this situation...I do want to set a realistic expectation however, in Bridgeport, CT we had many times requested such a dialogue and +Andrew would not even send a letter back acknowledging he received them (even though some were signed for when sent return receipt or fed ex)...with the 50+ letters that were sent over a two year time frame there is no way he can say he did not receive any of the requests...

Unfortunately, we have not been able to get ANYTHING out of that group...what do you expect from a group of lawyers...(Pataki and Hospodar are both JCL's)they hold everything "close to the vest" or should I say "close to the cassock"

It is definitely time for people to begin writing the Archbishop and Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC...If for nothing more but to continue to bring this type of behavior to peoples attentions...Holy Trinity had written both of them and I know the Papal Nuncio received most if not all of the 50+ letters...he apparently did not do much...and I believe I already told you that Metropolitan Basil brushed us off as "a matter concerning the Eparchy of Passaic"...Unfortunately, I think there was not alot of backup...I think the only way this "madness" can end is if people start flooding letters to Metropolitan Basil...the Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC...and our fellow heirarchs in Parma and Van Nuys...The Parishioners "flooded" their mail over the last two years...but since it appears that it has only been us I believe...it was easy to label us as "nothing more than a bunch of troublemakers"...If they see this type of behavior coming from others...It may not hurt to see if they will take a second look and realize maybe the problem wasn't the "troublemakers" in CT rather the problem is +Andrew...It wouldn't hurt to send some copies to members of the Passaic Presbyreral Council as well...(List on the Eparchial Website)

Someone should point out - loudly - to the Chief Gunslinger that bringing guns, especially loaded guns, into a church is a serious sacrilege.

Who does he think he is, Charlton Heston?

Incognitus

Incognitus,
Can you clarify your last message? Who are you talking about. It is not clear?

I can't speak for Incognitus, but I would have thought the point was obvious.

I will state my opinion on the matter. Anyone who carries a weapon into a Church (a consecrated place), or anyone who invites, hires, or authorizes another to do so on his behalf, is guilty of the sin of sacrilege, and should proceed at once to the mystery of confession, for the sake of his/her soul.

Nick

We don�t seem to have a complete and accurate understanding of how that particular church was closed so I won�t comment.

Generally speaking, of course, one should not carry firearms into church. But it is not and cannot be a blanket rule. Police officers who attend Divine Services while in uniform (during lunch, for example) will have their handgun with them (it�s part of their job). I am not the least bit offended by this and I don�t think it would ever be considered a sacrilege. [This comes to mind only since in my post-college days I shared a townhouse with a friend who was a police officer. He very often came to Sunday Divine Liturgy in uniform with his handgun strapped to his side (it was a requirement). I don�t remember anyone ever really paying attention to it, let alone being offended by it.]

There's an obvious difference. One is bringing the weapon to Church, with the express intention of using it to use it (or at least with the threat to use it).

I remember an old soldier who served in the Army in the Second World War telling me, that one Sunday the Catholic soldiers in his unit went to Mass in a Church in an occupied area of Germany, and left their rifles stacked against the wall in the Church porch. They wouldn't ever dare take them into the Church, as it would be a sacrilege, and the Church would have to be re-consecrated.

But perhaps, that was the intention in this case, since the Church will not be used again for prayer. It needs to be de-consecrated in one way or another!

Nick

I am still not sure how the discussion turned to bringing guns into church. The discussion was about the Smithtown church. Can someone post the quote where guns were mentioned? Thanks! Sorry, I can not find it.

Open,
Two churches found themselves in the middle of a crisis at the same time here. I think some of the facts may run together but there is one common denominater, Bishop Pataki. He is the chief shepherd who made the decision to close a Connecticut parish and is ultimately responsible for the decisions of his chancellor and youth moderator regarding the same.

Check the threads in Church News and
Evangelization on the closing of Holy Trinity in Connecticut. You'll find posts/links that state the Sunday the announcement was made that the parish was being suppressed Frs Malitz and Hospodar exited the church with armed security guards. Hence the title Chief Gunslinger for the bishop.

The fathers may have felt they had a need to be protected from the senior citizens in attendance :rolleyes: . Maybe the ladies collected their pirohi rolling pins prior to having the doors slammed in their faces? Maybe they raised them high in solidarity once or twice from the pews? For whatever reason, sadly the people were seen as a serious threat by these two 'leaders'.

Sam

Thank you!