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

Bob is quite right. You might wish to investigate the possibility of obtaining an injunction from the civil courts inhibiting the Eparchy of Passaic from continuing this whole tragicomic proceeding.

Fr. Serge

Don't understand this one. Could you please explain further?


Is this on the basis of the questionaire? Is it because yournames are not Ruthenian or Hungarian? How could they have checked the transfers of each and every person so quickly?

BOB

Father Serge:

Father bless!!

The problem with situations like this gets down to a very practical matter very quickly. Someone has to stand up and be the lightening rod and be willing to take any of the gaff that might come from the Church. That someone also has to have the 100% support of those who are equally upset and they MUST commit to financial support as well. Attorneys don't come cheap and in the U.S. it takes a pile of money and the staying power over years in courts and appeals to get justice. Sadly, most of us who are of average means or less do not get any justice because we either can't afford the long term commitment or the support of the group fades faster than the wheels of justice turn.

Sad, but true after long years of watching this kind of thing unfold in similar, non-Church areas.

BOB

Have to ask another question.

Why does this priest, Fr. Bitsko, not have Social Security? Most clergy were placed on that many years ago.

Beyond that, why did the man not have something put aside himself for his future? I understand that priests are not supposed to be worrying excessively about financial matters, but the history I've seen in several dioceses in my own lifetime certainly makes me believe that any man ought to be saving for his retirement. I know a number or priests who have their own investment program for the possibility of being out in the cold with nothing. In this day and age, with all the sudden removals of clergy, one should never assume anything about Church pensions.

On another note, a priest in my mother's parish told her point blank that the annual collection for the Clergy Retirement Fund in the Latin parishes DOES NOT go to priest pensions. He told her, "We don't get any of that." And when she asked who did or where it went, she said he just shrugged.

BOB

Back to the cemetery:

Each state has different laws governing cemetery "perpetual care" funds and their deposit in banks and reporting to the Orphans Court (PA reference). Someone in the government has to be able to tell you where the funds go. IF they do close a cemetery, a provision must be made for the care of the graves in that piece of real estate and the funds must be released to some government agency or the person, persons, or new corporation that would assume responsibility for the care of the graves.

Even if the land is sold and the cemetery moved wholesale, this fund must follow the graves for which it was established as perpetual care.

So someone needs to tip off the district attorney in the county in which this property is located, especially someone who has relatives interred there.

BOB

Bob is so right in what he says. There's a local gentleman who is facing some serious jail time for shenanigans involving a cemetery he owned. The state has now taken it over and he's in deep trouble. I would look into the laws in my area if I were you, then contact the local district attorney if necessary.

Smithtown is closing/No communication etc etc etc.
Where have we heard this before- and more than once or twice?
Very sad!
As far as having the RC's go back to their 'territorial churches'
(love that one), Isn't Fr Untereiner a biritual Roman Cathoilc as well??

To add to the mess- another one bites the dust:

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sit...amp;PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6

Sadly, I'm at the point now where I wonder if we ALL shouldn't pick up and go somewhere else, en masse, to spare ourselves being kicked in the teeth at some future date.
Is this the beginning of a very painful end for us? With NO communication from our "Shepherd" regarding the status of our church?
Sam

The irony indeed! A Bi-Ritual priest telling Roman Catholics who migrated into the Byzantine Ruthenian Church because the were seeking tradition to return to their Roman parishes. Now that's what I call evangelization!

Ungcsertezs

I guess you do whatever you need to do to collect your paycheck. When he comes to your town you will know why!

The land is being offered as a cemetary. Rockville Centre is interested. Also, only a few are buried (5)law allows this area to be separated and remainder to be sold to a developer.

karenp:

Sounds as if there's not a lot you can do. The number of burials changes the whole equation. The families might even be asked to move their dead and that can be a very expensive proposition. When you mentioned cemetery and the size of this parish, I had a vision of an older property with lots of burials.

BOB

Land was bought while Bishop Michael was in charge. We were told to expand and we did. When Bishop Andrew took over he immediately put a hold on the cemetary. We were not allowed to proceed further. When Fr. U. came, his first act was to remove the cemetary board. We were advised in the Sunday bulletin that we no longer had a committee. We were told that the cemetery was closed due to its deplorable condition. We were forbidden to do anything pertaining to the cemetery. This included opening an account to take care of maintenance.

It is ironic in the extreme that the very people who will be the first to accept the new Byzantine liturgical order, since most do not have the knowledge to make an informed evaluation of the new, will be the first to be asked to leave when property needs to be bartered to pay diocesan debts.

I sit here and watch them happily claim that they and their parishes have no problems with the new order and I can't help but think to myself,

"You're next!!"

Mary

For instance..bookeeping was always done by lay rep. Fr. U. informed her that her services were no longer needed. Accounting now goes to a firm in N.J. (interesting enough Fr. U. comes from NJ). Trees fell during a storm. Local fire dept offered to remove (parish members in f.d.) Help was declined and a landscaper was paid to remove. Water problems in building. We have plumbers in parish who always did maintenance, yet, a plumber was picked from the telephone book. We know this as fact because we were notified from the company as to why Mr... of the parish wasnt doing it. Men of parish always came in winter with shovel in hand. Now we have a snow removal service. And it goes on. We are told we are a poor parish yet money seems to be no object.

Fr. Dan did not have, to our knowledge, any retirement fund. He gave everything away to the less fortunate. Anyone who approached him was never denied. His birthday and Christmas gifts went to others. When we questioned him he only replied "What if it was Christ knocking at my door and I sent Him away".Although frustrating to those who wanted him to use the money for himself, it was that very act and others like it, that endeared him to us.