www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Parishes being run into the ground in the Eparchy of Passaic

I guess we are posting at the same time...if there were other posters who made uncharitable/potentially slanderous comments they should be warned and the posts taken down...although I know I made an observation, that I had confirmed by the source, that was taken down as well...

Please, help me understand

Job

Dear Chris,

You said nothing wrong. However, since a whole page (comprised of the mostly offensive posts) was taken out, your post was within that page.

Don't worry...
Alice, Moderator

Thank You!

Something does disturb me regarding this situation. I was contacted off line by several people who are part of this situation in Long Island...who now don't feel comfortable posting on this subject...they feel they are being watched and could have repercussions...Whether or not that is true is not the point...the issue is that once again these situations cause such distrust along with the scandal of the situation...it appears to be the modus operandi...that is not the way a Christian Church should operate...

Chris

Chris,

Certainly the administrators and moderators are watching. And people are foolish to think bishops and priests don't read this forum. That said, so what? If one posts in truth and charity one has nothing to worry about. If on the otherhand one is ashamed of their posts, and some of those who post on the newsday forum should not only be ashamed but go to Confession before they go to Communion again, perhaps they should reconsider what they post and how they post it. I wonder what those who contacted you fear? By their own statements they couldn't possibly be treated any worse.

If they feel they are being treated unfairly and canons are not being followed they have every right to post, vent, and get assesment of their canonical situation. They do not have the right to be disrespectful of the bishops and priests, even if they are doing wrong and certainly don't have the right to post unfounded accusation and defamation

Fr. Deacon Lance

I don't think that those who are posting their experiences are ashamed of what they post. Sometimes the truth does come out as less than charitable when those perpetrating such acts are uncharitable in their behaviour.

"I wonder what those who contacted you fear? By their own statements they couldn't possibly be treated any worse."

It would seem that those who are worried about repercussions aren't worried about repercussions from their bishop or priests, rather repression of thier frustration. Essentially by having their "uncharitable" posts unilateraly withdrawn, they are suffering the same fate as when writing to their bishop or attempting to speak with the parish priest. In short, they are being told again: 'you have nothing to say and we don't care that you are hurting'.

I have watched this thread with great interest having friends and relatives who live in New Jersey (and thus the Eparchy of passaic) who are worried about such goings on at their own parishes which haven't gotten to the Smithtown scale of uncharitability yet.

Dear Steve,


Infact, it is quite the opposite.

The Administrators and some of the Moderators here on the Byzantine Forum had actually agreed, (a long time ago) to keep the thread open in order to allow the posters a positive outlet to vent and to express their frustrations.

When posts are removed, it is so the whole thread won't get derailed and closed.

Alice, Moderator

It is healthy to be aware that if you decide to not be anonymous and offer opinions about people or groups of people you would not share in their company, there is nothing to stop them from seeing those words.

I heard that Father Harry has left Smithtown and there may be a new pastor coming. Can anyone confirm this?

We were told that Fr. Harry is filling in at NYC parish for two weeks. Fr. Bertha, son of one of our parishioners is just filling in while Fr. Harry is gone.

Thank you PatPenn...

I was also notified that Fr. Harry's name had been dropped from the parish bulletin...did this occur again today or was it simply a mistake that had occured...

Chris

Chris, The bulletin today also does not have Fr. Harry's name on it. The heading has the name of the parish, address and phone number. Again Fr. Bertha told us that Fr. Harry will return for this weeks liturgy.

With Father Andor from White Plains repose, this will throw assignments again into a tizzy, as the diocese scrambles to find someone to cover this parish as well. Lord have mercy!

John you mean THESE parishes...Fr. Andor had White Plains, along with Yonkers and Holy Cross in Manhattan...I think I see more "consolidation"...as I understand it, these parishes were on the "hit list" prior to Bridgeport...

I heard that Father Joseph Bertha would be celebrating DL on Christmas Eve at the Smithtown parish. Can anyone confirm this?