We have a problem with our auxiliary Bishop's discernment of late. There are a myriad of questions regarding celebrating "mass" with Mission of the Atonement (MOTA); their so-called Catholic and Lutheran church and the homosexual promotion of Community of Welcoming Communities after our Archdiocese was bankrupted because of this. Community of Welcoming Communities
Here's the letter I sent him in May 2010:
Hello Bishop Steiner,
Just a question as to your take on Mission of the Atonement. I saw that you blessed the labyrinth and know that this is a mixed Catholic/Lutheran church.
Do you know if the retired priest consecrates with the Lutheran minister and why is this not in the Archdiocesan Oregon Catholic Directory as a valid church.
Just want to get a handle on this.
Thanks,
Carolyn Wendell
503-769-4767
Since there has been no reply...and it's still going on, now it goes public.
Mission of the Atonement Mission of the Atonement (Synergy in Action) is a blend of what they term "Catholics and Lutherans" using the same readings, songs, etc. UNTIL to comes to Communion. Then they say they each go in their own lines for this "sacrament".
Mission of the Atonement attendance for a Roman Catholic believer, much less a Roman Catholic Bishop, shows that there is no understanding of how MOTA (Mission of the Atonement) conflicts with the Roman Catholic faith
What Mission of the Atonement says about the Roman Catholic church from staff person Susie Snortum. "She identifies herself as Presbyterian, but loves the blurring of denominational lines in the interest of worshiping our one God together."
NO FEAR OF LIVING AS HE WANTS. HE'S ABOVE THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH?
Some questions: why is this needed for unity when it means watering down our True Faith? How does this "priest" do the mass with the same text as a Lutheran? This is NOT the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ so why is Bishop Steiner approving of this fiasco? Why does this get any attention of all?
Why does the Archdiocese allow this? Why does our Bishop "bless" a less than Christian labyrinth as a wonderful thing when it leads people away from the True Faith? (more coming your way about the labyrinth and its danger). Why is this NOT in the Catholic Directory, but encouraged, since it's still here?
These are a few examples of the "rotten fruit of this spirit".. A degradation of our clergy, and values.
Bishop Steiner's Blunder in Print
"Welcoming Congregations" aka pro-homosexual churches traps from Satan, for those unaware
Catholic
Journey-Koinonia Catholic Community, Portland, OR
Sophia Christi Catholic Community, Portland, OR (a congregation of Oregonian women who think they're ordained including, Toni Tortilla, Ruth Broeski, Sandra McMaster, Suzanne Theil)
Sophia Christi Catholic Community-Eugene, Portland, OR
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Portland, OR - (FATHER CHUCK LIENERT AGAIN Homosexual(active)Friendly and encouraged at all stages to continue and grow.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Portland, OR
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Portland, OR
Catholic/Lutheran
Mission of the Atonement, Beaverton, OR
It is not necessary to join MOTA to have an "Ecumenical" Church. Just have a Roman Catholic that stands firm in the faith with lots of friends outside the Church. We don't have to blur the Truth to make friends or to believe we really are better than plain old Roman Catholics. It's true Synergy at it's best.
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Eph 5:6-11)
22 comments:
Shouldn't you be sleeping?
Good to receive this email! Where does the insanity end around this place? All the best.
Carolyn, please remove me from your mailing list. Thank you.
A teacher has a greater responsibility before God.
Your request will be granted knowing that this could even be the way to think.
Remember you are getting paid to be Roman Catholic and teaching the Truth and not an imitation to lead our children astray.
I pray that you are just mad about BP Steiner blowing it.
God Bless,
Carolyn
Carolyn, I know well the demands of my vocation. Thank you for honoring my request.
SOOOOO VERY SAD!!!!!!
PRAY....I know you are...but there's no other answer!
J.M.J.
Back in the 1970s, and I believe still continuing to this year, Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists in Silverton used to get together for a similarly designed celebration on Palm Sunday. I’d have to check with my parents to see if it’s still going on for sure; but we got permission from the Archbishop to do it, AND the Lutherans insisted we check with the Vatican and use the proper Catholic form for the consecration. Still split into the three lines for communion though; as is proper, since transubstantiation does not equal consubstantiation does not equal whatever it is the Methodists believe in that escapes my mind right now.
Another big Catholic/Lutheran experiment a lot closer to home for you than MOTA was Christian Renewal Center up on the North Fork of Silver Creek Falls. Originally started as a drug rehabilitation center by Pastor Allen (who died a couple of years back), many parishioners from St. Paul’s in Silverton and even the Knights of Columbus helped build the retreat center.
And I’m sure you’re well aware that the Vatican has strongly supported such ecumenical movements for many years now; Pope Benedict himself negotiated the Joint Declaration on Justification with the World Lutheran Foundation, back when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which removed the mutual excommunications that had persisted for 500 years.
This Catholic/Lutheran group is not sanctioned by Rome. You are speaking I believe about gatherings of many kind, my family's been to many. Here's what the Church says about combined religious Sunday services.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 5.12 Concelebrating Mass with Ministers of Other Faiths
In the name of "ecumenism," some dissenters have been celebrating Mass with other faiths. This is strictly disallowed.
Canon 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.
Carolyn,
This isn't the first time in Oregon! St Paul Catholic Church, where we used to attend, used to do a psalm Sunday "celebration" with Lutherans, Anglicans, and a few other non-denominational churches. At the beginning, there were some things we would share (creed, prayers, songs) and then at some point before communion we would split into other rooms for our own "communion" service. As the years past, it went from splitting up into other rooms to sharing the altar to finally every pastor (more than a few) begin to put their "communion" on the altar and finally with directions that one could, "Choose any line." Thank God this stopped after much complaining. However, if you want a picture proof, you can get a picture of this terrible event in one of the St. Paul's old Catholic photo directories.
Thanks for doing this, Carolyn.
We appreciate it.
Did you know there's a labyrinth at the Grotto too? Donations, intended to keep St. Anne's Chapel open to the public, and maintained and repaired were given a half attempt, but then stopped renovating it.
But the labyrinth is ALL DONE!
Thanks for the work you do.
How Bishop Steiner, Father Parker and Father Matt Tumulty can condone MoTA is beyond me. This isn't evangelizing; they are trying to water down our True Faith. Just reading on their website that they only separate when it comes time to receive their "sacraments" of "Holy Communion" should say something; Protestants' 'Communion' isn't an authentic Sacrament, since Jesus is not truly present in their 'Eucharist'.
And, then, to definitively make a point to NOT separate for 'Holy Communion' on the final Sunday of the month, but to instead 'break bread' through a potluck, indicates an acute misunderstanding and lack of value of Jesus' True Presence in the Holy Eucharist!
By the way, I didn't see anything in what I read on their website about other Sacraments, such as Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. So sad!
Thank you, Carolyn, for bringing this to our attention. I wonder what the Archdiocese is doing about it; prayers are very much needed for all who have fallen away from our rich True Faith, and especially for those individuals who are in a higher authority who condone and, worse yet, promote, such a drawing away from the True 'Universal Church'--the Catholic Church.
Wow. I'm very surprised- and sorry to read this. I know him quite well and never would have thought he'd make such a judgement, Carolyn. Bishop Ken has a very loving and caring heart. These are, indeed, difficult times. I believe we are living in a singularly historic period and God is very much involved. We must never waver from the Fullness of Truth- even to the point of unpopularity or death. His work is too important right now. There are lives and souls to save. We must stand fast and pray for the discernment of all.
Thanks for this.....I esp. like Stan Nutting!
"INCREDIBLE"
If you are interested in getting info on MOTA I believe the founder of the community is Father Neil Moore
who is retired and can be reached at 503-531-8617. He is the kindest person alive, very friendly and
very polite. You will be amazed at how soft-spoken and sweet, if nothing else. He is famous for his
kindness.
Before MOTA he was at Sacred Heart in Newport which is how I knew him. Like Stan Nutting with converts
he believed in getting together once a week and talking about anything we (in this case I) felt like talking
about....there was a very watered-down text which was so ecumenical it was heart-rending to me and I
was sure I was too late.....for years I thought the Catholic Church had perished and become only a shell
of what it had been.....you can think like that if you are stuck in small towns with very liberal priests. Father
told me all I had to really do to become a Catholic was go to these 'holy roller' meetings they'd have weekly
....which were sooo pentecostal.....and about being filled with the Holy Spirit....I never got this infilling cuz I
didn't trust it and thought it odd that Father never went to these meetings.
I had to ask Father Moore about the Rosary which he thought unnnecssary I guess.... but because I was so
eager he gave me one as if out of pity and a little booklet on how to say it. That was one of, if not the happiest
day of my life, getting that Rosary.....a very small one for a little child. It was like a person dying of thirst in
the desert getting some water. Anyway, I was confirmed in the spring (and wondered and still do if it is really
valid, but priests get upset if I question it).
BTW, a few years later after I'd moved off the coast Father's best friend told me Father was seriously battling
insanity so they transferred him and eventually set him up doing this 'atonement' stuff. He was a very malleable
person I always thought. I haven't kept in touch with him. When people ask me
when I converted I never know what to say...theorectically 1978....I guess.
God Bless you for caring about the One True Faith.
I am glad to see you out and about. I hope you are doing well. I had a stroke which has left me a little wounded. I am doing better.
Keep up the good work. We need you more than ever.
One thing you have to know about Bishop Steiner is this: he hates any kind of confrontation, does not know how to deal with disagreements and will run at 90 miles an hour to get away from it.
The "Mission of the Atonement, Lutheran and Catholic Congregation" is listed in the 2009 Oregon Catholic Directory on page 91 - as a mission of St Anthony Church in Tigard. Curious that the Directory lists one "Rev. Neil Moore" as "Priest Moderator", and advertises "Sunday Mass" at 9:30 AM. That could only be with the knowledge and consent of the Archbishop.
It appears that the Catholic priest at least one time involved as so-called "pastor" is one Father Matt Tumulty, O.F.M. He's listed in the Oregon Catholic Directory as living in Portland, but with no assignment indicated.
A priest may licitly offer the sacraments in a diocese only with the permission of the local bishop. So either a) he's doing this illicitly, b) he's doing this with the knowledge (and presumed consent) of the archbishop, or c) he's been appointed by the archbishop to do this. And only the local diocesan bishop (in this case, Archbishop Vlazny) has the authority to appoint a "pastor". Since this "mission" is listed in an official publication of the Archdiocese, it would seem reasonable to conclude that c) is the case here.
This whole thing - including what I read on their own website - sounds highly irregular. Stuff that warrants the attention of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. Whose cardinal prefect is . . . oh, dear! . . . the former archbishop of Portland in Oregon, Cardinal William Levada! The "Mission of the Atonement" held its first joint "service" on July 6, 1986 - only five days after Levada was appointed Archbishop of Portland.
Bishop Steiner referred him to Father Parker in the archdiocese or Portland. Father Parker replied that it might be “interesting to share more than facilities.”
This set in motion a series of meetings with St. Anthony parish, a Catholic congregation in Tigard less than five miles from Atonement Lutheran. In April 1986, St. Anthony’s members were invited into the plans that were in the works to form an ecumenical “mission.” Interested Catholic families met with representatives of Atonement Lutheran. The two groups went on retreat together, and then met for five weeks to plan for a new community.
Perhaps the original intent was to have two distinct communities in one building, cooperating on many things. However, after the retreat, a new entity was formed: “Mission of the Atonement: A Catholic and Lutheran Community.”
On Sunday July 6th 1986, the community held its first worship service together. The community had, and continues to have, a strong emphasis on lay leadership. Over the years, MOTA has been blessed with Catholic and Lutheran pastors committed to guiding the faith community in deeper understanding of its two traditions as well as its ministries in the global community. Twenty-three years after its founding, Mission of the Atonement continues to thrive.
Mission of the Atonement continues to meet with both the current Catholic Archbishop and Lutheran Bishop.
As far as I know, both Catholics and Lutherans (at least Lutherans in the USA) use the same Lectionary: so the readings at a valid and licit Catholic Mass on any given Sunday are likely to be the same as those in a Lutheran church.
But only a Catholic bishop, priest, or deacon may give the homily at a Catholic Mass: that's canon law.
And Catholics and Lutherans do not share the same theology of the Most Holy Eucharist: for them, it's only a sign, but for us it's the reality. That's because only a priest has the power and authority to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ: a Lutheran minister does not.
I have attended Mission of the Atonement a number of times, and would like to clear up a few misconceptions regarding your attack on Bishop Steiner.
1) To my knowledge Mission of the Atonement has always been listed in the Catholic Directory (for over 20 years) as a Mission of St. Anthony's in Tigard. You may have been trying to find it listed separately.
2) Susie Snortum is a recently hired office staff person who doesn't attend MOTA, let alone speak for it. It is clearly stated before each service that each denomination maintains its separate identity and tradition.
3) Both the consecration and eucharist are done separately by the priest, so it is the Real Presence of Our Lord at the Catholic communion.
4) Labyrinths are not "less than Christian". There is one at the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto) also.
5) Welcoming Congregations do not necessarily approve of homosexual acts (the Catholic Church does not); but to quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church [2538]...
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity."
I hope this answers some of your questions, and thank you for advocating for life.
I respectfully disagree on your observations on MOTA and St. Anthony's. Also this "attack" on Bishop Steiner which it wasn't..
1. Mission of the Atonement has morphed over time Look at the history.It is now the only so called Catholic/Lutheran "community" in the U.S. Do they have Rome's approval? The Archbishops wishes do not trump the Vatican for Roman Catholics.
2. Susie is a paid staff person who doesn't attend MOTA. Strange.
OK, what about this MOTA person? Pastor Laurie Larsen-Caesar, April 9, 2010 who said,
"Too many in the Roman Catholic Church believe that ministry is not about "being" like Jesus, but about peeing like Jesus."
Not very respectful of Christ's Roman Catholic Church
3. Catechism of the Catholic Church 5.12
In the name of "ecumenism," some dissenters have been celebrating Mass with other faiths. This is strictly disallowed.
Canon 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.
4. These labryinths were just lately put in to make them seem allowed by the Church. Those involved with this have "fruits" of good will, I hope, but erroneous in their relationship with Christ. More coming. I suggest looking at it's history and see it's satanic potential. There is still the Ouije Board around which believing Catholics are told not to participate in because if the damage it can do spiritually. Same with the labryinth. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=3440&CFID=49441670&CFTOKEN=89738011
5. Observe the "Gay Pride" parades and what this lifestyle also morphs into. Loving people is easy. Helping them see what's destroying them is hard.
Welcoming Congregations accept them and their actions. This is not what the Catechism says fully.
You seemed to be picking and choosing.
Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. (highlights mine)
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Do the Welcoming Congregations encourage chastitiy? Love the sinner hate the sin, as Jesus does.
The Catholic church never has condoned homosexual activity. It is a trap as is MOTA. I want people to see the wonder of the Catholic Church without things that detract.
I hope you understand now why I'm concerned about Bishop Steiner. Being concerned, tough love, is not attacking him.
God Bless you,
Carolyn
Thanks for your contribution to bringing light into the darkness.
Thank you also for the web link regarding confusion and deception after Vatican II. It seems like good church pew sitting Catholics are tired of trying to find a decent church in this Archdiocese to attend, while "hybrid" churches are encouraged by our Western Oregon Bishops. Don't go to Eastern Oregon and try to pull this. Bishop Vasa walks the talk. These just blow bubbles.
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