Brant Scylftūn

Mæsseprēost. I swam the Tiber in 1988. I'm a tad autistic and a bit of a bother. Enjoy the Anglo-Saxon rendering of my name. Pvt. acct.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

29 September 2021
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio

Your Excellency,
Greetings in Christ, our Hope! Please allow those of us who’ve signed this letter to submit for your kind consideration several questions which disturb our consciences. Following the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas on the correction of a prelate by inferiors (Q. 33, Art. 4, reply to objection no. 2), we believe we have already exhausted all possibility of direct appeals, in public and in private, to Bishop Stika himself. So, any response you might provide to the questions that follow would be of great consolation. We are well aware that appeal by clerics to the apostolic nuncio is a most unusual course of action, but we assure your excellency that we do so only from a place of grave concern, and after twelve years of discernment. We are also agreed to keep any such responses confidential, at your request.
Question 1: Our experience of our appointed bishop varies among us, but the undersigned do share a common awareness that the past twelve years of service under Bishop Stika have been, on the whole, detrimental to priestly fraternity and even to our personal well-being. While we acknowledge the reality of suffering that comes with bearing our daily crosses, our appointed bishop seems determined to increase that suffering for his own purposes, purposes which seem unrelated to the demands of the Gospel. When the priests of a diocese reach the low point of having lost trust in the diocesan bishop, how do we make recourse against the bishop when the bishop publicly and persistently reprimands his priests for exposing perceived wrongdoing that he appears to be obstinately against investigating?
Question 2: The faithful, once they become aware of any persistently problematic tendencies of a bishop which compromise the mission of the local Church, will perhaps understandably question whether the bishop’s presbyters did enough to warn the appropriate superiors of such tendencies. We do not wish, in hindsight, to be accused of remaining silent, or of not having done enough in the interests of justice and charity. Have we, the undersigned, done everything the faithful might expect us to do in the case of Bishop Stika?
Question 3: It is our understanding that a provision of Vos Estis Lux Mundi, specifically, art. 4 ss. 3, protects those who file formal complaints, via the Vos Estis reporting mechanism, from prohibitions on providing the contents of such complaints to the faithful Catholic news media. Given that several priests of this diocese have indeed filed such complaints and then provided such contents in this way, and given the persistence with which our bishop now seeks to silence the latter provisions to the media, are these priests protected by VE 4:3, or are they in need of repentance?
Question 4: It seems to us that ours is a depressed presbyterate, and has been developing as such for twelve years, due to the leadership of Bishop Stika. As a direct response to the depressed state of our presbyterate, priests are seeing psychologists, taking anti-depressants, considering early retirement, and even looking for secular careers. Others have already found ways out of this depressed state of affairs. We fear that still others might turn to addictions and other harmful remedies. Do our concerns, if genuine, rise to a level of concern for your excellency?
Question 5: As Bishop Stika reminds us—literally ex cathedra—at every ordination, he is especially fond of the power he has over us through the promise of obedience, such that he publicly proclaims the promise of obedience to be his favorite part of the Rite of Ordination. A diocesan bishop “has all ordinary, proper, and immediate power which is required for the exercise of his pastoral function”, as specified in the Code. But the Code also specifies that “with special solicitude, a diocesan bishop is to attend to presbyters and listen to them as assistants and counselors”. It seems to us that, over the past twelve years, the power has been pronounced, but the solicitude lacking, and rare exercises of the latter even seem to get subsumed into depressing displays of the former. Is it possible that a bishop might emphasize obedience to such an extent that it becomes a form of abuse, or at least a matter of concern for your excellency?
Please allow us now to relate to you several specific incidents of concern, to which we have individually born witness, or of which we have collectively become aware:
1. The bishop invited canonist JD Flynn of The Pillar to come to the diocese, and encouraged priests to speak to Mr. Flynn. But then, at our annual presbyteral gathering in Gatlinburg, Tenn., the bishop told all priests that The Pillar is no friend of the Diocese of Knoxville. He said any priest who spoke to The Pillar betrayed the diocese.
2. The bishop has repeatedly said that the former seminarian who was expelled from St. Meinrad School of Theology will be readmitted in two years.
3. The bishop has repeatedly said disparaging things about the rector of St. Meinrad School of Theology. This is problematic for our seminarians studying there. It is most troubling for those who will soon be ordained and have to make a promise of respect and obedience to Bishop Stika. They do not feel that they can do so in good conscience.
4. The bishop has said on a few occasions that he has spoken to the apostolic nuncio who told him not to worry about reports from our priests to the metropolitan Abp. Kurtz, since there are “only two disgruntled priests who complained”, and that Abp. Kurtz and the apostolic nuncio had determined that the reports are without merit.
5. The bishop has said on a few occasions, in public and in private, that the apostolic nuncio assured him there would be no investigation into his handling of the seminarian in question.
6. The bishop insists there is no video of him travelling this summer with the former seminarian in question. However, the video is publicly available on the bishop’s own social media (Facebook) account, and has been viewed by many priests and faithful of the diocese.
7. This summer, the bishop lifted the soutane of a priest, as both were standing in a public place, to determine whether or not the priest was wearing undergarments.
8. During the exhumation of the mortal remains of a priest with an open cause for sainthood, the bishop made repeated remarks about the clearly evident pubic hairs of the departed priest, remarks which are now widely known among the faithful, and which, sadly, will now be popularly associated with the cause of this priest for years to come.
9. At the most recent meeting of the presbyteral council, the bishop observed, in the presence of women, that his vicar general’s SARS-CoV face mask reminded him of a woman’s brassiere, and so he inquired as to the “cup” size.
These are the concerning incidents of only the past few months. Taken in isolation, they are easily dismissed, and even quite comical. But as indicators of what we’ve endured for twelve years under Bishop Stika’s leadership, they weigh heavily upon us. What we have not attempted to relay to you here by way of example is the lack of sympathy the bishop demonstrates for his priests facing personal trials, or the lack of charity he displays for such priests when he speaks about us to others, even publicly. While this disregard for his priests is the most difficult feature for us to explain to you, it is nevertheless the feature that saddens us the most, and which is only compounded by the other incidents listed above.
Finally, please allow us to recall Bishop Stika’s own words on the need for reform and renewal in the Church (emphasis added):
“To all the people who like constructive conversation based on fact....thanks. The Church needs honest people like you. Don’t be afraid to challenge the leadership of the Church especially Bishops. But do so to build up the Church not create your own!” August 12, 2018
“If a bishop looked the other way or if a bishop tried to protect the institution to avoid scandal, then Satan touched his heart, because it’s horrendous. Anyone who was involved with a cover-up should resign, even if that is the Pope himself.” August 26, 2018
“So if you knew, why didn't you do something. Write a letter or report him. Working for the Conference you too had a responsibility. Even an anonymous letter would have been good. People who abuse are very manipulative.” February 17, 2019
“Tragic again to read about the diocese in West Virginia. Another punch in the gut and embrassment [sic] for the Church. It is not about clericalism but rather about giving in to the devil through temptation. Very sad for those good people and faithful priests. Enough is enough!” June 6, 2019
Indeed, surely, enough is enough. But we, the undersigned, absolutely and unconditionally accept and affirm that it is exclusively for the Holy See to appoint, and, when necessary, investigate and formally correct a bishop, and that it is entirely unacceptable for clerics to in any way attempt to assume any such right or duty for ourselves. It is precisely in a spirit of total dependence upon the pastoral leadership of the Apostolic See that we make this appeal for merciful relief—in whatever form is judged possible and appropriate—from the sufferings we’ve endured these past twelve years. We have no recourse other than the Holy See.
With gratitude to God for your sacred ministry and apostolic service, we beg your guidance, or at least your acknowledgement of our concerns, in this most distressing situation.

Faithfully in Christ,
[eleven signatories’ names redacted]

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

This was five years ago today. A victims assistance coordinator encouraged three of us to write it (I composed it with their significant input), and then we asked others to sign it with us. We had a tight timeframe because we were wary we'd get caught before it could be sent. We used a temporary Jotform account to collect the signatures so everyone had plausible deniability about who exactly signed the letter (priestly obedience means a bishop can shut down whistleblowing pronto if he knows who’s doing it). Over several tense hours, we distributed the e-copies, collected the e-signatures and then printed and mailed the letter to the nuncio and a copy to the metropolitan, with the printing and mailing process video-recorded for accountability. Twice as many priests said they'd sign it as actually did, quite understandably (the Holy See does not do anything to protect, validate or even acknowledge the existence of whistleblowers). A lingering question I have: can the Church be a safe environment for children without being a safe environment for whistleblowers?

https://t.co/lqpAv0N0oE

[Fr. Ryan Hilderbrand @FrHilderbrand]

got a Vivaldi Edition CD and one of the movements in a concerto is marked "Largo a piacimento" and I choose to believe it translates to

"big as ya like"

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

Side altars are good for priests: they remind us that the Altar is His Cross, not our stage.

[Cecilia Cicone 🚀 @cecsquared]

This week is the last week for parishes to get their bulletins off MS Publisher.

I have some evening openings if you’re getting stuck and need some training. I’ve done this with dozens of parishes— you can do it! DMs are open. https://t.co/uDlMxSptHe

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@ChrisAnadale @robkroese I'd much rather see a new Firefly or even a new Battlestar Galactica series.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

Surely the best tweet of the day thus far.

[Benjamin Lewis @tc1415]

Magna Carta rights (see article ix thereof) exercised.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@davidpdeavel It is puzzling how the nations most eager to rid themselves of the British and French seem even more eager to rid their nations of themselves. It would be like Americans fighting the Revolutionary War and then promptly moving to Europe.

[Christopher Anadale @ChrisAnadale]

Link to this book. Thanks, Brant
https://t.co/ziQOMMJQwc

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

Wow. Psychology researchers were saying things like this all the way up to the 1990s:

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

A Dominican provincial in Poland once refused to answer her questions, arguing that she “decided to become a spokesperson of the victims and the role of the spokesperson is irreconcilable with a role of a journalist”. Church leaders see priestly predators simply as weak priests who gave in to the temptation to “have sex”, and they view victims as troublemakers seeking to embarrass those weak priests (and make a little money in the process). But she’s trying to point Church leaders in a different direction.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

Paulina Guzik has an unusual grasp on the Catholic cover-up culture that enables priestly sexual predation. I’m reading her book now, and almost every page so far contains excellent insights. But are any bishops reading this book? If so, are they discussing it amongst themselves? Or, am I highlighting points in it that I’ll never see applied in the Church? I don’t know whether mine is just an autistic obsession or a genuine prophetic mission, but I’m exhausted, yet inexplicably hopeful.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@ChrisAnadale Truth Heals: Clergy Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church’s Response

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@FrHilderbrand @BackwardsFeet But it's pretty good. You can even fashion two of them into a single prayer.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@lukei4655 @FrDylanSchrader He has an entire fraternal organization supporting his cause. Secular priests who only led parishes and nothing more are almost always forgotten as soon as they die, no matter how saintly they were.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

Having attended college and graduate seminaries, I'd say the same is true. The seminary is a monastic experience where you learn to be both alone and together, an excellent preparation for parish ministry. But surely priestly fraternity should grow from the seminary experience, rather than dying immediately after it.

[Anthony Bradley @drantbradley]

I regularly speak at fraternities across the country. I often here alumni say that college was, "the best years of my life." Over the years, I've come to understand that what they mean is that college was the last time they had friends to hangout with on a regular basis.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

On a happy note, this time next year we get to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Family Guy episode “Blue Harvest”.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

@JLLiedl Troublesome as the German situation is, I do wish the pope were slightly more constrained in choosing bishops around the Western world. Although they're misusing it, the selection process is the one thing German Catholics have right.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

We can't have Liberal Democracy without a commitment to the Natural Law, and we can't sustain a commitment to the Natural Law without Christianity, and we can't have Christianity without Catholicism, and we can't have Catholicism today without Liberal Democracy.

[Brant Scylftūn @BrantScylftun]

I was disturbed by his report on sexual assault upon seminarians, which seemed to minimize concerns, mainly by revealing such assaults are rare. What I thought he misunderstood is that predators tend to attack stragglers, not the whole herd. The fact that only one or two percent are attacked, rather than 20 or 30%, does not mean our predator problem isn't so bad.