Pat Delaney (patrickrdelaney@yahoo.com) responded to a message you left in the Catholic bboard:

Subject: Response to Should I appeal my Sentence of Nullity to Rome?

John,

It is good to finally hear from you. But please, do not put words into my mouth. And I do not misrepresent the truth, either intentionally or out of accident.

The numbers I have given are completely true and derived from veritable sources. The Church herself, in Rome, publishes this information based upon the required reporting requirements. My numbers come from there and through various publications, including the works of Robert Vasoli who Dan has quoted in his "wake up" message.

Bob Vasoli, who is a friend, has a bit of an axe to grind, and appears a bit sarcastic. I won't succumb to that same sentiment. But his own statistical research is verifiable and authoritative.

I will be publishing my findings soon, so that they can be completely footnoted and attributed. I'm hoping that these numbers can be well scrutinized and appreciated by you and other "true believing" American canoninsts who appear to have lost your way a bit, most probably out of pastoral concerns.

But the road to hell is broad and wide, and paved with good intentions.

Our Lord himself has said "I am the way, the truth and the life." Our Holy Father John Paul, the only authoritative legislator, mirrored this teaching in his speech to the Roman Rota in 2002. He also reflects the need for pastoral concern, but only in the light of truth.

See Point 6 of the Rota Speech (2002)

"It is true that the declaration of the nullity of a marriage, based on the truth acquired by means of a legitimate process, restores peace to the conscience, but such a declaration - and the same holds true for the dissolution of a marriage that is ratum non consummatum or a dissolution based upon the privilege of the faith - must be presented and effected in an ecclesial context that is totally favourable to the indissolubility of marriage and to family founded upon it. The spouses themselves must be the first to realize that only in the loyal quest for the truth can they find their true good, without excluding a priori the possible convalidation of a union that, although it is not yet a sacramental marriage, contains elements of good, for themselves and their children, that should be carefully evaluated in conscience before reaching a different decision."

I am one of those spouses, and I have sought the truth.

Given that my ability to make the most profound promise of my life has been questioned by an American Tribunal (the Arlington Diocese), I have made it my business to find out what the truth really is here.

What I have uncovered is, in my impression, a scandal of immense proportions. It strikes even deeper than the current scandal with homosexual priests abusing young boys. While the sins commited by those priests, and the sins of omission by their superiors in managing these priests, are basically failures of individual judgement, what I am finding here in american tribunals is a systematic failure in the administration of marriage among the faithful.

And it is a primary mission of the church to administer those sacraments.

So, yes, you shall be hearing more of me. Perhaps not on this forum, but definitely among a wider audience. In the meantime, I know how difficult it may be to realize the work you have devoted yourself to, to some extent is misdirected. I will pray for you and hope you will find some consolation in considering the words of our Holy Father, as I have.

Patrick R. Delaney

-- Patrick R. delaney (patrickrdelaney@yahoo.com), April 06, 2003

Answers

(topping)

-- Pat Delaney (patrickrdelaney@yahoo.com), April 07, 2003.

I too am one of those spouses, and I too have sought the truth. What I have found and am finding in my experience with an American Tribunal (the Orlando Diocese) is much as both Pat & Bob state.

However, in my case the 'failure' is not just limited to the failure of the Tribunal. The failure in the administration of our marriage sacrament extends beyond the Tribunal to a failure 'prior' to our Civil Divorce -a failure that I consider the catalyst which led to our Civil Divorce...

Any one ever hear of 'bad therapy'? Feel good or individual therapy that by its very nature goes against God?

The 'church' has outsourced many activities, some of which are now done by Catholic Social Services. Catholic Social Services is secular in spite of its name... AND particular to my case I found that the church 'funded' Catholic Social Services does not screen or qualify its 'marriage' therapists to assure they contribute to or mirror the church in the administration of marriage/family etc.

One of these Catholic funded 'experts' destroyed my marriage - These phsychiatric/psychological 'experts', are also the same 'experts' that 'contribute' 'expert' testimony to Tribunals...

Read here about results of bad therapy/therapists: HOW THERAPY CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR MARITAL HEALTH http://www.smartmarriage.com/hazardous.html

I found it shocking that the 'church' in essence (albeit by negligience at a minimum) destroyed my relationship with my wife and I found it even more shocking that the Tribunal wished to 'rubber stamp' the destruction...

The more I find -the more shocked & disgusted I am becoming...

I too am sure I will have to appeal to Rome :)

P.S.

Any advice on the Tribunal & Appeal to Rome would be much appreciated...

I emailed you Pat.

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), April 09, 2003.

Bob Vasoli is the salt of the Earth and a Catholic's Catholic. His axe has been hewn by the falsehood present in the Catholic Church. I am living it. If the hierarchy cared they would seek the truth. I know from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE there is no interest in the Church to deal with the injustice rampant in the tribunal system!

-- Karl (parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), April 15, 2003.