Category Archives: Interdict

2013/05/12 · 09:46

Father George Davids Byers obstinately laboring under interdict imposed by the Holy See: “I am forever defiant!”

faithbythesword

Given that certain seminarians are arriving at the hermitage later today, I thought I should fess up. While some may be aware of the terrible burden under which I labor, others may not be so up-to-date as to the actual state of affairs.

One of the very best canonists known to Holy Mother Church, about as high as one can go in the ranks of the Holy See, recently insisted that the decree he himself wrote (so much for Pontifical secrets) is still in force since the first Sunday of November, 2010, despite my being a hermit. It’s kind of like a contempt of court penalty: it continues forever until one gives in and cooperates. There is only one way, only at one location, and only on one day every year, in which I can right what, in my opinion, is mistakenly declared a wrong. That first Sunday of November couldn’t be farther away. It’s a kind of Yom Kippur just for me, a day of atonement in which, however, I will forever refuse to participate.

Yours truly, the bearded one, just before being put under interdict.

Yours truly, the bearded one in clericals, just before being put under interdict.

The text of the decree with conditions:

Attenta proditione strepitenti contra aedem propriam
necnon contra facultatem alumnosque theologiae
apud Pontificium Collegium Iosephinum
in Statibus Foederatis Americae Borealis;

Attento quod gravis culpa huiusmodi suscitare debet
ut poena interdicti personali reo plectetur;

Praehabitis quoque omnibus adiunctis in causa;

Omnibus iure habentibus apud supradictam domum interpellatis;

Rev.dus Pater Georgius David BYERS
ex Congregatione Presbyterorum a Misericordia
declaratur subesse interdicto personali in aedem lato, et ad mentem:

scilicet, sub conditione, ut Rev.dus Pater, ante certamen lusorium,
clare ac publice suam fidelitatem erga suos turmales aedis
se aut pronuntiet aut demonstret.

  • I have never given in to this demand.
  • I obstinately and forever refuse to give in to this demand.

With so much going on in the Church right now, and with our rejoicing in the opening of a Pontificate dedicated to the evangelization of the peripheries (see: Pope Francis and The Judas Crisis), one would think that the Holy See would back off, right? Instead – sigh – this seems to have given various higher-ups a great deal of energy. However, as the coercion builds, so does my obstinacy.

SAVONAROLA

Hier stehe ich.
Ich kann nicht anders.

Perhaps I will be in Skype contact with my rightly famed prosecutor later this evening. Skype is recordable, but he will never get me to recant. Never, I say! To find out more, click on the category – Filed under… “Interdict” — just below.

This is just a bit of humor between myself and the Holy See as a lighter moment for seminarians.

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2012/06/09 · 10:17

FATHER BYERS UNDER VATICAN INTERDICT [One of the most popular series on holysoulshermitage.com

[N.B. This is a repost, for full disclosure, just in case anyone missed it. Sometimes people wonder how I get away with saying what I say on the blog. Could it be that I'm already under Vatican Interdict? The original post follows:]

Did you ever wonder why I’m a hermit, I mean, really why?

Is the Holy See taking a peek to see how things are going? This is humorous!

I mean, it had to happen. The Holy See just had to step in and put me under interdict. The Latin used in the decree lacks the style of the high Renaissance. I guess they want to make things easier to read. I say “Holy See,” but, to be more precise, this document eminates from the corner of Campo dei Fiori, where Father Giordano Bruno, O.P., was burned to death. This all took place while I was still teaching at the Pontifical Seminary Josephinum up in Columbus, Ohio, just before I became a hermit. I’m only admitting to it now. I’m becoming quite proud of this; it’s kind of a feather in the cap sort of thing.

But really, could it have been that I was a heretic regarding the doctrine or morality of the Church? Had I been stomping on the prudential wisdom of the Church, of our Lord? Have I not been a faithful son of the Church, indeed, of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI? What terrible thing could have such a decree issued against me, simple priest that I am? Read on:

Attenta proditione strepitenti contra aedem propriam necnon contra facultatem alumnosque theologiae apud Pontificium Collegium Iosephinum in Statibus Foederatis Americae Borealis;

Attento quod gravis culpa huiusmodi suscitare debet ut poena interdicti personali reo plectetur;

Praehabitis quoque omnibus adiunctis in causa;

Omnibus iure habentibus apud supradictam domum interpellatis;

Rev.dus Pater Georgius David BYERS ex Congregatione Presbyterorum a Misericordia declaratur subesse interdicto personali in aedem lato, et ad mentem: scilicet, sub conditione, ut Rev.dus Pater, ante certamen lusorium[!], clare ac publice suam fidelitatem erga suos turmales aedis se aut pronuntiet aut demonstret.

But I will never repent of this, not ever! My faithfulness to some is not compromised by my faithfulness to others. Whatever happened to ecumenism in the Holy See? Have we all become so conservative all at once? What can I do except, at this point, quote Martin Luther:

Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders!

One day, I will be vindicated. One day, the truth will win out. I can only repeat what Father Savonarola, O.P., said to his fellow Dominicans just before they burned him at the stake, they wanting to excommunicate him even from heaven… He said: “Non tocca a te!” (You don’t have the capacity to do that).

So, there. I said it.

Having said that, I have my misgivings. Perhaps there is still a chance to repent. Being burned at the stake is not a pleasant experience. In the coming months, I’ll be writing more about this, please God.

There is, by the way, oh dear reader, a humorous aspect to all this, I promise. There. That’s twice I said it (besides the tag: humor). Don’t condemn me until you know, as Paul Harvey was wont to say, the rest of the story.

UPDATE: By the time I write this update, many other posts about this interdict have been written. To see the list of posts, click on the category INTERDICT!

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2011/11/08 · 14:29

I choose to remain under Vatican interdict. It’s a matter of honor!

For the full story with links and sublinks, read this post. The links include the Latin interdict written by one of the top Curia lawyers, along with a translation. The Holy See didn’t like that I was supporting the philosophers (see victory photo above) over against the theologians. My bad.

I choose, in all obstinate affrontery to the Holy See, to remain steadfast in my rebellion, remaining loyal to the seminarians in the philosophy house of the seminary where I was teaching this time last year. After all, I taught them Scripture, and was spiritual director and confessor for them. How could I abandon loyalty to them during the trials of mud bowl rivalry and cheer instead support the theologians in whose house I actually resided. So what if I was Scripture/Liturgy/Theology prof for the theologians, and was also their formation advisor! I chose to support the philosophers in all their youth and inexperience over against the weight and seasoned intelligence of the theologians.

The score of the mud-bowl at the Pontifical Seminary Josephinum, rightly called the Pontifical College Josephinum in honor of the philosopher seminarians, was 27-7, with the philosophers giving the theologians a victory – as they otherwise couldn’t obtain a victory!

So, I remain under interdict for another year. My next chance at redemption comes with the next mud-bowl next November, 2012! Shucks.

Anyway, here’s the vocation video of the Pontifical Seminary Josephinum, which also features yours truly during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass [1:24]. Yikes!

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2011/11/04 · 12:38

Father Byers under Vatican Interdict (a remedy)

So, the Holy See has intervened in the grave situation in which I find myself, still being under interdict. The medicinal penalty which was provided for me, it has been explained, has what is considered to be a viably corrective course of action that can be undertaken by yours truly.

For the full story leading up to this, read this post: YIKES!

For the Latin decree and its translation, go HERE!

What I have been requested to do, and that which I steadfastly, obstinately, notoriously refuse to do, is to attend the 5 November 2011 Mud Bowl at the Pontifical College Josephinum, and cheer for the seminarians of the Theologate. Nope. Even though I lived in the Theologate, I chose sides then, and I still do so today, cheering for the seminarians in the Philosophy house. Yep. After all, although I lived in the Theologate and was the Formation Advisor and Scripture/Liturgy/Theology Professor for them, I was also a Scripture Prof for the Philosophers, as well as their Confessor and Spiritual Director. So, to whom should I be more loyal? Well, I did the politically incorrect thing. No apologies. Ever.

Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders.

So, I remain under Vatican interdict. The Holy See, in this case, has fallen to justice as judged by favoritism at this Pontifical Seminary.

However, the Holy Father has not taken sides, and I understand that, against the objections of the all too eager prosecution, I have been invited to watch the game from the Terzo Piano of the Apostolic Palace with His Holiness. That may keep me from getting burned at the stake myself should I later visit my old stomping grounds during a visit to the Jubilee Museum in Columbus.

Go Philosophers! Go Philosophers! Go philosophers! [salt # wound]

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2011/08/28 · 03:55

Father Byers under Vatican Interdict – What do falsely accused priests feel like?

Recently I put up a few posts about my being put under interdict by the Holy See. And while that make-pretend interdict – which looks so real – was unofficially wrought in the Holy See in good humor so as to support the sports rivalry at the seminary where I was, there is a serious side to such laughter and good times between the Holy See, myself, and a crowd of seminarians.

First off, isn’t it good to see some light hearted moments between the Holy See, a priest, and a crowd of seminarians? I should hope you smiled and were reinvigorated in your faith, and wanted to go out and did in fact go right out and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and thought about it yourself, having seen that we priests are also real people and can have a good wholesome time together.

But, in the end, did I treat priests who have been falsely accused lightly with such posts as these?

1. Father Byers under Vatican Interdict – I

2. Father Byers under Vatican Interdict – II

3. Father Byers under Vatican Interdict – III

No, I don’t treat lightly any priests suffering terribly because of false accusations because I put up some posts recounting some humorous moments between the Holy See, myself, and a horde of seminarians. Holy Souls Hermitage is offered – by the way – also for the benefit of those priests who are suffering their purgatory in this life, and who are very likely suffering vicariously for the eternal salvation of others. Being falsely accused – and not just as a joke or some sort of stupidity – is as good as cutting the heads off these priests. I don’t take that lightly, nor does the Holy See, nor should anyone.

Does the media have a sense of humor. No. Should they? Yes. How do you get them to have a sense of humor? Be yourself. The more humanity they see, they more they have the opportunity to get it. Is this not evangelization?

Let’s discover what it feels like to be falsely accused, or to know someone who’s been falsely accused. Here’s an exercise fitting the discovery: look into the eyes of Mary, holding her Son, Who was falsely accused…

Now think of how bitter or greedy some are who make false accusations. Yikes!

Should The High Priest of our faith, or just this or that priest, feel somehow unworthy because of being falsely accused? No. If you know Jesus, or this or that priest who has been falsely accused, do you feel somehow dirty because of knowing them, ashamed for them, perhaps? No.

Do you feel sorry for them? You shouldn’t. They are priests, and this is what priests do. Like the Master, so the disciple. This is what it’s all about. Taking on the hell of others and becoming a living intercession for the whole Church because of it. Like the Master, so the disciple. Our Lord came into this world in order to be falsely accused. Priests are ordained to do the same. Really.

Do you wish it could be otherwise? I hope so. So did Christ: “Father, if it be possible that this cup pass from Me… But not My will, but Thine be done.” What majesty!

Having said all that, there are some who will look at you with glazed eyes, and then ask what it feels like to be a falsely accused priest. This is a stupid question, for it seems to insist on the priest feeling sorry for himself. I’m sure some do, though, but even then, I would ask those priests to look a bit further into their souls and perhaps see what is really going on. Do they feel so terrible because they feel sorry for themselves or because they regret the scandal that will follow the false accusation, with yet another seemingly guilty priest being thrown on the ash heap, biting the dust. I suggest the later. They want to be good priests, give good example, but those who hate the Church won’t permit this. It’s part of our fallen human nature to feel guilty for the fact of someone being unhappy! We mistake distress for guilt. How weak we are! Such great priests will just have to get over that and instead rejoice that they are persecuted for the sake of Christ Jesus, rejoice that they have been counted to be friends with Christ also on this level. Pray, with enthusiasm, that all falsely accused priests will rejoice to be friends with Christ also on this level. Their glory will be great in heaven. And they will thank you for praying for them. Hail Mary…

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2011/08/27 · 14:33

Father Byers under Vatican Interdict — Translation of the decree

Again, here’s the decree in Latin (English follows):

Attenta proditione strepitenti contra aedem propriam necnon contra facultatem alumnosque theologiae apud Pontificium Collegium Iosephinum in Statibus Foederatis Americae Borealis;

Attento quod gravis culpa huiusmodi suscitare debet ut poena interdicti personali reo plectetur;

Praehabitis quoque omnibus adiunctis in causa;

Omnibus iure habentibus apud supradictam domum interpellatis;

Rev.dus Pater Georgius David BYERS ex Congregatione Presbyterorum a Misericordia declaratur subesse interdicto personali in aedem lato, et ad mentem: scilicet, sub conditione, ut Rev.dus Pater, ante certamen lusorium[!], clare ac publice suam fidelitatem erga suos turmales aedis se aut pronuntiet aut demonstret.

The translation was provided at the time by the author. We’re all friends!

Given the clamorous treason against his own habitation as well as against the faculty and students pof Theology at the PCJ inthe United Sates of America,

Given that such grave crime ought to provoke that the guily party be punished by interdict,

Having all the accessory elements in the matter,

All those by law having interest in the matter having been consulted,

Rev. Father George David Byers of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy is declared to be under interdict in the house, and this ad mentem, namely under condition that Reverend Father, before the game, clearly and publicly either declares or demonstrates his faithfulness to the Squad of his house.

Football loyalties. It could be the end of the world! I hope ye re all laughing with me. Just some good fun between the Vatican, myself, and the seminary!

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· 14:17

Father Byers under Vatican Interdict – The rest of the story: Faith by the Sword

Wow! I thought I wouldn’t have to tell the rest of the story for some months. That I have to put up an explanatory post within minutes is as telling about our culture as a canary dying in a mine shaft. It seems no one wants even a little bit of humor about the hell we priests can go through in these rather trying times. But, I still think that a bit of humor is a good thing, especially among priests, especially in trying times. Yikes! O.K. So! Here’s the rest of the story, as promised.

When I was up in the Pontifical College Josephinum, I had a whole crowd of seminarians in the philosophy house for internal forum spiritual direction. However, I lived in the theology house, where I had another whole crowd of seminarians for external forum formation advising. Moreover, while at the Josephinum, I taught Scripture, Theology and Liturgy, and had seminarians for classes from both houses. I ate with both. I worshiped with both. I recreated with both.

Every year there is a football game between the two houses called the mud bowl. This yearly football extravaganza is sometimes televised on the evening news in Columbus, Ohio. It is quite the event. Traditionally, the priests living in the College cheer for the College seminarians while the priests living in the Theologate cheer for the Theologate seminarians. Who do I cheer for? I had sems on both sides of the divide, both vying for my loyalty. The two sides are usually pretty evenly matched, with the younger guys being quicker and coming more immediately out of their high school or university sports programs, while the older guys had more experience and wisdom and added girth. Although it is called flag football, hardly anyone is flagged if tackles resulting in less than an ambulance ride are made right in front of the hired refs.

I decided to break ranks and cheer for the college. After all, they had the coolest jersey. The theologate team didn’t even have a jersey. And here I had helped design the college jersey. I wanted to wear it. It sported the Discalced Carmelite shield with the sword of Elijah, which is the flaming sword of Genesis 3,24, about which I had written at length in my doctoral thesis.

You’ll notice that my name on my jersey is rather controversial, until you hear the explanation. We Catholics, you see, have a faith by the sword. Witness Elijah chopping the heads off the false prophets. Witness the likes of Saint Paul and Thomas More getting their heads chopped off. Witness Christ Jesus’ Heart being pierced by a sword. Witness the heart of the Immaculate Conception being pierced through by a sword of sorrow… Moreover, such a name fits the mood of the rivalry between the two houses of formation at the seminary.

The Theologate knew this bit about the jersey was in the works before the infamous Mud Bowl took place. The Theologate sems were not to be outdone. They employed not the sword of any prophet as vengeance for my lack of loyalty to the Theologate seminarians, but rather the sword of an interdict, which is particularly odious to someone who is trying to be faithful to the Church in every way. The interdict was written by someone with a rather huge amount of authority in the Vatican. I am humbled. It was written to promote the hilarity of the sports rivalry at the Josephinum, which is healthy and wonderful in every way. I was happy to be put under interdict to this end. But, really, I wasn’t put under any interdict officially. This was all done in good humor.

Seminarians and priests do have good fun, by the way, as do many of those who work in the Holy See. We are real people with real lives and real personalities with sometimes a really good sense of humor. I hope this made you smile, and gave you a sense of Catholic pride in our great seminarians. Here’s the note of thanks to myself in the yearbook:

Hmmmm…. Those are all College signatures… And the Theologate sems are still saying to this day that I’m under interdict. O.K. Tell you what then! No repentance. I think I’ll frame my college jersey! Je suis un enfant terrible! I know!

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· 11:25

Father Byers under Vatican Interdict

Did you ever wonder why I’m a hermit, I mean, really why?

Is the Holy See taking a peek to see how things are going? This is humorous!

I mean, it had to happen. The Holy See just had to step in and put me under interdict. The Latin used in the decree lacks the style of the high Renaissance. I guess they want to make things easier to read. I say “Holy See,” but, to be more precise, this document eminates from the corner of Campo dei Fiori, where Father Giordano Bruno, O.P., was burned to death. This all took place while I was still teaching at the Pontifical Seminary Josephinum up in Columbus, Ohio, just before I became a hermit. I’m only admitting to it now. I’m becoming quite proud of this; it’s kind of a feather in the cap sort of thing.

But really, could it have been that I was a heretic regarding the doctrine or morality of the Church? Had I been stomping on the prudential wisdom of the Church, of our Lord? Have I not been a faithful son of the Church, indeed, of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI? What terrible thing could have such a decree issued against me, simple priest that I am? Read on:

Attenta proditione strepitenti contra aedem propriam necnon contra facultatem alumnosque theologiae apud Pontificium Collegium Iosephinum in Statibus Foederatis Americae Borealis;

Attento quod gravis culpa huiusmodi suscitare debet ut poena interdicti personali reo plectetur;

Praehabitis quoque omnibus adiunctis in causa;

Omnibus iure habentibus apud supradictam domum interpellatis;

Rev.dus Pater Georgius David BYERS ex Congregatione Presbyterorum a Misericordia declaratur subesse interdicto personali in aedem lato, et ad mentem: scilicet, sub conditione, ut Rev.dus Pater, ante certamen lusorium[!], clare ac publice suam fidelitatem erga suos turmales aedis se aut pronuntiet aut demonstret.

But I will never repent of this, not ever! My faithfulness to some is not compromised by my faithfulness to others. Whatever happened to ecumenism in the Holy See? Have we all become so conservative all at once? What can I do except, at this point, quote Martin Luther:

Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders!

One day, I will be vindicated. One day, the truth will win out. I can only repeat what Father Savonarola, O.P., said to his fellow Dominicans just before they burned him at the stake, they wanting to excommunicate him even from heaven… He said: “Non tocca a te!” (You don’t have the capacity to do that).

So, there. I said it.

Having said that, I have my misgivings. Perhaps there is still a chance to repent. Being burned at the stake is not a pleasant experience. In the coming months, I’ll be writing more about this, please God.

There is, by the way, oh dear reader, a humorous aspect to all this, I promise. There. That’s twice I said it (besides the tag: humor). Don’t condemn me until you know, as Paul Harvey was wont to say, the rest of the story.

UPDATE: By the time I write this update, many other posts about this interdict have been written. To see the list of posts, click on the category INTERDICT!

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