External Communications - The North American Old Catholic Church

Mexican Government needs to protect Migrants

press release on mexican migrants protection 070308

Catholic Priest threatened with arson for being outspoken on poor treatment of migrants

Washington, DC [July 3, 2008]- Today at the request of Amnesty International, Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding bishop of the North American Old Catholic Church, dispatched a letter to Mexican authorities urging them to protect the life and safety of migrants within their borders.

Archbishop Seneco: “Whether someone is in a country, legally or not, they should be guaranteed protection from persecution, threats, and attacks. The dignity of human life requires we treat each and every human being with respect and dignity.”

Recently in Ixtepec, Oaxaca, a Roman Catholic priest, Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra’s life and safety was threatened. Father Solalinde runs the local migrants’ shelter in Ixtpec, and is well a well known critic of the government’s treatment of migrants. He was threatened after a six year old child was sexually assaulted by a migrant. The migrant, who was not at any time a resident of Father Solalinde’s shelter, was arrested by the local authorities.

An angry mob of fifty locals, fourteen local police officers, and even the Mayor of Ixtepec, descended on the shelter and threatened to set it on fire if he did not close within forty eight hours.

The Archbishop continued, “This is just one example of the rampant abuse of migrants and undocumented people in Mexico. In March of this year, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Migrants toured Mexico, and wrote of scathing abuse of migrants, including extortion, beatings, and mass repatriations. It has to stop.”

Download PDF of letter to Mexican Authorities here

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Fostering a continued, strong commitment to catholic tradition, and the search for contemporary meaning, the North American Old Catholic Church is part of the worldwide, universal church of Jesus Christ. For more information about the church, and to review or download our press kit, visit http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com and click on *PRESS KIT* You may also request a press kit by emailing pressroom@naoldcatholic.com

Two new Orthodox parishes to open in Baltimore

Download Press Release as a PDF by clicking here

Parishes to bring ancient liturgy experience to southeast Baltimore

Baltimore, MD [June 25, 2008] Today, the North American Old Catholic Church announced the opening of two Orthodox Catholic parishes in the southeast section of Baltimore, with a specific mission to reach out to younger unchurched, and to older, traditional Catholics. Both churches are staffed by the clerics at Holy Cross Monastery.

“There seems to be a rather strange disconnect between many modern churches and the needs of the people in our society.” commented Father Daniel Garguillio, abbot of the monastery. “Many churches, in an attempt to modernize and supposedly attract more young people to their congregation, replace time honored ancient liturgical worship, replacing it with flashy ‘events’ that look more like American Idol than the prayer and worship of God.”

Father continued, “In society, we see many young people are going to “Goth” night clubs, wearing medievalist attire, and even listening to Gregorian Chant CDs! It is obvious that the ancient music, dress, and the mysticism that it represents still reaches into the hearts and minds of the young, as well as the young at heart. There is a need, an aching, for prayer in the ancient tradition which many of today’s churches are increasingly ignoring. By offering our worship through the ancient liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, we hope to fulfill that longing.”

The parishes are:

Beginning on Sunday, June 29, 2008, Saint Andrew the First Called Orthodox Church will offer Mass in the chapel at Saint Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7834 Eastern Avenue. Liturgy will be offered every Sunday at 3:00 PM.

Beginning on Saturday, July 5, 2008, Most Holy Theotokos Orthodox Church will offer Mass and services to the residents at and surrounding neighborhood of FutureCare NorthPoint Nursing Home, 1046 Old North Point Road. Liturgy will be offered every Saturday at 10:30 AM.

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Media Advisory: reporters and television crews are welcome to attend either parish’s opening liturgy.

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Fostering a continued, strong commitment to catholic tradition, and the search for contemporary meaning, the North American Old Catholic Church is part of the worldwide, universal church of Jesus Christ. For more information about the church, and to review or download our press kit, visit http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com and click on *PRESS KIT* You may also request a press kit by emailing pressroom@naoldcatholic.com

Church to President Bush: Close GitMo!

Download Press Release in PDF here.

[June 13, 2008] Washington, DC - In a letter sent today to President Bush, Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding bishop of the North American Old Catholic Church, urged the president to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, and to extend Constitutional Rights of due process to detainees.

The letter was prompted by the Supreme Court ruling handed down on June 12, 2008, that gave detainees at Guantánamo Bay access to US Courts.

In the letter, the Archbishop stated, “It’s time to shut down Guantánamo Bay, and move proceedings to a civilian court of law or a traditional military court operating in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice where constitutional guarantees apply. We must also end indefinite detention without charge. Detainees who are not charged or convicted must be sent to countries where they will not be tortured or abused.”

The Full text of the letter can be downloaded as a PDF here.

Virginia Governor commutes death sentence of mentally ill inmate

Press Release in PDF format

Church applauds his display of compassion- urges reforms to prevent future issues

Washington, DC [June 10, 2008] - In a letter sent today to Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine, Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding archbishop of the North American Old Catholic Church, congratulated the Governor for commuting the death penalty of Mr. Percy Walton.

Mr. Walton was scheduled to be put to death on June 10th, for committing three murders in Danville, VA in 1996. the Governor commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because Mr. Walton suffers from schizophrenia.

In the letter, the Archbishop urged the governor to introduce two pieces of legislation to the Virginia General Assembly making health care for those suffering from mental illness free and easily accessible, and to have the sentencing guidelines used by the court system modified to prohibit judges from sentencing criminals to death if a diagnosed mental illness is a contributing factor.

Download PDF of June 10 letter to Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia

June 10, 2008

Governor Timothy Kaine
The Commonwealth of Virginia
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Governor Kaine:

I am writing to you today to applaud your decision to commute the death sentence of Percy Walton to a sentence of life imprisonment. The compassion you have displayed in this act is a credit to your administration, and to the residents of the great Commonwealth of Virginia.

There are many Americans who suffer from mental illness. Many times, these illnesses are treatable, and those who suffer mental diseases lead productive lives as upstanding Americans.

While mental illness should never be used an excuse for committing any crime, least of all homicide, it most certainly should be considered a mitigating factor when considering sentencing and the commutation of sentences such as the one levied against Mr. Walton.

Considering Mr. Walton’s schizophrenia is treatable with counseling and medication, you have to wonder if easier access to mental health care would have prevented the senseless murder of his neighbors in Danville in 1996, as well as the tragedy at Virginia Tech just over one year ago.

Your term as governor of Virginia has already established itself as historic. Please Governor, continue your legacy as a governor for historic change by introducing legislation to make access to mental health care for all Virginians free and easily obtainable; and reform the sentencing guidelines used by the court system so that they prohibit the death penalty being applied in cases where mental illness is a mitigating factor.

With an assurance of prayers for you, Anne, your children, and all the residents of the Commonwealth, I remain…

Yours in justice and freedom,
The Most Reverend Michael V. Seneco, SPSA, DD, L.Th.
Presiding Archbishop

Ordaining Women is a fulfillment of the Gospel

press-release-vatican-decree-on-the-ordination-of-women-053008

Bishops of this church continue their commitment to the ordination of women.

[May 30, 2008] Washington, DC – In response to the decree handed down by the Vatican of the Roman Catholic Church, the Congregation of Bishops of the North American Old Catholic Church issued the following statement:

“We are saddened, but not surprised by the recent statement from the Roman Catholic Church,” said Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding bishop of the church. “The Roman Catholic Church has a 2,100 year history of the systematic abuse and subjugation of women to a lower, second class status, so this fits in with their long standing modus operandi.”

The Archbishop continued, “The North American Old Catholic Church is just one of the many non-roman Catholic churches throughout the world that not only welcomes, but strongly embraces and encourages women to answer the call given to them by God. The call to be ministers of the Gospel and the Altar is a very strong and powerful experience, and the church needs to be a place where all can answer that call. This church will continue to be a place that embraces our sisters, and we will continue to ordain women to the diaconate, priesthood, and to the episcopacy.”

“Considering the Roman Catholic Church does not currently ordain women, I must wonder exactly whom they are trying to bully with this general decree?” commented Father Hal Barkley, OCSJ. theologian in the church. “Are we to expect that the Roman Catholic Church will issue decrees of excommunications to Anglican and Old Catholic Church bishops and female clergy? Someone really should tell the Vatican that we have already left the building and their excommunication decrees won‟t stop us from spreading the truth of the Gospel of Christ by utilizing all the tools He has provided for us.”

The body of clergy of The North American Catholic Church currently has one female bishop, four female priests, two female deacons, and three female seminarians, accounting for ¼ of the entire body of clergy of the church.

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Fostering a continued, strong commitment to catholic tradition, and the search for contemporary meaning, the North American Old Catholic Church is part of the worldwide, universal church of Jesus Christ. For more information about the church, and to review or download our press kit, visit http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com and click on *PRESS KIT* You may also request a press kit by emailing pressroom@naoldcatholic.com

New Benefits Package Offered to Clergy

press-release-clergy-benefit-package-052808

Church continues its commitment to support clergy, so they can be successful in their ministries.

[5/28/08] Washington, DC- The North American Old Catholic Church announced today that it has implemented a large array of benefits in a new package aimed to support and uplift its body of clergy, allowing them to continue to focus on their ministries, and spreading the Gospel.

“We are very excited to offer these benefits to our clergy,” said Mr. Matthew Velic, Moderator of the Curia at the national church office. “These benefits are designed to make the ‘business of church’ more economical, and at the same time, assist our clergy in reaching their individual ministerial goals.”

The benefit package includes access to membership in Energy Federal Credit Union, a full service credit union based in Rockville, MD. Energy FCU is part of the Credit Union Service Centers, which has 3,200 branches nationwide; membership in Working Advantage, an employee benefit organization that offers discounts on everything from travel to business equipment and supplies, and cellular telephone service; a discount program with Sprint/Nextel; and significant discounts on Hertz car rentals.

These benefits are in addition to the comprehensive global liability policy the national church carries for its entire clergy, protecting them against civil litigation on a wide variety of professional claims, as well as against the loss of church and personal property while traveling on church business.

Additionally, the Congregation of Bishops which oversees the church, is presently soliciting health insurance providers so they may offer health, dental, vision, and life insurance to both clergy and lay employees at all levels of the organization.

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Fostering a continued, strong commitment to catholic tradition, and the search for contemporary meaning, the North American Old Catholic Church is part of the worldwide, universal church of Jesus Christ. For more information about the church, and to review or download our press kit, visit http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com and click on *PRESS KIT* You may also request a press kit by emailing pressroom@naoldcatholic.com

Old Catholic Clergy Ordination Set for Baltimore, MD

You can download this press release by clicking herepress-release-steward-ordination-052808

The North American Old Catholic Church, one of the largest Old Catholic bodies in the United States, announced today the ordination of Mr. Joe Steward, of Baltimore, MD to the transitional diaconate. This step is the last before ordination to the priesthood.

“We have had a great increase in the amount of vocations to the Old Catholic Priesthood this year.” stated Archbishop Michael Seneco, Presiding Archbishop of the North American Old Catholic Church. “Currently, we have twelve highly qualified men and women studying at our seminary, Saint Wolbodo, towards eventual ordination and service to the people of God.

Mr. Steward’s ordination is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Saint Mark’s United Church of Christ at 1805 Wickes Avenue, in Baltimore. The ordination will be presided over by Archbishop Seneco, and both the press and the public are invited to attend.

This is the third ordination for the church this year. By comparison, the church ordained three people in 2007.

When asked why the North American Old Catholic Church has seen a sharp increase in vocations to the priesthood, Mr. Matthew Velic, who sits on the board of trustees for Saint Wolbodo Seminary said, “We have a unique educational program that allows for a great amount of flexibility in the educational process, while still giving the students a good feel of community that one would find at a more traditional institution.”

The Archbishop continued, “We also feel that the state of our Nation- with poverty on the rise; the exploding cost of gasoline; the housing market falling flat are just a few of the reasons people are answering the call God has given them. All our seminarians and applicants have expressed a strong concern for these and other issues, and a desire and commitment to work together to change things for our country, and her people.”

Additionally, church officials site an outreach effort to clergy who left larger, institutional churches over marriage or sexuality, as well as a significant and deliberate campaign to increase vocations in the African American and Latino communities.

Upon ordination, Mr. Steward will establish a parish church in Baltimore, Maryland, and it will be the churches third parish in that city, where Mr. Steward resides with his life partner, Bill.

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Church urges compassion in UK Asylum Petition

At the request of Amnesty International, the presiding bishop of the North American Old Catholic Church corresponded with the leaders of the United Kingdom regarding the pending asylum request of Iranian National Medhi Kazemi.

You can download a PDF of the letter here

Letters of Response: The British Ambassador, the Prime Minister, and the Archbishop of Canterbury

March 18, 2008
The Right Honorable Gordon Brown
Prime Minister of The United Kingdom
10 Downing Street
London, SW1A 2AA
ENGLAND

Prime Minister Brown:

I am writing to you today regarding the petition for asylum that has been submitted by Medhi Kazemi, an 19 year old Iranian National.

Mr. Kazemi identifies as a homosexual, which in his country of birth is a crime punishable by death by hanging or stoning. His original petition was denied by your government, and his subsequent petition to the Netherlands was turned back, placing his request directly in your hands according to media reports.

According to your biography, your father, The Rev’d John Brown, inspired you to public service. You say he often quoted Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King who said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” I would submit to you Mr. Brown that the good words and life lesson of Dr. King and Rev. Brown simply would not apply to Mr. Kazemi if he were to return to Iran. This young man will never have the chance to serve his nation if he were to return.

You are quoted as saying, “Every child should have the best start in life, that everybody should have the chance of a job, that nobody should be brought up suffering in poverty. I would call them the beliefs that you associate with civilisation and dignity.”

The concept that simply possessing an emotional or physical attraction to someone automatically earns you a death sentence, regardless of whether the person has acted upon his feelings or not, flies in the very face of the “beliefs that you associate with civilization and dignity.”

Understand Prime Minister that this is not about the debate that rages in your country and mine regarding homosexuality, gay rights or gay marriage. This is about the dignity of the human persons and the innate desire to live without the fear of death.

All Mr. Kazemi desires is the chance to have the best start in life, the chance at a job, to live without the constant and quite literal danger of death by an angry mob with a rope. He wishes to realize the same dream that your parents instilled in you – to live in a civilization with dignity.

I urge you to establish your administrations legacy on human rights starting with this case. It is of urgent importance that you grant his petition to resettle in the United Kingdom, so he too can begin to realize his dreams, just as you have realized yours.

With every best wish to you and your family, allow me to enjoin my prayers to all of the United Kingdom for the Queen and her family at Easter.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Michael V. Seneco, SPSA, DD, L.Th.
Presiding Archbishop
cc: Her Majesty, Queen Ellizabeth II
Sir Nigel Sheinwald, British Ambassador to the United States T
he Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, Primate of the Church of England

Church urges Ukrainian President to honor UN Refugee Status

At the request of Amnesty International, the letter below was posted to President Viktor Yushchenko of the Ukraine.

Click here to download a PDF of the letter

Click here to download the response from the President of the Ukraine in a PDF

March 10, 2008

Mr. Viktor Yushchenko
President of Ukraine
Bankovaya Str. 11
01220 Kyiv
UKRANE

Dear President Yushchenko:

I write to you today from the United States regarding Chechen refugee Lema Susarov. Despite being granted recognition as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and subsequent arrangements for his resettlement in Finland, Mr. Susarov is still being held in detention in Kyiv.

UNHCR determined he was a refugee in August of 2007, and his status and resettlement was accepted by Finland was approved on 11 October 2007. Despite these actions by the international community, your government continues to hold Mr. Susarov in Kyiv since his original detention on 20 July 2007.

Mr. President, the international community continues to watch the activities of your government, with particular attention to how you deal with and respond to the crises of the human persons in your borders. I assure you, that in addition to this watchful international eye, God also is watching how you treat and deal with your fellow man. Most assuredly, the errors you continue to make in this life will certainly come to bear and affect you in the next life.

For the sake of Mr. Susarov, and indeed for the sake and preservation of your own soul, I enjoin our voices to those of the United Nations, the international refugee community, and all those who are concerned for the dignity of human life that you comply with 1951 Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention) and release IMMEDIATELY Mr. Susarov and give him full and unfettered access to the UN High Commissioner so that he may be re-settled in Finland. Remember, the tenants of the 1951 Convention state that refugees should not be returned to any country where their life or freedom would be threatened.

We will pray for Mr. Susraov, for your presidency, and for the people of the Ukraine.

Cordially,
The Most Reverend Michael V. Seneco, SPSA, DD, L.Th.
Presiding Archbishop

Church opposes Holsinger as US Surgeon General

Today, Presiding Archbishop Michael Seneco sent a letter to the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions expressing concern with President Bush’s selection of Dr. John Holsinger as the next US Surgeon General.

The text of the letter is below, and can be downloaded in a PDF here

US Senator Brown of Ohio responds to our letter. Download PDF of letter here

June 7, 2007

Senator Edward Kennedy, Chairman
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
428 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I write to you today regarding President Bush’s nomination of Doctor John Holsinger for the position of Surgeon General of the United States.

In media reports, it has become apparent that Dr. Holsinger, through a church he helped to found in Kentucky, advocates a “treatment” for homosexuality called Conversion Therapy, which uses spiritual and unfounded, dangerous, and harmful “psychological” methods to “treat” the condition of being gay.

According to the website for the office of the Surgeon General of the United States, one of the chief responsibilities of the Surgeon General is (1) “To articulate scientifically based health policy analysis and advice to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the full range of critical public health, medical, and health system issues facing the Nation;”

In reviewing The American Psychological Association website, it is apparent that Conversion Therapy is not based in any way on scientific fact, but on bias, prejudice, and ideological perspectives that are inconsistent with quality mental health standards. On the APA website (2), they state:

“Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients’ sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention.

The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association’s Council of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology’s opposition to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client’s right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent of any social bias.

It is apparent that Dr. Holsinger advocates a psychological “treatment” to homosexuality that is not rooted in science, but rooted in prejudice.

The person appointed Surgeon General of the United States should be a practitioner who advocates and participates in sound, proven medical treatments that have been accepted by the professional medical societies in the appropriate field of study. Conversion Therapy does not meet that litmus test.

While we respect Dr. Holsinger’s right to freely practice his religious beliefs in his private life and medical practice, upon appointment to be America’s physician, his practice becomes public, and he needs to represent only sound, accepted medical treatments to American Citizens.

His ready acceptance of this controversial treatment, a treatment that is opposed by practitioners specially trained in psychoanalysis demonstrates his inability to properly fill the role of Surgeon General of the United States.

On behalf of our clergy and members of our congregations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky and the District of Columbia, we strongly encourage you to vote AGAINST Dr. Holsinger’s confirmation as the eighteenth Surgeon General of the United States.

Cordially,

The Most Reverend Michael V. Seneco, SPSA, DD, L.Th.
Presiding Archbishop

1 http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/aboutoffice.html
2 http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html#conversiontherapies