CATHOLIC MEDIA COALITION
1216 MILL ROAD
WOODSTOCK, VA 22664
http://www.catholicmediacoalition.org/
OPEN LETTER TO BISHOP WILLIAM PATRICK CALLAHAN,
BISHOP OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
September 15, 2020
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Your Excellency:
I am an orthodox Catholic who has spent my entire adult life fighting for babies waiting to be born: sidewalk counseling outside abortion facilities, offering a shelter home for moms in crisis, even going to jail several times for rescue attempts. As President of the Catholic Media Coalition, I speak for many likeminded Catholics who deplore the attacks on Holy Mother Church and those who defend her. Many of our members have watched and listened to the edifying sermons by Fr. James Altman and remarked on what a blessing he must be to his bishop for speaking the truth with clarity and charity about the moral obligation of Catholics, particularly our shepherds, to defend intrinsic moral issues.
So I was mystified by your public statement rebuking and threatening Fr. Altman for his impassioned defense of the faith as he warned Catholics not to endanger their souls by embracing the Democrat Party of death and perversion. Your actions brought to mind Dietrich von Hildebrand's statement in The Devastated Vineyard:
...it is most especially infuriating when certain bishops, who themselves show this lethargy toward heretics, assume a rigorously authoritarian attitude toward those believers who are fighting for orthodoxy, and who are thus doing what the bishops ought to be doing themselves....The drivel of the heretics, both priests and laymen, is tolerated....But they want to silence the faithful believers who take up the cause of orthodoxy, the very people who should, by all rights, be the joy of the bishops' hearts, their consolation, a source of strength for overcoming their own lethargy. Instead, these people are regarded as disturbers of the peace. And should it happen that they get carried away in their zeal and express themselves in a tactless or exaggerated manner, they are even suspended. This clearly shows the cowardice which is hidden behind the bishops' failure to use their authority.
Sadly, Your Excellency, your statement could have been the source spurring von Hildebrand's lament. I reread your statement several times and, frankly, was appalled:
- First, by your releasing a public statement while claiming to follow the biblical admonition to go to your brother privately. Your actions contradicted your words.
- Second, by your acknowledging the "undeniable truth" of Fr. Altman's message while ultimately dismissing it. He defended fundamental, non-negotiable Church doctrines while you, on the other hand, focused on his tone!
- Third, by your threatening canonical penalties for his "delivery and tone," threats based, not on canon law, but your personal opinion. I can only imagine what you think of the tone of Jesus Himself calling the entire group of pharisees and sadducees "blind guides...whited sepulchers filled with dead men's bones...filled with evil and iniquity!" (Matthew 25) Was Jesus “divisive, uncharitable, and lacking in virtue?”
- Fourth, by calling his "generalization and condemnation of entire groups of people...completely inappropriate and not in keeping with our values of the life of virtue." That is simply nonsense! The Church has always banned Catholics from joining the Masons since their beliefs are incompatible with Church doctrine. At one time it brought a penalty of excommunication. Does it still? And then there are those "entire groups of people" who commit aborticide or secure or aid in the procurement of abortion who are automatically excommunicated. I wonder -- would you have any problem with the “generalization and condemnation” of those who join the KKK, ISIS, or the Satanic Temple? The Democrats officially embrace diabolical evil in their party platform. Catholics can't do that without endangering their souls! It is charitable and a spiritual work of mercy to warn them and exhort them to repentance.
Your Excellency, I wonder how much the pressure from "progressives" has influenced your actions, which brings me once again to von Hildebrand's description of the "lethargy of the guardians:"
For they [the bishops] have nothing to fear from the orthodox: the orthodox do not control the mass media or the press; they are not the representatives of public opinion. And because of their submission to ecclesiastical authority, the fighters for orthodoxy will never be as aggressive as the so-called progressives. If they are reprimanded or disciplined, their bishops run no risk of being attacked by the liberal press and being defamed as reactionary.
Fr. Altman deserves your praise, not threats to see "the error of his ways and...take steps to correct his behavior and heal the wound he has inflicted on the Body of Christ." Your Excellency, it is not Fr. Altman who has inflicted a "wound" on the Body of Christ, but you. We have had half a century of dialogue with Catholics, especially Catholic politicians, who scandalize the faithful by promoting child killing, sexual immorality, perversion, and other intrinsic evils. To allow, and even promote confusion, is a grievous wound indeed; and that is what you have done!
Tens of thousands of Catholics are anxiously and prayerfully watching this situation. We beg you to withdraw all threats from Fr. Altman. Restore permission for him to live-stream Masses including his excellent CATHOLIC sermons. He blows the trumpet to warn those hastening to destruction. If you silence his voice, you take your seat with the cowardly bench of English bishops who chose the apostasy of Henry VIII over the truths of the faith. They remained silent as their one faithful brother, Bishop John Fisher, was condemned and beheaded. Please spare the flock the painful scandal of watching you imitate them.
I would appreciate the courtesy of a response to this letter letting the faithful know the penalties, if any, you plan to levy on Fr. Altman. He has canonical rights as a pastor and many of us will gladly support those rights with both our prayers and our pocketbooks! I'm sure many of the tens of thousands of faithful Catholics signing the LifeSiteNews petition in support of Fr. Altman will happily contribute to his defense.
We will also be praying for you, Your Excellency that you do not inflict a further wound on the Church. It would be a scandal of massive proportions to persecute a faithful son for speaking the truth in his zeal to save souls. I hope saving souls is your goal as well. Sometimes that requires boldly speaking the hard truth!
Sincerely in Christ,
Mary Ann Kreitzer
President, Catholic Media Coalition
Co-Signers (More signatories will be added as they are received.):
James Fritz, Defenders of the Faith, Inc., Berkeley Springs, WV http://www.thedefender.org/contact.shtml
Mary Boud, Catholic Allies in Truth, http://www.alliesintruth.org/
Janet Baker, Restore D.C. Catholicism, http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/
Georgene M Sorenson, Romans in the Desert
David Lee, Romans in the Desert
Linda Lee, Romans in the Desert
Susan Matthiesen, The Orlando Truth, Orlando, FL
Catherine Van Lone Taylor, Catholic Media Coalition, Tucson, AZ
Alysson Smith, Catholic Media Coalition, Los Angeles, CA
Alice Grayson, Veil of Innocence, https://veilofinnocence.org/
Darden Brock, Les Femmes, the Women of Truth, Front Royal, VA
Daniel Graham, author Lex Orandi, Fairfax, VA
Judith Graham, Fairfax, VA
John-Henry Westen, LifeSiteNews
Jack Ames, Defend Life, Baltimore, MD
Michael Arata
Greg Strobel
David J. Sabo
Robert J. Muise, American Freedom Law Center
Stephen and Rose Filipi
Finola Glassmoyer
Don Volz, New Braunfels, TX
Judy Appelhanz
Mary L Goumillout Concord, NH
Joel Bautista of Glendale
Mr and Mrs Eli and Shiela Nicart and children
Barbara Creager
Peggy Morris Severna Park, MD
Thomas Kolberg, Ordinary Sinner
Rosemary Costa Sunset Beach, NC
Leonard Attard
Rudnei Wittmann, PhD, Saint-Jerome, QC - Canada
Lucia Tirone, Paterson, New Jersey
Donna M. Bungo St. Joseph Parish Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Andrew Nelson, ND
Connie Hays. Kingwood TX
Elizabeth Poel, VA
Rod Hamar
Thomas & Karyn Burt
Bronwyn Curtis
Maureen Stephens, Woodstock Il
Ed Michael
Mary Ann Gurliaccio,Virginia
Bev Beselaere
David and Nichole Dillon, Nampa, Idaho
Larry Madoski - Huntington Beach, CA
Diane McNair, Huntington Beach, CA
Ron Davis San Antonio, Texas
Chris Remmert North Carolina
Betty Sarratt Dallas, Texas
Mary Riley, Michigan
Tram Duong, Leavenworth WA
Jim and Pat Althoff Phoenix, MD
Brenda Voss
Sandra Paulley, Houston, Texas
Melissa Belcher, South Africa
Dianne La Barre, New York
Sunita Kottoor, Peoria, IL
Rachel Buckley
Loretta Costello
Mike Taraborelli, Cranston, R.I.
Received via email
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Kreitzer,
My wife and I are parishioners of St. Michael Church in Cañon City, CO. We love to hear and be fed by Fr. Altman’s homilies. We would beg you to add our names to your amazingly bold and beautifully written letter.
Thank you for your faithful witness to Our Lord Jesus!
In Jesus and Mary,
Jeffrey and Nicole Worley
Sent from my iPhone
Bravo, thank you Mary Ann for your inspiring open letter. We concur, as year after year we morn, weep, shriek and pray as we witness the silence of our clergy, those whom Jesus Christ had handed the Keys to; gave His authority to, power to bind and loose and even FORGIVE SIN to. We watch the fabric of this once great nation gets ripped to shreds as the faithful become desensitized to the degradation around us.. As the ignorant faithful are skirted around the black and white truth of the faith, explained so simply in the Baltimore Catechism, the witness that gave the ‘Greatest Generation’ the simple answers to why we exist. We watch as men casually surrender their fatherly rights and duties to the Democratic Party; women have no one to defend or protect them and the unborn continue to be burned, diced, dissected and sold as a commodity. The sexual abuse of thousands by the clergy mares and scandalizes the faithful as the wicked clergy go undetected to the faithful and unpunished. The canonical laws of the church being decimated as it applies to the defending of the Blessed Sacrament, liturgical abuses, no longer shock us. We have even surrendered receiving the sacraments, a right and a duty no God-fearing Christian should be denied. Now when we finally have the voice of one crying in the desert, the sinful and prideful wolves turn on him. How disgusted and tired we are of watching as heretic after heretic is elevated to positions of prominence, and our true ministers of the Gospel of Life become just another victim of their ‘pastoral’ care. So once again, not only Fr. Altman, all souls are again threatened by denying Fr. Altman the right to preach the Catholic faith that 99% of the bishops are impotent in doing. Abortion is murder and the Democratic Party is the party of death, words that I recall the late Bishop Doran wrote and preached and that was prior to the democrats speaking openly of killing born babies too! Prior to to the massive spread of homosexuality, a sin which cries to the Lord for vengeance, due to its unnatural, selfish and non-life affirming act. Msgr Reilly, another unsung hero was with us when Cardinal George said he ‘would not deny a pro abortion politician Holy Communion’ And uphold the law of the Church, Canon 915, because the politicians were ‘excommunicating themselves’ and he wasnt going to make a political issue of it! (The job of the Cardinal to protect the Blessed Sacrament) And the GREAT Msgr. Reilly said, “ That he respectfully disagreed with Card. George”, and “If they were killing bishops and cardinals, you better believe that those politicians would not be receiving Holy Communion”. If these heretical clergy could remember the ‘Golden Rule’ and apply it to not only the unborn, but to Fr. Altman and the flock, this nation wouldn’t have to look to a Protestant politician to hear the Gospel of Life. I fear we’ve been sold out, sold to the dark side, like our Chinese brethren, sold to the highest bidder to choose our next bishops and perhaps even choose our next pope. May God have mercy on their souls. I fear for all our children and at what price will they pay? Yes, God’s Holy Will shall be done, but we must always It is our duty and obligation to correct these fallen clergy, Summa 2 Q 33, and even if, after the Lord has taken away their sin, ‘nevertheless, because they have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the Lord seeks vengeance.’ We pray for their souls, beg His mercy on us all, and to be delivered from the evil one. May God bless Fr. Altman and all our Holy Priests Your Sister in Christ ~ Mrs. Nancy Weber
ReplyDeletePlease add my H's and my name to the list:
ReplyDeleteDavid & Terri Bradley
I, also, want to be counted: Teresa Dinning, 20+ year catechist, Houston TX
ReplyDeleteI’d like to sign:
ReplyDeleteTheresa Bird
Anchorage, AK
Blessings to a God send & speaking truth.
ReplyDeleteNancy Reuter, Holy Family Parish, Poniatowski, WI
Please add my name to the open letter.
ReplyDeleteMily Maria Vitar-Vega, Miami, Florida. Christus regnat.
I'd also like to sign:
ReplyDeleteJacob and Erin Coulter Albany, GA
Please add my signature,
ReplyDeleteDeborah Burton
Editor
Catholic365.com
How can I add my name to this list...Jose Robledo Jr. Bakersfield California..
ReplyDeleteThe Ellis family in Freedom, WI supports Father Altman!
ReplyDeleteJoseph and Kathleen Ellis and family in Freedom, WI
ReplyDeleteWe support Father Altman!
received via email:
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Ann,
I apologize in advance if this is not the proper means of contacting you with regard to your excellent open letter to Bishop Callahan pertaining to his treatment of Father Altman. I simply wish to have my name added to it, and I would also like to forward a more appropriate way for others in my circle to do the same as I’m sure you do not wish to be inundated with more email requests like mine!
Please – if you are able – provide instructions so that we may add more signatories without inconveniencing you!
Thank you again for your letter, and may God bless you!
Sincerely,
Mike Saguto
Pawleys Island, SC
Dear MaryAnn, thank-you so much for your letter.
ReplyDeletePlease add our names to your list.
Tim and Jean Hart, VA
Please add our names: Rosalinda Lozano, Parker CO; Armando Lozano, Parker, CO
ReplyDeleteThank you for this letter. It has been utterly disturbing to hear about the Bishops harsh retribution of Fr Fr Altman. How could any Catholic even consider voting for a politician who openly and aggressively pushes abortion until birth and infanticide! Fr Altman deserves all respect for standing up against evil. You as his Bishop have a duty to defend this priest who protects life.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Douglas-Johnson, Wisconsin
ReplyDeleteWe pray for you and Father Altman. Please support his journey that so many faithful Catholics treasure as we follow with him
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to your beautiful and faithful letter to Bishop Callahan. I agree with and support Father James Altman and pray for him daily. Cathy McGonigal, Indiana
ReplyDeleteThe best way to sign up is to leave your name and a brief message here. I faxed the open letter to the bishop yesterday with several dozen names. I snail mailed a certified letter to him today with about two hundred names. I will continue to collect new names and send him a follow up letter with those names and some of the comments from the blog. I will continue to do that as long as new names are added in increments of about 100. I urge everyone to pray the rosary for the bishop and Fr. Altman. The Blessed Mother has saved entire nations through her rosary. Let us use that powerhouse of prayer to touch the bishop's heart and help him recognize the great gift he has in his spiritual son, Fr. Altman. I also sent a copy of the letter to Fr. Altman. I hope it encourages him.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name. Hurrah for Fr. Altman a true warrior for Christ!
ReplyDeleteI also stand with Fr. James Altman
ReplyDeleteMary Ann Petrites, St. John the Evangelist parish, Streamwood IL
I firmly stand with Father James Altman.
ReplyDeleteNoel Ballard
Houston Texas I
Please add our names
ReplyDeleteAndrew and Cathy Scavelli
Please add our names. We stand with Fr. Altman
ReplyDeleteAndrew and Cathy Scavelli
Palm Harbor, FL
Please add my name to this letter in support of Father James Altman. His passionate defense of the unborn and his unabashed stand for the faith, no matter how unpalatable to the world, is the type of leadership the truly faithful are starving for. God give us more shepherds like Father Altman. Diana Sinclair, Saint Thomas the Apostle, Salem, MA.
ReplyDeleteJESUS is on your side Ft. Atman. God bless you now and always
ReplyDeletePlease add my name. I stand with Ft James Altman
ReplyDeletePlease add our names in agreement to the excellent letter sent to Bishop Callahan. Father Altman is the best, and his homilies are spot on and just what we need to hear in these difficult times. God Bless and protect Father Altman. - Larry and Elaine Graf
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to the signatories:
ReplyDeleteRichard W. Schenk Jr.
1107 Courtwood Circle
Ballwin, Mo. 63011
Well said! Thank you so much for giving a voice to us who feel we have no voice! I've waited many years to hear a priest speak the truth as Fr. Altman does. Please add my name.
ReplyDeleteSheila Covar NC
Dianna Van Booven
ReplyDeleteGodfrey, Illinois
Every church should be blessed to have a Father Altman in their parish! One Holy and loving priest.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to this inspired letter.
ReplyDeleteArlene F Smith, Church of the Resurrection
Please add my name. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKatherine Mitchell, Conover, WI
Excellent letter Mary Ann. Please add our name:
ReplyDeleteMichael & Donna Marek NY
Peter M Starowicz Sr.
ReplyDeleteExcellent letter!!! Please add my name to the list
ReplyDeletePatricia Mullin Choctaw, OK
I stand with Father James Altman. Please add my name to the open letter to Bishop Callahan.
ReplyDeleteNancy Gallie, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Your Excellency Bishop Callahan,
ReplyDeleteI ask you to reconsider your decision to stop Father Altman from live streaming his daily Masses. We, the hungry for the truth, lay people need to hear what Father Altman preaches. We all need to hear and live by the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. We especially need to know that our Magisterium is following the true teachings of Jesus Christ and not some left wing, anti-Catholic and modernistic agenda. Everyone child of God needs a tongue lashing now & then when we've stepped away from the truth. Father Altman has been brave enough to say what many of the lay have known for many years and give the much needed tongue lashing to the guilty.
Your Excellency, please reinstate Father Altman's ability to live stream his Masses and please do not be a part of stopping the truth from being preached.
Respectfully yours in Jesus Christ,
Dianna Van Booven
Godfrey, Illinois
I stand with Father Altman.
ReplyDeleteLisa DeRango, St. Patrick's Church
Please add me to the open letter.
ReplyDeleteLisa DeRango
I stand with Fr. Altman and Bishop Strickland. Fr. Altman is preaching TRUTH, and should not be stopped. We need more priests and Bishops to lead us as those two are.
ReplyDeleteLana Peterson, St. Matthew’s, Diocese of Tyler
Please add my name to your excellent letter:
ReplyDeleteLana Peterson, St. Matthew’s, Diocese of Tyler
Please sign my name to this letter:
ReplyDeleteTara Lewis Wilmington, NC
Fr. Altman revived my faith in the catholic faith.
ReplyDeletePlease add our names as well...
ReplyDeleteJoseph & Stacey Sefcik
Our Lady of Hope Parish, CT
Excellent letter. Praying that Bp. Callahan will be worthy of this holy priest.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to this letter.
Phyllis Reimer, Austin, TX
Thank you for writing this letter. I would like my name to be added: Miriam Williams, Augusta GA
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this letter. I would like my name to be added: Miriam Williams, Augusta GA
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this letter. I would like my name to be added: Miriam Williams, Augusta GA
ReplyDeleteI support Father Altman and pray for him every day. Mary Angilletta, New Jersey
ReplyDeleteLinda Mastej, a repentant sinner, parshioner of St James the Less in the Diocese of La Crosse
ReplyDeleteThird attempt, and not sure what I’m doing wrong, but
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to this excellent letter.
Phyllis Reimer, Austin, Texas
I faithfully stand with Fr. Altman, and shame on the cowardly bishops who silence his voice proclaiming the Gospel with zeal, passion, and truth. Amy Young, Sterling, VA
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to this excellent letter.
ReplyDeletePhyllis Reimer
Austin, Texas
Please add my name in defense of Father ALtman, I was just learning about him and love his honesty. We need more priests like him.
ReplyDeleteSincerely
Lynn Caldwell, St. Serra Parish, Lancaster, California 9/18/2020
Please add my name to your list. Brother Thomas Weldon, fsp. of the Brothers of St. Patrick. Midway City, CA
ReplyDeletePlease add our names: Mr & Mrs M. Milewski, Staten Island NY
ReplyDeleteWe stand with Fr. Altman, a courageous priest who speaks the truth. Please add our names to the open letter to Bishop Callahan. Thank you. Joel and Helen Hein
ReplyDeletePlease add my name.
ReplyDeleteI stand for Truth - I stand with Fr. James Altman
Catherine Moses, Las Vegas, NV
Please add our names to the letter to Bishop Callahan in support of Fr. James Altman -- Frank E. & Margaret M. Patino, Woodridge, IL (St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish, Chicago).
ReplyDeleteAdd me.
ReplyDeleteScott Irey
Our Lady of the Assumption
Cashmere/Leavenworth WA
Joyfully, with prayer, I support Fr. Altman, a good and holy priest of God. Please add my name: Barbara Ann Walls Jenkins Virginia Beach, VA
ReplyDeleteI stand with Fr. Altman -
ReplyDeleteNatasha Fernandes
New Zealand
I concur with the view and statements outlined in this letter. Thank you for putting all pertinent points together in such a logical fashion. Please God our Bishops will be granted the graces necessary to display fortitude and strength in the face of adversity.
ReplyDeleteSiobhán.
Please add our names:
ReplyDeleteKevin and Patty Arthur
Coordinators of Pro-Life Ministry
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Indianapolis, IN
Add my name to the letter. Gail Brady Baton Rouge, LA evernonjrbrady@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI stand with Father Altman.
ReplyDeleteTanya Britton, Tupelo,MS
ReplyDeleteI also stand with Fr. Altman.
ReplyDeleteMary Suddath RN BSN
St. Anne Parish
Richmond Hill, GA
From a friend:
ReplyDeletePlease add us to your petition.
Larry & Jeannette Barnett
St. Joseph Indianapolis
We stand with Fr. James Altman!
ReplyDeleteFor our future generations please Bishop Callahan stand with the truth that Fr. Altman was brave enough to speak.
Inglin family of 12 souls seeking Truth and our eternal end in heaven.
Add my name. Miguel Valenzuela, Michigan
ReplyDeleteThis letter is outstanding! The thoughts expressed echo the cries of the faithful, who long for their “Shepherds” to be voices of the TRUTH in a time of human history when that voice is so desperately in need of being heard by “the sheep.” I support Fr Altman. He has been anointed for such a time as this. Please add my name to your letter. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
ReplyDeleteMaureen Dierkes, Kansas City, Mo
Rose Kehoe,
ReplyDeleteThe Villages, FL.
Signups via Facebook
ReplyDeleteMargaret Knellinger, Cambridge, Ohio
Margaret G. Schneider, Leonardtown, MD
Delane Karalow, Virginia
This is a perfect letter. Our prayers for Fr. Altman; and may the bishop find courage and wisdom. Prayers for conversion and for all our priests, and religious. Barbara Prado
ReplyDeleteWe stand with Father Altman!����
ReplyDelete-Adam and Nicole Collins
Salt Lake City, Utah
Please add my name to the open letter to Bishop Callahan. Karen Jarred, Chanute KS
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to the open letter to Bishop Callahan. Karen Jarred, Chanute KS
ReplyDeleteAdd my name; Don Koehn. St. Mark Parish, Plano, TX
ReplyDeleteWe stand with Fr. Altman!
ReplyDeletePaul & Amber Vachon of Kingsport, TN
Excellent letter! I was so disappointed to read Bishop Callaghan remarks, especially since Father Altman always spoke so highly of him. I so miss the daily homilies of Fr. Altman, feeding my soul.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name:
Mary Ann Rogan, North Abington Twp., PA
Barb Brinkman
ReplyDeleteIndianapolis, IN
Excellent letter. Please add my name: David Martin, St. Peter's Parish, Lewiston, NY
ReplyDeleteJMJ - I agree with this letter. Mr. and Mrs. Brian Shea - Manassas, VA
ReplyDeleteI support Father Altman and the truth.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Please add my name to this letter.
ReplyDeleteSarah Damm
Minnesota
Please add:
ReplyDeleteMary Sue Brady
Kentucky
I stand with Fr. Altman and all those willing to be persecuted for the sake of Truth and our Faith.
ReplyDeleteIt’s long over due! We have been sheep yearning for earthly shepherds who aren’t fearful of the consequences of speaking Truth and who care for the souls of those entrusted to their care more than themselves.
In my hometown (Grand Raoids, MI) there were many who tried to persecute a young, faithful priest for his defense of The Blessed Sacrament. He privately counseled a lesbian couple (including a well-known judge who is consistently in the public arena) to not come forward for Holy Communion at mass, as he could not, in good conscience, offer Holy Eucharist to them knowing they were “married”, thus in a state of known mortal sin. Yet they presented themselves for communion nonetheless. When Fr. denied them Eucharist, they went public with vicious attacks, encouraging parishioners to leave the parish (& Church?) and many did.
We must try to help one another get to Heaven! We can’t sit idly by, saying nothing , when souls are in danger. Although cliché, it’s true that we must “love the sinner but hate the sin” . Speaking the Truth, in love, is exactly what Christ did, setting the example for us to follow.
Sincerely and with gratitude,
Mary Baxter
EXCELLENT LETTER!! Please add my name. Pennie Iott,MONROE MI.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name.
ReplyDeleteColleen Turk
Kalispell, MT 59901
Please add my name: Ann-Marie Lewis. I stand with Father Altman. Praying for him and for more priests to stand up and speak out.
ReplyDeletePlease add me to the letter. I stand with father Altman.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name
ReplyDeleteKathleen Falotico
Emerson, NJ
God Bless you Fr. Altman. Those who speak and defend the truth will be rewarded..... Those who don't will need to give an account!
ReplyDeleteWe support Fr. James Altman. Please add our names to your excellent letter. Mr and Mrs Raymond Palladino, Lafayette Hill, PA
ReplyDeleteI stand with Father Altman and am praying for Bishop Callahan.
ReplyDeleteJudy Keating
St.Rose Of Lima Parish
Paso Robles,CA.
Paula Herman, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary Ann for such a powerful letter. The Holy Spirit is alive and well in the faithful. Would be honored to add my name in support of Fr Altman. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteRae NJ
Yes! Please add my name to the list of signatures for this beautifully written letter.
ReplyDeleteDolores Delaney, Chadds Ford, Pa
God bless Fr. Altman for being a good shepherd to the sheep!
ReplyDeletePlease add my name:
ReplyDeleteKathryne James, Searcy, AR
Dear Mary Ann, I was blown away with your letter, very well articulated. Please include my name on your letter, I definitely stand with Fr. James Altman. God bless you both. Madelyn Ocasio, Miami, Florida
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to your excellent letter.
ReplyDeleteMary Pat Van Epps Memphis TN
Please add my name:Theresa E. Cusumano,Shely Township, Michiganthe
ReplyDeleteAlso, asking permission to send a print of this letter to each of the Officers/Leaders of the USCCB. Every U.S. Bishop should read your letter!!! Thank you.
Please add my name: Mrs. Genevieve Kusnell. Ave Maria!
ReplyDeleteVery well written letter. Thank you for supporting Fr James Altman, he so deserves this. There are many good priests, but very few are courageous like Fr. Altman. He should be encouraged and lauded, not penalized!
ReplyDeleteI stand with Father Altman 100%. Please add my name to this open letter. - Tess Calina, Los Angeles, CA.
Yes, Theresa, please share the letter. Sending it to all the bishops at the USCCB would be quite a project and I thank and praise you for the effort. I give permission to anyone to copy the letter and pass it on.
ReplyDeletevia email
ReplyDeleteDear Mary Ann,
Thank you so very much for your excellent letter to Bishop Callahan. Please add my name.
Fredi D’Alessio
Taking Life, Love and Faith Seriously - https://fjdalessio.wordpress.com/
The Gabriel Project - https://thegabrielproject.wordpress.com/
God Bless
We stand with Fr. Altman
ReplyDeleteDeacon Richard and Tina Owen, Lewisburg, PA
Please add my name as signatory to this most magnificent letter. Bernadette Di Madonna of Spring Hill Florida.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your bold, truthful comments in defense of our faith and Father Altman who is a strong, clear voice of Christ; The faithful need more priests, Bishops and Cardinals speaking out and be willing not to count the cost.
ReplyDeleteI have been disappointed with the leaders of the Church not condemning the growing insurgence of Socialism and Marxism in the Democratic Party, and promoted by the mainstream media. Thank you so much for writing this thought provoking letter to the Bishop. I completely support everything you have said in support of Father Altman; I look forward to Bishop Callahan admitting the errors of his actions and releasing his restrictions on Father Altman, so he can continue to feed the flock the word of God through his profound homilies.
Blessings,
Kathy
I fully support Fr. Altman. Please add my name, Brooke Avery, Baton Rouge, LA
ReplyDeletePlease add us Teresa and Ryan Cichewicz to sign the letter to the archbishop in defense of the speaker of truth Father Altman
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this letter. My husband and I support Fr. Altman 100%. FINALLY, a voice that states the truth. The bishops are dividing our church at a time when we need unity. Why are they so complacent? Why are they so afraid, and of WHOM.
ReplyDeleteRick and Cristina Brown
Received via email
ReplyDeleteMary Ann -
I want to thank you for the inspired open letter that you wrote on behalf of so many of us who support and admire Fr. James Altman’s and your courage! I pray that your letter will serve to awaken and engage Catholics everywhere who have been conditioned to remain silent in their pews. Enough is enough! Please add my name to your open letter. God be with you as you continue your work for all of us, as President of Catholic Media Coalition.
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Beth Register
Peter M Starowicz
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to the open letter please, Raul Lanting, British Columbia, Canada. Thanks and prayers for this coalition.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary Ann,
ReplyDeleteThanks 🙏 for your thought provoking open letter to Bishop Callahan.,I support 100% Fr James Altman. I missed his daily Readings and homilies where I get fed spiritually. I hope 🤞 and pray 🙏that Bishop Callahan will withdraw “cannonical penalties” for Fr James Altman. He is the modern John the Baptist. Bishop Callahan should be proud of Fr James Altman to be in his Diocese who speaks the truth and should have protected him from the leftist devils grasp. Please add my name as signers in the open letter. Keep up the good work of your organization.
Thanks 🙏 and God bless,
Julie Romero, Seattle, WA
Received via email:
ReplyDeleteDear Mary Ann,
As a family of Catholics, living in Liverpool, North West England, we all wanted to thank you for your letter to Bishop Callahan regarding the appalling treatment of Fr. James Altman (we need more like Fr Altman!)
I do not know how to add our names to the open letter and would ask, and very much appreciate, if you could do this for us. (Names set out below.)
John M. Tallon
John A. Tallon
Adam G. Tallon
Paul J. Tallon
Clare F. Tallon (Mrs)
Jennifer Tallon
Many, many thanks.
God Bless,
Clare Tallon (Mrs)
Received via email:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your letter to Bishop Callahan on behalf of Fr Altman.
I especially liked “Your Excellency, it is not Fr. Altman who has inflicted a “wound” on the Body of Christ, but you.”
Please keep us posted on this situation and what happens to Fr.Altman. My next letter will be to Bishop Callahan but I have to be careful and not be emotional.
Thank you also for saying that you hope that His Excellency’s goal is to save souls.
GOD bless you
Sincerely
Laura Garand
I also stand with Father James Altman. May the voice of truth not be silenced!
ReplyDeletePlease allow me to join your crusade. Fr. Altman is leading us on the path to heaven. He may seem radical now but only because we have drifted so far from our teachings over the last few decades.
ReplyDeleteWe are on the precipice of the abyss.
Fr. Altman is in my daily prayers. God bless him and all those that are standing for Holy Mother Church, The One True God.
Mary Ann Kreitzer for President! (. . . of the United States of America)
ReplyDeleteAnd to the mouse, Bishop Callahan, you remind me of how Judas Iscariot visited the Jewish politburo, the Sanhedrin, expressing regret over his betrayal of Jesus. The members of the Sanhedrin expressed their vile contempt for the mouse, Judas. Even the Devil himself would be disgusted with you, Bishop Callahan. As an ex-Catholic, driven away by betrayers like you, please know that Jesus is measuring for millstones as I write. What color would you like yours?
Michael E. Dwyer, Ph.D.
I did write to the bishop as well pleading that he not suppress the truth ... but it was not as beautifully written as yours. Thanks Mary Ann!
ReplyDeletePlease include our names to this appeal as well:
We stand for/with/beside/in front/behind this very courageous priest: Fr James Altman
Brenda Solano, MA
Ava Solano, NY
Anthony Dellarocco, MA
Anton Edelman, MA
I also stand with Fr Altman, please add my name to the list.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Amber Maharjan
I wholeheartedly support Fr. Altman. God bless him richly for doing the right thing, we need him and priests like him so badly. Please add my name to the letter! Jennifer Brannon, AZ
ReplyDeleteWe respectfully request that you add our names to the open letter to Bishop Callahan. Thank you,
ReplyDeleteMichael & Donna Saguto, Pawleys Island, SC
“The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction.”
-Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Bishop Callahan, we pray for the Blessed Mother's intercession in the conversion of your heart and soul. Now is the time - the crisis we have been warned of for centuries - when true shepherds are most desperately needed, yet tragically so very few come forward.
I humbly ask to be added to the list of faithful Catholics who stand with Fr Altman. A great follow up video as well if you have not yet seen it!
ReplyDeleteTim Willison Pittsburgh Pa
Father Altman's masses have been lights in the darkness for us here in Maine. We need to encourage strong & faithful priests like him, not take them down a peg for their tone. Please add our names to this excellent letter.
ReplyDeleteAdam & Krysia Bailey,
& Catherine Lachiewicz
of Hampden, Maine.
Please add my name and my wife Monique's name to the open letter to Bishop Callahan San Tan Valley, Arizona
ReplyDeletePlease add our names to the Letter to Bishop Callahan : Mr. John and Dr. Annemarie Strobl Richmond.
ReplyDeletePlease add my comment if possible: Father, by your actions you have aided what Satan has being doing for centuries, undermining the Faith of the Most Holy Catholic Church established by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Please add my name. Kathy Mooers, Vancouver WA
ReplyDeleteI stand with Father Altman. God Bless him and protect him.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to your exelent letter. I wish I could write so eloquently.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Ronald Bourg
Metairie, LA
Please add my name to your open letter. Kathleen Barlow, PhD, D.Min.
ReplyDeleteSt. Luke the Evangelist Parish
Indianapolis Indiana
Finally, a voice crying out in the wilderness.
ReplyDeletePlease add our names: Tom & Colleen MacDonald
Received via e-mail
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to your Holy Spirit inspired letter...you have said everything I so passionately believe
J. Louise Taylor.
Please add my name as co-signer. I endorse this letter.
ReplyDeleteFather Altman is saving many souls. I attended daily mass at St. James the Less for a couple of years before moving and now in Richmond, TX. He continues to inspire me in my faith. I feel at home listening to him passionately preaching the truth. Bishop Callahan please reflect on what all these good souls are saying. Pope Benedict said at the beginning of his papacy: “Pray for me that I will not fear the wolves.” I trust all will come together. Carl Krueger
ReplyDeletePlease add my name as a co-signer to the open letter.
ReplyDeleteRobert D'Aurora, Bridgeport, WV
God Bless You!
I stand with Father Altman and any other priests and Bishops who stand up for the Holy Gospel. Bishop Callahan, if you think firing Fargo Altman is it good idea, Satan has your soul and God has your number. Since Vatican II the clergy has been weak, and we need more father Altman and Bishop you were willing to stand up like Saint Paul and all the saints did throughout history. you should all be ashamed of yourselves!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add our names to the letter I posted.
ReplyDeleteTerry & Louise Adams
Bishop Callahan has shown himself to be as evil as MacCerik. It is Bishohps like Callahan that bring a fowl taste about the Catholic Church to people who are considering joining. Christ was betrayed by Judas. Followers of Christ are betrayed by Bishop Callahan and othe such cowards
ReplyDeleteLarry Hansen, St. Gabriels Catholic parish, Cave Creek, kAZ