Did anyone actually read the entire petition before signing it? There are errors slipped in to infer to the public that the devotion has received "approval" from various sources. What is disturbing in particular in the link provided to the "canonical" approval letter is the mention of the original Bishop Leibold, saintly man, spiritual advisor of the seer, giving "approval" when his actions equaled only a secondary approval and not any full approval since he NEVER over-reached the Bishop of Toledo's authentic and appointed authority.....ever! That is the kind of misleading information put out to the public in order to rush things for personal purposes.
I signed, but once I got a better understanding of what is involved with this devotion, I regretted it. That is my own fault, I need to research these things better and not just sign everything that seems kosher. I was kind of wondering why they wanted so much info. My home town? Diocese? I will have to be more careful.
Our signatures are meant to encourage our Bishops to take action in placing the statue in it's proper place. There is no reason that this should not happen - if you believe in Her messages to Sister Mildred. I will sign, and have signed, whatever emails are sent to me from anywhere they are sent in order to make this happen. Why does it so much matter who or where these requests come from or who has or has not approved them. On a side note: Archbishop Paul Leibold was Sister Mildred's spiritual director from 1940 to 1972 when he died. He authorized the first and second printing of the messages and had the Medal of Our Lady of Americas struck. He also gave the Imprimatur to the messages, and Daniel Pilarczyk gave the Nihil Obstat to the message. That is enough for me.
Bishop Leibold himself by his actions added only a secondary kind of approval...(that is spelled out in the links I provided)....not the approval of the Church via the authority over such private revelations who was then and is now the Bishop of Toledo, OH. The bishops had agreed to that. Bishop Leibold NEVER overstepped this authority like it is being attempted today. He would deplore what has taken place to the one designated by his own spiritual daughter, Sister Mildred Neuzil, for the continuation of her work to carry this devotion, in full, to the faithful, in Truth. He ALWAYS worked with the Bishop of Toledo, knowing it would be through that authority that the approval would eventually come. When he appeared (after his death) to Sister Mildred at her death bed he promised he would work from heaven to see through what he only "began". And it matters who is now attempting to continue the abuse of the history of this devotion through methods outside the Church's ordained procedures for approval of private revelations. With such pressure built upon such foundations of defamation et al there would always be a taint to such forced outward methods. Those who resorted to the civil court to decide on only portions of this mystical event in order to gain control over copyrights, etc. of the messages, prayers, etc. in order to be recognized as the sole distributers and thus sole collectors of such kinds of "donations" and to take control away from the original center which was the very foundation of all of the history and ties to the seer and those involved with her.... even going against what the Bishop of Toledo, at the time, told them not to do. Instead they went on to use emails, blogs, the court to completely defame the little last sister of the cloistered group, calling her a "fake nun" to the public, when this letter shows that she was attempting to work to settle this vocation to which she had perpetually vowed to, in some new order to promote this devotion. Unfortunately they continued their methods and the Bishop did not want to get involved in any nasty court proceeding, thus not coming to the aid of the "sister" being defamed....so they didn't have him to really worry about any longer to any degree. Here they were trying to get some kind of personal recognition from the Bishop in charge for a public place in the devotion....via an association of the faithful before "sister" could form such for her intentions. They were refused! Office of the Bishop, The Diocese of Toledo December 17. 2007 Mr. Albert H. Langenskamp 14254 Dove Drive, Carmel 1. Indiana46033 Mr. Kevin B. McCarthy Apt. No.8, 'Viele Va1icano 75 00165 Rome, Italy As I mentioned to you in my recent letter, it was my intention to meet with (Sr.) Joseph Therese regarding her state of life in the Church, and also her promotion of the devotion of Our Lady of America. Having met with her last Thursday, December 13, it would appear that she had decided not to comply with your continued direction regarding the future of the devotion. Indeed she feels personally aggrieved at the alleged mistreatment as a result of some of your words and actions. At the same time, she assured me that she would do whatever is necessary to clarify her state of life, with a view to her desire to eventually found a new religious community devoted to Our Lady of America I had been relieved to know that the two of you had come to recognize the difficulties faced by Joseph Therese with regard to her canonical status as well as others concerns. However, it would appear that she too recognizes the need to resolve these problems, but prefers to do so without your further intervention. As I communicated to you earlier, I am willing to give my blessing or approval to an association of the faithful for the purpose of furthering the devotion. However, until such time as the division between yourselves and Joseph Therese is satisfactorily resolved, I do not feel it would be opportune for me to recognize or approve an association. I realize that this will be a cause of frustration and disappointment to you, but I would not want to see the devotion compromised or injured by unresolved divisions or disputes. Sincerely yours in Christ, , Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Bishop of Toledo cc: Most Reverend Raymond Burke Most Reverend David Richen Most Reverend Richard Garcia Joseph Therese
Because this is the Catholic Church, Lynn. It matters very much. This is not Charismatic Protestantism in which there is no hierarchy to approve or disapprove and discernment is subjective. This is the Church. It is good to be careful.
Enough said. I will continue to pray for Our Lady's statue to be placed in Her proper place in Washington, DC because I believe in what She said to Sister Mildred. After reading over and over Our Lady's messages to her, my discernment tells me that these are words coming from Our Mother Mary, and because Fr. Leibold believed in her, than that is enough for me. I guess you are waiting for the Church to approve the messages? Well, in the mess we are in right now I do not believe that will happen - at least not anytime soon. We have the right to discern the messages for ourselves, as long as there is nothing against faith or morals - which there certainly is not. You do not have to believe, but please do not try to discourage others from trying to ask Our Blessed Mother to help this country. Thank you and God bless you. Lynne Update: Supreme Court Order April 25, 2016 Thank you for your prayers. They are obviously working. The Supreme Court of the United States today issued an Order ending the litigation over, and denying the claims by Patricia Ann Fuller for, control of the devotion to Our Lady of America. The Catholic Church and its bishops, in particular, are forever utterly free to use all aspects of Our Lady of America to advance the mission of The Church. This includes holding the solemn procession and permanent placement of the statue of Our lady of America into the National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception at Washington, D.C. as soon as possible. The letter from the Clerk of the Supreme Court to the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit at Chicago (link) upholding the December 18, 2015 decision of that Court of Appeals against Patricia Ann Fuller and Paul M. Hartman (and in favor of McCarthy et al.) which now stands absolutely (link). Please continue to pray the 21-day Novena through this Sunday, Mary 1, 2016. "By Thy Holy & Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil!"
Lynn, no one is saying that they have no personal belief in this great devotion. Wow! Do you really jump to conclusions about others just because they might wish to know more and don't happen to agree then with this fraud of an approach. I was involved in the promotion years ago under the guidance of the last remaining sister, appointed by the seer to carry forward this mission. It was being spread then via the diary, messages, authentic prayers which were permitted to be given out in parishes....at parish committees, etc., interviews that relayed the unknown history et al. This was to introduce the entire devotion properly. You weren't aware of that?? I wonder why!!! What is objected to is the force that has been used against this intended one designated by the seer herself who knew all of the history and the truth of the devotion..... as I explained and don't wish to re-instruct people with those facts. When you comply with this current modus operandi by same you enable that abuse of this holy history and little ones on the receiving end to be accepted. IF this had not happened the cause would probably have moved forward as ordered and more bishops would not be wary of getting involved. Now, because they themselves caused the delay they want uninformed persons to help them force the bishops to act rather than repent for their dishonest meddling. When such persons took everything away via a civil case that went on for years, defamed the good person, terrorized those little ones who had been the volunteers before these individuals ever came on the scene and just because they wished to still support sister....if you only knew the tactics used by those who then tell everyone they "pray" for things to be recognized, it would make you sick. And this was not met with any Church counter to such behavior of any helpful amount. The use of some bishops was also sickening....via large donations and "connections".....esp. when you read of all the other types of abuse these days that Bishops never spoke against in their weaknesses. If you wish true Church approval (only way the statue will get processed) then pray for and perhaps contact the Bishop of Toledo who, as far as I can see, hasn't gotten involved. Most these days are scared to death about involvement with any controversies especially with those who have threatened via the civil court system previously and as a result caused great monetary hardship for those little ones who had to hire attys etc themselves. Sad but consequences of today's lack of real leaders and protectors of the least. People love these messages so much that they want to honor them with the true desires of the One from Whom they came. Check out the real motivations of those you will wind up assisting.....and their true concerns of charity for the helpless.
If I am unsure of an apparition, or have reservations, I have a right to voice them. Especially for something that is ongoing, or controversial. Lynn, others are free to disagree with me and go on believing in or promoting something that I find unclear, but I do have a right to voice my concern. We can also always (and should!) ask Our Lady to protect this country, with or without this specific devotion. God bless you, too, Lynn.
