Bogus Orthodox group exposed: OCCNA (update)
in...@orthodox.spam
From: http://www.freeyellow.com/members6/cj3/occna.html
Orthodox Catholic Church in North America (OCCNA)
OCCNA is set up by notorious paper bishops who attract
"themselves", operate out of apartments, usually without
physical location mailing address or fax machine, and have
more clergy (bishops) than laity such as:
Denis Garrison:
Excommunicated priest who illegally became a bishop, and
was excommunicated twice again, has used a defective
ordinal to perform over 20 bogus ordinations and
consecrations since 1985. Garrison as an excommunicated
priest was consecrated unknowingly by Francis Ryan who
later also excommunicated him. Garrison admitted this when
another jurisdiction called to inquire about it, and he
refused to talk. Garrison was also excommunicated a third
time by a group which he abandoned (see documents below).
Garrison works for the US Government and once got into
trouble for wearing his priest outfit to work. Garrison's
"chapel" is a small second bedroom on the second floor of
his duplex and is filled with boxes which he slides into
the closet when it's time to ordain bishops. (See Shedrick
below)
Kristopher Dowling:
Ordained his spouse Elizabeth Dowling as "Rev.-Mother";
claims Roman Catholic rites in Ireland are "original
celtic"; advertizes "Wishing You A Joyous Lenten Fast!".
Dowling is another undeducated product from Fordham
University, and is a head-case who believes Orthodoxy was
the original celtic religion.
Andrei Brennan:
Continues to operate as a bishop in Canada after being
deposed and excommunicated (see documents below). Brennan's
most recent escapades were to cause problems at a local
university in Hamilton, Ontario, by trying to force himelf
in as a campus ministry. His repeated attempts to meet in
Canada with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew have
consistently failed, and mainline ethnic Orthodox groups in
Canada consider Brennan a troublesome layman outside of
Orthodoxy. Brennan is "in communion" with aberrant
Ukrainian groups in the US and Europe, not having valid
orders from recognized Orthodox Synods, and claiming
association with monasteries in Texas and Florida which
cater to homosexuals. Brennan, International
Archbishop-President of OCCNA, has a constant "monsastic"
companion named "The Rev. Mother-Deaconess", who signs
documents "mother anastasia" and shares the same
residential and email address. Brennan also has a bishop
and deacon (Serada and Zetaruk) who share another
residential and email address. Brennan was not consecrated
canonically, either in 12/1996 by solo Darrel Grosvold (Old
Catholic) or in 10/1997 by solo WR Price, making Brennan's
subsequent acts uncanonical. On his 'net ministry' at a
delphi forum, Brennan admits that he censors content: "Any
member acting in such a fashion [swearing] will have their
message erased, and they will be gagged and locked out of
this forum."
Paul Dolan:
Whereabouts unknown.
Joseph Mary DuBois, OSB, D.D., S.T.D.:
DuBois does not disclose the source of his degrees, but
Garrison is known to have issued blanket D.D. degrees to
everyone of his clergy. DuBois has taken the title of
"Archbishop of Phoenix [AZ]", but lives hundreds of miles
away in Kingman, AZ. DuBois introduces his live-in roomate
as his "brother", but in fact they are not siblings. After
presiding at a local service in Kingman, DuBois announced
that no one was to touch him because he had been "specially
consecrated".
Paul Stoms:
Not priested before "consecration" by Garrison, plead
guilty in diploma mill proceeding. Stoms claimed
association with the "Orthodox Church of Germany", but
inquiry showed the address given was the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese. On his "priest's" shirt, Stoms wears military
epaulettes.
William Shedrick (William Louis Shedrick, Jr.):
As Garrison's latest "bishoping project", Shedrick is
consistent with his new found buddies. Shedrick claims
"Church of the Most Holy Theotokos Mother of Africa Western
Rite Orthodox Catholic Church" which has no telephone or
mail contact (or congregation to speak of other than a few
seminarian "clergy" scattered across the country).
Shedrick's website sports a black Mary holding a black baby
Jesus. Shedrick claims to be the bishop of "San Rafael, CA
and Washington, D.C.". Garrison's description of the
ceremony, taking place in the inappropriate season of Lent
for the Orthodox, is dominated by references to food,
Garrison's other hobby: "The lenten [sic] dinner was at a
local Italian restaurant" and later "The lenten [sic]
dinner was at a local Irish restaurant."
Interesting documents found on the internet:
THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC
AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, Inc.
HC74, Box 419-2 Mtn.View AR 7256O
Primate: Metropolitan Victor
SYNOD FINDINGS
Former bishops of this church have established a church
separate and independent of this Holy Church and Synod
without authority or knowledge of the Metropolitan and
contrary to canon. The Metropolitan was attacked verbally
and in writing and he has been listed on a schismatic
church website as their former primate thus they proclaim a
new primate for their new church while listing our church
history and their old roman rite among others. They also
acknowledge recent ordinations on their own authority, and
communion with non-orthodox groups.
Two of these bishops had resigned and two were released.
One wrote the Metropolitan had mandated a consecration
without synod approval which was incorrect. He later
claimed another synod vote to be papal irregularity or
error. A claim as this allows certain action by the synod
which did not occur and instead the 2 bishops resigned only
to start another church c1aiming the history of this
church.
The full synod of this church declares these four bishops
have left the church and acted against the canons and as
former bishops who continue to hold liturgies separate and
apart from Holy Church they continue to act against the
mandates of the Rudder.
The full synod headed by the Metropolitan being in
agreement that the canons have been violated numerous times
agree to follow the canons and declare and proclaim
Anathema and depose from office the bishops involved in
this schismatic church. It is therefore decreed by the full
synod that Denis Garrison, Paul Dolan, Paul Stoms and
Andrei S.P. Brennan are proclaimed Anathema and deposed
according to the precepts of the Sacred and Divine Canons.
Their actions are public and on the internet and without
repentance. The synod finds no valid reason to justify
their actions and since their acts have been ongoing and
contrary to canons we determine the canons mandate this
action by the full synod.
Dated this _16th_ day of For the Synod,
February, 1999 at
Mountain View, AR. + Victor
THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN
NORTH AMERICA, Inc.
DECREE
Primate: Metropolitan Victor
+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
To fulfill the requirements of be Sacred Canons of the Holy
Orthodox Church we find it necessary to proclaim and
publish this "Anathema" against former bishops of this
church who by their actions have created a Schism by
founding and establishing a church titled "The Orthodox
Catholic Church in North America", using our church history
and actually acting in a non-orthodox manner. These actions
by our former bishops violate numerous canons against
leaving the church, and Metropolitan, setting up a separate
altar without the approval, knowledge or consent of the
Metropolitan, for condemning and for insulting their bishop
and for other acts that have violated the Sacred Canons of
the church.
The canons (rudder) are clear that the Anathema be
pronounced and the bishops guilty of such acts be deposed
from office. This act is not done lightly, but after much
prayer, consideration, discussion and research of the
sacred canons and seeking advice from those educated in
such matters of canon law, as well as bishops of historic
national (ethnic) churches.
The full synod including the Metropolitan agree and act as
follows;
WE HEREWITH PRONOUNCE THIS ANATHEMA AGAINST AND DEPOSE FROM
OFFICE#
Denis Garrison of Baltimore
Paul Dolan of Pennsylvania
Paul Stoms of Georgia (formerly N.J.)
Andrei S.P. Brennan of Canada
The Canons prohibit anyone from praying with them under
penalty
For the Synod,
Dated this _16th_ day of +Victor
February, 1999 at
Mountain View, AR. Metropolitan (Primate)
More from the internet:
Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox
Subject: Public declaration of invalid acts by Denis
Garrison and Orthodox Catholic Church in North America
(OCCNA) since before May 1984
Public Declaration of Invalid Acts by Denis Garrison and
Orthodox Catholic Church in North America (OCCNA) since
before May 1984
1 Garrison admitted being excommunicated as an orthodox
priest in Western Orthodox Church in America (WOCA) before
May 1984 in "Canonical Opinion" dated 9/12/1990 by Dom
Justo R. Gonzalez Trimino, Primate (Designate), Catholic
Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA).
2 Garrison was invalidly consecrated on 4/13/1985 because
he was a defective subject (not being a canonical priest)
to the sacrament.
3. Garrison has performed over 20 invalid acts since
4/13/1985 because he was a defective minister (not being a
canonical bishop) to the sacrament.
Some of the invalid acts performed by Denis Garrison from
1985 - 1997 as listed at the web site
http://www.occna.com/md/history/annex.html are:
"ACTS OF ARCHBISHOP DENIS MICHEL GARRISON - 1985 - 1997
EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS
1986 RENE BERGERON Baltimore, MD April 6, 1986
1986 STANLEY ANJULIS Baltimore, MD April 6, 1986
1987 PAUL DOLAN Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987
1987 JOSEPH DUBOIS Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987
1987 WILSON SEHORN Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987
1987 PAUL BENTLEY Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987
1987 ALBERT ROSEVICH Wilmington, DE September 26, 1987
1988 SERAPHIM HOLDRIDGE Wilmington, DE June 4, 1988
1988 HARRY ARMSTRONG Wilmington, DE June 4, 1988
1990 DONALD BUTTENBUSCH Philadelphia,PA September 22, 1990
1991 MICHAEL MARTINAT Columbia, SC December 14, 1991
1991 VICTOR PRENTICE Columbia, SC December 14, 1991
1993 PATRICK TAYLOR Gorham, NH November 20, 1993
1994 PETER STERLING Wilmington, DE October 16, 1994
1995 ANTONY EPAPHRAS Trenton, NJ July 23, 1995
1995 EUGENE KYLE Wilmington, DE December 3, 1995
1997 VICTOR PRENTICE Timonium, MD May 3, 1997
1997 PAUL JAMES STOMS Timonium, MD May 3, 1997
1997 OPTAT BEHANZIN Timonium, MD May 3, 1997"
Why Garrison's cooked-up pontifical (a Roman Catholic, not
Orthodox term) is invalid:
Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox
Subject: Defective "pontifical" makes null and void all
episcopal acts from 1985 to date by Denis Michel Garrison
et al (including Andrei Brennan) of the Orthodox Catholic
Church in North America.
Defective "pontifical" makes null and void all episcopal
acts from 1985 to date by Denis Michel Garrison et al
(including Andrei Brennan) of the Orthodox Catholic Church
in North America.
From: http://www.occna.com/md/orosb/pontifical.html
Old Roman Orthodox Pontifical The Ritual for Bishops
According to the Ancient & Orthodox Old Roman Rites
ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA ... Old Roman
Orthodox Pontifical (4th Edition) was compiled & arranged
by the Most Reverend +Denis Michel Garrison, Th.D., OSB,
Metropolitan Archbishop of Baltimore. The Holy Eastern
Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America
[sic]. Fourth Edition published by Orthodox Benedictine
Missions - Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Mission,
Orthodox Catholic Church in North America. ...1998.
SOURCES OF THE RITES ... The consecratory prayers for
ordination to the Major Orders are from the Apostolic
Tradition of Saint Hippolytus: Deacon - cap. IX; Priest -
cap. VIII; and Bishop - capp. II-III.. ...
[Comment: "[T]he Canons of Hippolytus ... have been more
accurately described by Dr. C. H. Turner as 'a very
secondary authority, a version of a version, not only late
in their present Arabic dress, but also not earlier than
the fourth century in their substance.' After the labours
in England of Dom Hugh Connolly and in Germany of Prof. E.
Schwartz, the Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic Texts, together
with Hauler's Verona Fragments, which constitute the
so-called 'Egyptian Church Order,' are now recognised by
scholars as the lost treatise -- the Apostolic Tradition --
of that important but elusive person, Hippolytus." (See
Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and
Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly Firminger. "The
Ordinal". p. 629.)]
ORDINATION OF A DEACON
The Candidate kneels. Then the Bishop is seated and the
Bishop (but no one else) lays hands on the Candidate's head
and says:
"O God, Who hast created all things and hast ordered them
by the Word, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom Thou
didst send to minister to Thy will and reveal unto us Thy
desire; grant the Holy Spirit of grace and earnestness and
diligence upon this Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen to
minister to Thy Church and to bring up in holiness to Thy
holiness that which is offered to Thee by Thine ordained
high priests to the glory of Thy Name; so that, by
ministering blamelessly and in purity of heart, he may, by
Thy goodwill, be found worthy of this high and exalted
office, praising Thee, Through Thy Child, Jesus Christ, our
Lord, through Whom to Thee be glory, might, and praise, to
the Father and to the Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy
Church, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Blessed
is the Lord. Behold, the servant of God, [N...], is
ordained a Deacon of the Holy Church of [N...]; in the Name
of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
[Comment: The words "grant the Holy Spirit of grace and
earnestness and diligence upon this Thy servant" or the
words " Behold, the servant of God, [N...], is ordained a
Deacon of the Holy Church of [N...]" cannot be construed in
any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office
of Deacon.]
ORDINATION OF A PRIEST
The Candidate kneels. Then the Bishop is seated and the
Bishop lays hands on the Candidate's head, and the other
Priests assisting also touch the Candidate, and the Bishop
prays:
"O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of
mercies and God of all comfort; Who dwellest on high, yet
hast respect unto the lowly; Who knowest all things before
they come to pass; Who didst give ordinances unto Thy
Church by the Word of Thy grace; Who didst foreordain, from
the beginning, the race of the righteous from Abraham,
instituting Princes and Priests and leaving not Thy
sanctuary without ministers; Who from the foundation of the
world hast been pleased to be glorified in them whom Thou
hast chosen; Now pour forth that Power which is from Thee,
of the princely Holy Spirit which Thou didst deliver to Thy
beloved Child Jesus Christ, which He bestowed on Thy Holy
Apostles who established the Church which hallows Thee in
every place, to the endless glory and praise of Thy Name."
[Comment: The above is a butchered translation which does
not include the episcopal words of "pour forth now that
power, that is from thee of thy principal spirit
(principalis spiritus)". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris,
Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964.
Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words
"pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely
Holy Spirit" is not the same as the words "pour forth now
that power, that is from thee of they principal spirit" as
above.]
"Look upon this Thy servant and impart to this chosen one
the Holy Spirit of grace and counsel, that this chosen one
may share in the Presbyterate and govern Thy people in a
pure heart. As Thou didst look upon the people of Thy
choice and didst command Moses to choose Presbyters whom
Thou didst fill with the Spirit which Thou hadst granted to
Thy minister, so now, O Lord, grant that there may be
preserved among us unceasingly the Spirit of Thy grace, and
make us worthy, that in faith we may minister to Thee,
praising Thee in singleness of heart. Through Thy Child,
Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom to Thee be glory,
might, and praise, to the Father and to the Son with the
Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and ever and unto ages
of ages. Amen. Blessed is the Lord. Behold, the servant of
God, [N...], is ordained a Priest of the Holy Church of
[N...]; in the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit."
[Comment: The above is a butchered translation which does
not include the episcopal words of "look down on this thy
servant and impart the Spirit of grace and counsel of the
presbyterate". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles;
eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly
Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words "impart to
this chosen one the Holy Spirit of grace and counsel, that
this chosen one may share in the Presbyterate" are not the
same as "impart the Spirit of grace and counsel of the
presbyterate" as above. ]
CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP
... The First Bishop lays hands on the Candidate's head,
the assisting Bishops also laying hands on the Candidate's
head, and the First Bishop prays:
"The divine grace, which heals all infirmities and
supplements all deficiencies, consecrates the most devout
servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]. Therefore, let
us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon
this chosen one. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who dwellest on
high, yet hast respect unto the lowly; Who knowest all
things before they come to pass; Who didst give ordinances
unto Thy Church by the Word of Thy grace; Who didst
foreordain, from the beginning, the race of the righteous
from Abraham, instituting Princes and Priests and leaving
not Thy sanctuary without ministers; Who from the
foundation of the world hast been pleased to be glorified
in them whom Thou hast chosen; Now pour forth that Power
which is from Thee, of the princely Holy Spirit which Thou
didst deliver to Thy beloved Child Jesus Christ, which He
bestowed on Thy Holy Apostles who established the Church
which hallows Thee in every place, to the endless glory and
praise of Thy Name."
[Comment: The words "The divine grace ... consecrates the
most devout servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]"
can not be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the
Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop. The words "Therefore,
let us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon
this chosen one" can not be construed in any way whatsoever
to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop. The
words "The divine grace ... consecrates the most devout
servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]. Therefore, let
us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon
this chosen one.", taken as a totality, can not be
construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost
for the Office of Bishop The above butchered translation
also does not include the episcopal words of "pour forth
now that power, that is from thee of thy principal spirit
(principalis spiritus)". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris,
Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964.
Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words
"pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely
Holy Spirit" is not the same as the words "pour forth now
that power, that is from thee of they principal spirit" as
above.]
"Father, Who knowest the hearts of all, grant to this, Thy
servant, whom Thou hast chosen for the episcopate, to feed
Thy holy flock and serve as Thine high priest, that this,
Thy servant, may minister blamelessly by night and day, and
may unceasingly behold and propitiate Thy countenance and
offer to Thee the gifts of Thy Holy Church; and that, by
the high priestly Holy Spirit, this, Thy servant, may have
authority to forgive sins according to Thy command, to
assign lots according to Thy bidding, to loose every bond
according to the authority Thou gavest to the Apostles; and
that this, Thy servant, may please Thee in meekness and a
pure heart, offering to Thee a sweet-smelling savour.
Through Thy Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom to
Thee be glory, might, and praise, to the Father + and to
the Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and
ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
[Comment: The words above "grant to this, Thy servant whom
Thou hast chosen for the episcopate, to ..." can not be
construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost
for the Office of Bishop. The entire prayer is in fact a
butchered translation of the parallel prayer at the
ordination of a presbyter, and hence has no reason to be in
the ordinal for a bishop. Furthermore, a required prayer is
not recited. "The Canons of Hippolytus direct that at the
ordination of a Bishop or presbyter the following prayer
shall be recited: 'Grant to him, O Lord, a mild spirit, and
power to remit sins, and grant to him power to loose all
bonds of iniquity of demons [i.e. by exorcism], and to heal
all diseases, and to beat down Satan under his feet
quickly' (17)." ( See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris,
Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964.
Charles Harris. "Visitation of the Sick", 'The Ministry in
Primitive Times'. p. 477.)]
Bryan J. Maloney
> Kristopher Dowling:
>
> Ordained his spouse Elizabeth Dowling as "Rev.-Mother";
> claims Roman Catholic rites in Ireland are "original
> celtic"; advertizes "Wishing You A Joyous Lenten Fast!".
> Dowling is another undeducated product from Fordham
> University, and is a head-case who believes Orthodoxy was
> the original celtic religion.
While some of the activities of Fr. Christopher/Maelruain do mystify me,
your claims about him, specifically, need to be amended and corrected.
First, before the Schism, all of the West was Orthodox. The particular
Liturgy that he refers to actually dates from the 5th century, many
centuries before the Schism, and most likely to be every bit as Orthodox
as the Liturgies of St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrystostom. As for
a joyous Lenten fast, what could be more joyous than preparing for
Paschal? While we sorrow for our sins, there is joy in this sorrow. Why
else do we have the Orthodox phrase "joy of all who sorrow"? This joy is
the joy of redemption through our sorrow. As for Orthodoxy being the
original Celtic religion--he never claims this. The Celts, as for all who
are not of old Israel, were originally pagan. What he says is that the
Church in Ireland was originally Orthodox, and since the entirety of the
Church was originally Orthodox, and Ireland was converted before the
schism, and the Church in Ireland was never placed under anathema,
Ireland would have to be, therefore, Orthodox.
It is regrettable that Fr. Christopher has chosen to associate with OCCNA,
given the unfortunate history of Mr. Garrison, but at least some of your
claims against Fr. Christopher are unfounded and based upon ignorance of
Church history.
--
To women contemplating marriage: The question you should ask is not
"How much do I love him?" The real question is "How much can I
tolerate him?"
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/bjm10/
in...@orthodox.spam
in North America
and the Theotokos
+Dom Justo R. Gonzalez 250 West 91st Street 4N
Metropolitan New York, NY 10024
To: The Most Rev. Denis Garrison
From: Dom Justo R. Gonzalez-Trimino
Primate Designate/CACINA
RE: Canonical Opinion regarding the Decree of Excommunication issued
against the person of Denis Garrison.
DISTRIBUTION: +Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Bishops of CACINA
Preamble: In our judgment, the ability to forgive a canonical crime or to even
recognize it depends upon the prayerful, prudent and unbiased judgment of the
competent authority. The decision we are about to render has been pronounced
after much prayer and consultation with the appropriate ecclesiastical
authorities [sic]
In order for a church or any of its officials to render a decree of
excommunication or declare such sentence, it is required that the church enjoys
ordinary jurisdiction. In the case of the Western Orthodox Church in America
and/or the Servants of the Good Shepherd, all canonical authority was dissolved
when the Bishop of Altoona, C. David Luther, sometime between the 1st and 15th
day of June of 1983, did willfully leave the Communion of the Catholic Apostolic
Church in North America by refusing to accept the decision of the Synod of
Bishops to consecrate us as the duly elected Bishop of New York.
Therefore, we have determined that no lawful excommunication has been issued
against the REVEREND DENIS GARRISON. We have found that Father Garrison,
suffering under the unlawful jurisdiction of his bishop, was within his rights
in establishing another altar due to the heterodox activities of his bishop
within the rights allows by Apostolic Canon XXXI.
And therefore, We, Dom Justo R. Gonzalez, The Primate Designate of CACINA, a
canonically established national church, in communion with the Patriarch of all
the National Catholic and Apostolic Churches, lift the unlawful Decree of
Excommunication against THE MOST REVEREND DENIS GARRISON.
In witness whereof we hereunto set out hand and seal this 12th day of September
in the year of our Lord of 1990 I the eighth year of our Episcopate.
+Dom Justo Roque Gonzalez Trimino
Metropolitan Bishop of New York
Primate-Designate of CACINA
Commentary on uncanonical acts by Gonzalez:
===========================================
1. Apostolic Canon XXXI [31] reads:
"If any presbyter, condemning his own bishop, draw people aside, and set up
another altar, without finding anything wrong with the Bishop in point of piety
and righteousness, let him be deposed, on the ground that he is an office
seeker. For he is a tyrant. Let the rest of clergymen be treated likewise, and
all those who abet him. But let the laymen be excommunicated. Let these things
be done after one, and a second, and third request of the bishop."
This canon does not authorize a priest to leave a bishop and to continue to act
as a priest without authority from his bishop.
Gonzalez cites this canon as justification for Garrison leaving Luther, but the
canon does not support lifting a decree of excommunication by another bishop.
The canon does not support the priest leaving his bishop, or a bishop lifting
the decree of excommunication of another bishop.
2. Apostolic Canon XXXII [32] reads:
"If any Bishop excommunicates any Presbyter or Deacon, these men must not be
incardinated by anyone else but the one who excommunicated them, unless by a
coincidence the Bishop who excommunicated them should decease."
From Interpretation: "... can only be admitted and be freed from the
excommunication by that same bishop who excommunicated him in the first place:
with the sole exception that he may resort to another if the bishop or
metropolitan or patriarch, as the case may be, who excommunicated him has by any
chance died before the presbyter or deacon has received a pardon. For in that
event a bishop or metropolitan or patriarch who has become the successor after
the death of the one who excommunicated him may free him from the bond, and not
anyone else."
Luther who excommunicated Garrison is alive, but Gonzalez attempted to lift the
decree by citing an Orthodox canon that does not apply and by ignoring the
Orthodox canon which does apply and which prohibited Gonzalez from doing so.
3. Gonzalez' decree was dated September 12, 1990, and ten days later on
September 22, 1990 Gonzalez attempted to co-consecrate with Garrison one Donald
J. Buttenbusch in Philadelphia: this smacks of favor-for-favor simony.