Unmasking the Falsehoods of John Emmett O Regan

Transcription

1 Unmasking the Falsehoods of John Emmett O Regan Dear Brothers and Sisters of Divine Will and Oblates, For some time now, a certain individual named John Emmett O Regan has been making false assertions that have not received any endorsement or support from the Bishop or Diocese in which he resides, and that have been dismissed from a Religious Superior. John who is 41 years old, lives in Belfast Ireland and, for reasons unknown, prefers not to be addressed by the Christian name of John, but by the name of Emmett. His blog, which nurtures a penchant for extravagant apocalyptic teachings, posts falsehoods on Church authorities and of spreading heterodox opinions that have resulted in ecclesial letters from representatives of the Catholic Church. Consider that Bishop of the Diocese of Belfast in which Emmett resides and the Superior General of Roman Curia, have issued the letters that respectively reveal: a) Emmett s views, opinions, blog and publications have no endorsement, support or approbation from his Diocese; b) the assertions on his blog have absolutely no credibility. The fact that the Diocese in which Emmett resides questions if Emmett O Regan is an assumed name, a pseudonym or a pen name reveals the level of secrecy under which he operates. 1

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3 Emmett published a work in Belfast, which is within the Diocese of Down and Connor, whereas the Bishop affirmed that Emmett s publications are bereft of any endorsement, support or approbation. In other words, Emmett has chosen to bypass the Catholic Code of Canon Law that requires that published works be submitted to the scrutiny of the proper competent authorities before their publication to ensure they contain nothing contrary to Catholic faith and morals. As to why Emmett has refused to do this, consider that several Catholic theologians have reviewed Emmett s printed apocalyptic publications and opinions and have found them to be inconsistent with the Church s authentic Magisterium. Furthermore, the falsehoods Emmett posts on his blog which he constantly modifies and changes have been reviewed by a priest conversant in canon law who has affirmed that such falsehoods are in violation of the Catholic Church s Code of Canon Law 220 and 1390, 2. Noteworthy are those against Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi who is in good standing in the Catholic Church. Fr. Joseph is a Doctor of Sacred Theology and has written numerous works that underscore the assent of the intellect and will to the official teachings of the Roman Pontiff and to the Bishops, and to the Magisterium of the Church. He has also been nominated theological peritus, he assists Bishops in the theological review of spiritual and dogmatic literature, and his theological publications received in writing the accolades of the Catholic Church s hierarchy. Having said this, consider now the nature of Emmett s falsehoods: 1) Falsehood: On his blog dated Feb. 11, 2018 Emmett falsely asserts: The Oblates of St. Joseph Confirm that Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi is not a Priest in Good Standing. He asserts that this information comes from Fr. Bronzini whom Emmett claims is the present OSJ Secretary General and the second in charge of the OSJ Congregation. He further asserts that Fr. Bronzini stated that Fr. Joseph has been operating outside of his religious community for a number of years without the permission of his superiors, and has refused to give a report of his activities for an extensive period of time. Emmett also falsely asserts that Fr. Joseph s ministry and theological publications constitute a transgression of poverty and enjoy no support. Falsehood unmasked: In February 2018 Fr. Bronzini heard of Emmett s false assertions, and he informed the OSJ Roman Curia of their false nature. This prompted the following official ecclesiastical letter from the number one of the OSJ Congregation, thereby unmasking the falsehood of Emmett s assertions. Consider that this ecclesiastical letter in response to Emmett s false accusation comes only 17 days after Emmett s false blog posting: 3

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5 To Emmett s discredit Fr. Bronzini is not the Secretary General of the OSJ nor is he the second in command, as Emmett falsely asserts. Indeed, on the blog there is found only Emmett s typed words and the name of Fr. Bronzini that Emmett puts forth there is no document, no dated letter, no signature and no seal from Fr. Bronzini or from the OSJ Curia. And, let us suppose, even if a false assertion were ever uttered that called into question Fr. Joseph s good standing within his community, the above letter from the number one OSJ Superior General flat out contradicts it, as it does Emmett s baseless assertion that Father is somehow transgressing the poverty of his community. There is the saying in Latin, Caveat Lector ( Let the Reader Beware of false blogs). Furthermore, on account of Emmett s relentless s to Fr. Joseph s superiors and to several Bishops, sent in an attempt to denounce him, many were left with the impression that Emmett, whom Fr. Joseph has neither met nor spoken to, nurtures an unhealthy obsession with him and his theological works. This obsession was further manifest in the increasingly belligerent tone and convoluted syntax of his scrawls that went unheeded. After nearly a year of pestering various prelates, the Superior General of the OSJ Congregation intervened with the above letter of Feb. 28, 2018 dispelling Emmett s falsehoods. 2) Falsehood: Emmett falsely asserts that all of Fr. Joseph s theological works have no ecclesiastical approbation. Falsehood unmasked: To Emmett s discredit Fr. Joseph s Doctoral Dissertation bears two official ecclesiastical seals of approval by the Gregorian Pontifical University and accolades of many Bishops; he has written numerous works, several of which bear the preface and endorsement of Catholic Bishops, the Imprimi Potest of the OSJ Superior General, etc. It is perhaps fortuitous that in falsely attacking Fr. Joseph s approved works, it became exposed that Emmett s works have no ecclesiastical approval. I here recall the above letter of November 22, 2017 from the Diocese in which Emmett resides that states, Neither Emmett nor the views or opinions expressed by him in his blog or in his many publications are in receipt of any endorsement, support or approbation from the Diocese. 3) Falsehood: Emmett promotes himself as a theologian and has written several Catholic Bishops claiming this title, despite the fact that records indicate that John Emmett O Regan has never acquired the title of theologian. Falsehood unmasked: To date, documents obtained reveal that Emmett has never attended a Catholic University nor studied theology at one; rather they indicate that he obtained a bachelor 5

6 of arts from a secular institute only. It is customary that for a Catholic to be accorded the title theologian and/or to teach theology as an ordinary professor at a Catholic University one must have obtained a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD); though less accredited than an STD, a theologian is also one who has obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL), whereby one may teach theology at a Catholic University as an extraordinary professor. Emmett has neither obtained a Doctorate nor a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, nor has he obtained any theological degree from any Catholic University whatsoever. Put simply, he is not permitted by the Catholic Church to teach theology in a Catholic University. It is little wonder that his words, blog and publications enjoy no endorsement, support or approbation. It is a curious thing that Emmett should choose to falsely attack someone like Fr. Joseph who has obtained the Licentiate and Doctorate in Sacred Theology (respectively summa cum laude and magnum cum laude from the Pontifical University of Rome) that he has failed to obtain. Also interesting that Emmett solicits monies from readers on the internet at a gofundme account which has put in his pocket him nearly $2, (1,381 Pounds). Perplexing is the fact he claims to be soliciting monies because, as he himself states, he has defended Pope Francis and, as a result, gone broke and none of his books sell anymore; thus he is soliciting monies with the hope that he will eventually be accepted into a theology program. This is odd, especially since it is customary that for one to be admitted to a theology program at a Catholic University one must be recommended by an ecclesiastical authority, which Emmett does not enjoy. And yet, there is no founded hope or guarantee that he will ever be admitted. One wonders how it is possible for a Christian in good conscience to contribute to a cause that enjoys no ecclesiastical support, disregards the aforesaid canon laws and publicizes false assertions against a priest in good standing. Does not our Blessed Mother in numerous Churchapproved apparitions entreat all Christians to pray for all Priests, rather than set out to calumniate them? 4) Falsehood: Emmett makes the assertion that Fr. Joseph violated a moratorium on Luisa Piccarreta s writings by publishing his Doctoral Dissertation, which so happens to enjoy the official approved of the Pontifical University of Rome with high honors. Falsehood unmasked: Had Emmett done his research, he would have readily discovered that before embarking upon the highly accredited Doctoral, Fr. Joseph requested and obtained in writing an official document from the Archdiocese of Italy entrusted with Luisa s cause explicitly endorsing his doctoral studies on the writings of Luisa at the Pontifical University of Rome (see footnote 1). Further indicating the falsehood of Emmett s assertion is that nowhere does he provide any documentation about any moratorium. Rather, Emmett himself invokes the word moratorium without documentation or any ecclesial support. 6

7 Truth be told, the Archbishop of Trani G.B. Pichierri and Fr. Joseph s Religious Superiors have publicly dismissed Emmett s false assertions with official ecclesial letters on Fr. Joseph s behalf. On January 29, 2002 the Archbishop of Trani issued to Fr. Joseph a formal letter formally granting him permission to commence his doctoral studies on the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta at the Gregorian Pontifical University. 1 And on November 22, 2012 Fr. Joseph s Doctoral Dissertation was unanimously approved magnum cum laude by the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome, bearing the seals of approbation for publication. 2 Also, the same Archbishop of Italy wrote two letters in defense of Fr. Joseph from false assertions dated respectively June 15, 2005 and May 2, Conclusion In the light of the preceding documents, one may conclude that the official letters from various ecclesiastical authorities affirm that Emmett s views, opinions, blog and publications 1 On Jan. 29, 2002 the Archdiocese of Trani issued the following written and signed letter to the Pontifical University on behalf of Fr. Iannuzzi: In response to your request for a letter for the moderator of your doctoral thesis... I can assure you that there are no objections for the scientific research on the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta ( In risposta alla tua richiesta di una lettera per il moderatore della tua tesi di dottorato posso assicurarti che non vi sono obiezioni per l approfondimento scientifico degli scritti... della Serva di Dio Luisa Piccarreta ). 2 On November 22, 2012 Fr. Iannuzzi publically presented before the theological faculty and student body of the Pontifical University the Doctoral Dissertation entitled, The Operations of the Divine and Human Will in the Writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta An Inquiry into the Early Ecumenical Councils, and into Patristic, Scholastic and Contemporary Theology. The dissertation was approved with high honours by said university which is authorized by the Holy See. After the November 22, 2012 successful public presentation of his Doctoral Dissertation on the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, on December 12, 2012 the Pontifical University of Rome authorized Fr. Iannuzzi to publish said doctoral dissertation affirming, Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi you shall be called Doctor in Spirituality after you have published your dissertation, consigned the requested copies to the Secretary s Academic Office and obtained approbation from the Censors ( P. Joseph Iannuzzi sarà dichiarato Dottore in Spiritualità dopo che avrà pubblicato la sua dissertazione, ne avrà consegnato le copie richieste in Segreteria Accademica e avrà ottenuto l approvazione dei Censori ). In the official signed and sealed document of January 11, 2013, said Censors granted approbation magnum cum laude to Fr. Iannuzzi s Doctoral Dissertation on Luisa s writings and authorize its publication. In 2013 the Doctoral Dissertation, with the authorization of the Pontifical University, was published and distributed to Vatican Congregations for the Doctrine of Faith and for the Causes of Saints, and to the 494 USA Catholic Bishops. Also 40 copies of extracts of this thesis were sent to the various Pontifical Universities and to the Archdiocese of Trani. From June 2013 July 2013, more than 45 Bishops express in writing their esteem for Fr. Iannuzzi s doctoral dissertation. 7

8 have no endorsement, support or approbation, and the assertions on his blog against Fr. Joseph are without credibility. One theologian, humored by said assertions related that by Emmett s own admission he has reached the point of desperation; on account of his plummeting books sales over which he publicly laments, it appears he has sought to calumniate a theologian in good standing in an attempt to garner support, though such efforts had failed. Whatever Emmett s motives may be, one sobering truth emerges: Fr. Joseph is in good standing despite Emmett s false assertions, whereas Emmett s views, opinions, blog and publications are not in receipt of any endorsement, support or approbation. The lay faithful who have known John Emmett O Regan and have shared their impression of him, acknowledge that he has openly written and spoken against to the Catholic writings of the Church-approved Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, several of which bear the Magisterial Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, and of another mystic whose writings bear the Magisterium s Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat. They contend that Emmett s baseless assertions against Fr. Joseph are borne from his displeasure over Fr. Joseph s having successfully demonstrated before the faculty of theology in Rome and before bishops their orthodoxy that bear the Church s official seals of approbation. Happily, God s providence has fortuitously permitted Emmett s false assertions to yield official ecclesiastical letters of approbation and good standing on his behalf of the scholarship and person of Fr. Joseph that has now been made known to the public. Everything for the greater good in the Divine Will. Peace. Fiat Always, Peter, BDV 8