By Erin Duffy
Times of Trenton
June 25, 2011
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/06/bishop_seeks_to_end_parish_sch.html
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| Bishop David M. O'Connell makes the sign of the cross over the casket of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez, 25, of Hamilton Township at St Anthony's R.C. Church in Hamilton Township on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Vazquez was killed April 22, 2011, during a mission in southern Iraq. |
Dissent is brewing between the head of the Diocese of Trenton and a Monmouth County group that has formed its own, separate church.
In a statement issued this week, Bishop David M. O'Connell urged members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church — an offshoot of a Long Branch parish under the Diocese of Trenton's umbrella — to return to the fold.
"Although claiming legitimacy as an 'alternative' or 'independent' Catholic Church, this group and the individuals leading or promoting it are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church," O'Connell said. "No Catholic Church is 'independent.'"
According to news reports, the breakaway church formed earlier this year amid lingering discontent born of a previous parish merger and no longer counts itself under the authority of the diocese, or O'Connell.
In 2008, the Diocese of Trenton decided to consolidate the Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. John the Baptist and Holy Trinity parishes into one Long Branch-area parish called Christ the King. The merger became official in July 2009, and St. John the Baptist Church was soon closed and razed.
But according to O'Connell's statement, some parish members — primarily Spanish and Portuguese Catholics — felt "'displaced'" by the merger, a notion O'Connell dismissed.
"Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Catholics feeling displaced? The fact of the matter is that Christ the King parish has extended a warm welcome to all members of the merged parishes and Masses and ministry in Spanish and Portuguese are offered and available to parishioners in the newly merged parish," O'Connell said. "Something else is going on."
Our Lady of Guadalupe is currently led by Anthony Testa, who is married, contrary to Catholic doctrine, which requires priests to remain celibate. Testa did not return a call from The Times, but he told The Associated Press he will present the bishop's letter to the congregation at its next meeting this weekend. Speaking for himself, not the church's board, Testa said the bishop's letter did not appear to offer anything new.
"He's just asking Guadalupe to reconsider what they're doing; he's not offering any changes in any way," Testa said. "Nothing has really changed."
Testa said parishioners wanted their own churches to continue operating, particularly those with large Hispanic membership.
"They wanted their ethnicity there and to keep their own parish family," Testa said. "They didn't see a need to merge. They just want things back the way they were."
The new parish now falls under the organization of the American National Catholic Church (ANCC), a group not connected to the Vatican. According to the ANCC's website, the organization believes in electing bishops, doesn't require celibacy for priests and allows women, as well as gays and lesbians, to be ordained.
O'Connell characterized the new church as disruptive. He wrote to the church in April, asking its leaders and members to return to the diocese.
"I pray that you will reconsider the dangerous, schismatic path you have chosen and I invite you to return to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church," he wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Erin Duffy at eduffy@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5723
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