For those who have been reading this blog on a regular basis, I wish to apologize. This blog is not about me, but I feel that I haven't been quite as honest with you as I should have been. And perhaps you have a right to know.
I am dangerous.
I am so dangerous that even my Constitutional right to bear arms is suspended. I am so dangerous that I am not even allowed to SPEAK the names of those whom I have offended. I often wonder if recording devices are in my kitchen, my bedroom, my bathroom, to make sure that I do not violate this restraining order against name-speaking.
If you want to know more about me, I must apologize and tell you that, by law, I am not free to tell you. Of course, anyone with access to a computer can look me up on the internet, but the law forbids me to explain who I am, because "who I am" just might involve the names of the people whom I've offended. So I may not even tell you who I am. By law.
I can tell you this--which is easy enough to discover, and as far as I know, does not violate the law: I am an investigative reporter. My particular field of inquiry is the Catholic Church in the United States. Why? Well, apart from my family, literally nothing in the universe is more important to me than the reputation, the integrity, the preservation of the Church. I am
what some people might call a "devout Catholic." Like so many others who love the Church, the priest scandal broke my heart, not only because of the abuse itself but also because of the cover-up--by our own bishops, by those who vowed to protect us but who cared more about public image and "political correctness" than about us, even more than the very safety of our children.
I moved to Valdosta, Georgia, from San Diego in 2004. At the time, I knew that there was only one Catholic Church in town, but I had no way of knowing what kind of Catholic parish I was about to join. I could go on and on about the strange things I noticed at Mass and the empty parish life, but this has become the norm for most parishes throughout America. That's not the point. The parish was, and is, moribund, but that's sadly too common. The point is that I was finally asked by some concerned parishioners to investigate something that they were very troubled about. Complaints to the bishop in Savannah had been ignored for years. I cannot share what I investigated. I cannot share who I was investigating. I am even forbidden to mention any names or situations. My "crime" was knocking on one door, literally. That, and asking questions.
Now it is 2009. I am the father of four girls. My family has been treated wonderfully by everyone and made most welcome in the community --everywhere except in my parish church, which is a five-minute drive from my house. When I only had two daughters, I took them to daily Mass. Now we are forced to drive an hour each way on weekends just to fulfill our minimum obligation.
But it is not "my" parish church. I am not only unwelcome--I will be put in jail if I even step onto the property. I asked questions. I knocked on a door.
I am the "enemy" of this church and by the decree of this bishop, I am "dangerous."
But I am not an enemy of THE Church.
Praise God.
45 comments:
"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake..."
Courage!
Stand strong, keep fighting. The Truth will always win.
Blessed are those who are whistle blowers for they shall inheret the wrath of Satan.
We're still supporting you and still praying that this will all be resolved. Stay strong and don't lose your faith.
As someone who was banned (not legally, but never gave them the chance) from the school, but not from the parish, you know you have my sympathies.
But as someone who was at St. Mary's in Fredericksburg when Fr. James Haley was there and knew the situation pretty closely, I can't say there's much hope for your situation improving.
I just found your site through a message from Barbara Kralis. I can't believe this post. What in the world is going on?
Browsing your site is an education in itself. Please keep it up.
You've been added to my daily prayer list.
Jerry O.
and even those local people who do not revile you must comment on your blog under pseudonyms for fear of retaliation.
I can't believe the persecution that someone who is faithful has to endure from those who are supportive of a CENSORED who caused much scandal to the small number of faithful in CENSORED. The rest of the parishioners just seemed to have rolled over and gone along with all of the scandal like it was acceptable. Sorrowful. Prayers for you, Robert.
It is especially sad that the local members of the parish who have been so kind to us risk being shunned (which I guess is a big deal if you are used to living in small towns with one parish), having their children or grandchildren kicked out of the parish school, losing their position in the parish or being harassed in court (just look what happened to me). There are a couple of people in the parish especially who have been extremely kind to my wife and I that I would like to publicly thank, but doing so would doom them. You know who you are.
Robert:
I will continue to pray for you and your family. Your zeal for the Catholic church echoes mine. May god bless you and may Mary protect you.
I am the fist Anon.
For whatever reason, Our Lord has, since about 1981, allowed me to be privy to the worst information about His Church. Forgive my inadequate comparison, but it's like being spiritually raped. I often think back (way back) to my spiritual innocence during my grammar and high school days and wish I could regain it. Alas! It is gone for good (at least in this world).
I don't mean to be uncharitable with my next statement - nevertheless, it's a fact. I have often thought, especially lately, that our beloved Church is most fortunate that the majority of its' members are either utopian dreamers or with not much use for facts and facing reality, lest the pews would be empty. I have often thought of leaving, but where would I go?
Please God, Eternity awaits!
WOW! I'm confused.
Your situation is so sad because it is your children who are being deprived of a Parish that is just a few minutes from your house.
I have written 10 comments and erased each one. I cannot bring myself to publish what I really think. I just wished this matter would have been handled without the intervention of the courts.
"The way of the world is, to praise dead saints, and persecute living ones." Know that our prayers are always with you, as you do all of us a service with this blog.
VIVA BENEDICTUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Robert and Tiffany,
We are praying for your family.
God will never abandon you. Thank
you for your faithfulness during
this very sad time in our Church.
What is bad is now good. What is
good is now treated badly.
Dear Mr Kumpel,
My heart goes out to you and your family. Be assured of my prayers.
You have an excellent Roman Catholic Blog....it is transparent your position. I too, am an outsider in my parish for similar reasons..although I haven't had to endure what you and your family are going though.I rarely attend the parish now and go to daily Mass elsewhere.I never desired this as I am a simple Roman Catholic who tries to be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church....really it is so...May the Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us all...and keep me, in particular, in reality, for it seems sometimes that the situation is surrealistic...thanks be to God that I have an excellent Father confessor who keeps me on the right track....God bless you and yours. Barbara, Italy
It is easy to believe Robert Kumpels story in this blog when you see what kind of catholic people we have in our very own government. We have the speaker of the House in Nancy Pelosi recieving communion while she advocates abortion on demand and gay marriage. I do not see her Bishop condemn that behavior of hers. All those other liberal catholic senators with the ashes on their foreheads on Ash Weds makes me sick.
Jesus taught time after time that your either in our out of Gods will. Luke warm is verbotin.
Personally I would never set foot in that church again because the book of Sirach instructs us not to yoke ourselves with unbelievers.
It is not fair for Roberts children to be prejiduced against for trying to protect the honor of his church.
thanks for the warning.
I have known Robert and Tiffany for many years. I taught them NFP here in San Diego and have called them friends since.
I, like Robert, know what it is like to be black listed. At one time I was Director of "Responsible Parenthood" here in San Diego. Once Bishop Brom took the diocese over from the dying Bishop Maher that all changed. But things work out for a reason. Shortly after resigning my demoted position in the Family Life department, my second son tried to commit suicide as a result of prolonged molestation by the Catholic priest he saw for counseling. We engaged and attorney immediately, after working for the diocese I had a clue what we were in for. I am sorry to say that Bishop Brom did nothing, never has spoken to us and never personally offered an apology for the hell our child and family went through.
Robert had me write down our trials with the diocese of San Diego. He used my story, combined with his to be published in the local Catholic News Notes. No, this isn't the diocesan newspaper, but a Catholic newspaper all the same. Robert helped me find the courage to continue the fight. The diocese had offered us $5000.00 dollars with a gag order for our son's molestation. I told our attorney what the diocese could do with their 5000 pieces of silver. Fortunately the State of California extend the statute of limitations on the molestation cases here in California. My son, I am please to say got a decent settlement. But nothing will repair the damage done by the hierarchy in this diocese, or the loss of my son's innocence.
In my estimation, what Robert and Tiffany are going through in Georgia is worse. The Bishop has forgotten that he is a servant of God, CENSORED forgot CENSORED and the fact that it is God's house. Where will this harassment stop? Does the Pope and or the local Cardinal know this is going on? And why in all that is Holy did the local Bishop and parish call in the local authorities? I know the South is a different place from Southern California, but God's justice is the same no matter what country, county or diocese.
Robert took up the sword of justice to correct the evil at the parish level. For that, the devil has led the Bishop to turn a blind eye to his duty to God and God's flock under his care. If we don't stand up with Robert, then we have no room to complain when darkness falls over the Catholic Church else where.
We need more true Catholics instead of the Protestant version that seems to dominate the scene.
J.M.
Lakeside, California
The parish has money troubles. Current priests wonder why people do not tithe. Support of the entire parish comes from the wealthy clique that hates Robert so intensely. Why do we not tithe? Because we know this isn't our church; we go to Mass there because it's the only Catholic church in town. We have no choice. They think our lack of support or participation is such a travesty. We're so embarrassing for them, I'm sure, in this Protestant community. They despise us while they wonder why we don't love them. They treat truth-tellers like they treat Robert. So we keep our mouths (and our wallets) shut.
"First Anonymous,"
I know what you mean. I'm only 32.
When I was 12, I decided that there's no such thing as a priest shortage: just an overabundance of fake Catholics.
I've known some really devout priests thoughout my life--they're the main reasons I'm a Catholic at all--but I've known far too many priests who a) taught heterodoxy, b) obeyed rich parishioners instead of the Church and/or c) engaged in scandalous behavior.
My wife recently lost an internet friend to Mormonism. This lady was completely fed up with the scandals in the Church, and my wife is about there herself.
We're blessed to have some fairly decent parishes around here, but we don't really get active in any.
In many ways your free speech rights were or are being violated. I would suggest a call to either the Thomas More Law Center or the ACLJ.
Most of you are young. Imagine then, if you can, how those of us feel who lived through the sixties and its insanity? Nothing has really changed since then. It seems so because a lot of the errors and practices have taken root.
What I am attempting to say is take how all of you feel and put on top of that living through the post-VII turmoil. So the next time you hear of someone going to a sedevacantist chapel and/or an SSPX one, don't be too hard on them. Some of us have been through spiritual hell.
God bless all of you!
Just hang in there. As they say time is on your side.
I know it's a lot of work from watching a Greek Orthodox friend bring a new community together, but perhaps there is enough interest for a new parish, even if it is small and has temporary housing for several years?
It was sad today to go to mass at St.John the Evangelist, Valdosta on this Holy day of Easter without my family. I would not have gone if I were not playing in the music group. I sat there thinking of the hypocrisy of the priest talking about the renewal, the resurrection, the hope of the future life and look around and see only my elderly daughter, age 10, in the audience. Robert had to go earlier this morning to Florida with the 3 younger children to mass without me.. It is a sad day in the church when they can preach forgiveness, unity, holiness, and continue to live as though they never said anything. The priests and Bishop Boland continue to give homilies in front of me about family, forgiveness, and love. They preach about consoling the worst criminals, prison ministry and outreach, yet no one in authority from that church has yet to even speak with us about this situation. They refuse to extend the hand of forgiveness, and refuse to practice love and allow for a family to go to mass on the most holy days together. They will allow murderers, con artists, and child molesters into their church but not Robert, with whom they simply disagree with his "brand" of catholicism. Practice what you preach Fr. Killips, Fr. O'Connell, and Bishop Boland. Let my husband go back into our parish church. What you are choosing to do is beyond reprehensible and you will have to answer for it to a higher authority than Bishop Boland some day. The Bishop is such a coward, he continues this denial of sacraments to my entire family by saying that he "can't drop the restraining order", when he knows this is a lie. The restraining order allows for Robert to go to mass, the bishop is personally choosing to ban him of his own accord and nothing else. I pray daily that my fellow parishoners will continue to withhold their money from this church as long as this travesty continues.
Having been ordered out of my parish in California, but gladly accepted in another of the same diocese, there are sympathy and prayers from this corner.
No sympathy for the Kumpels. Tiffany is full of ..... There is no love lost for them at this parish! You should have been with your family for Mass on Easter at another parish. Thank God for Bishop Boland!
You speak of civil rights..you violated the civil rights of CENSORED and others. You didn't innocently offend others. You continue to be dishonest. There wasn't a "knock" on the door at a decent hour. However, we know that you will never admit your wrongdoings because you are mentally disturbed. I am also sure that this will not be posted on the blog because for obvious reasons you post only that which makes people feel sorry for you. If they only knew the whole truth! Peace--and happy Easter!
Peter--thanks for the post. You and others with the same mind set are demonstrating for the world what "kind" "compassionate" parishioners you are. If you would like to know the "whole truth" as you put it, feel free to call me. I am in the parish directory. You don't have to tell me who you are and I don't haver caller I.D.. I'll listen to all the "Christian" venom you can spew on condition you show me the courtesy of at least listening to me.
Of course, you won't call. Not one, I mean not one person in the parish who disagrees with me has had the backbone to talk to me. That's really too bad, because if you read the transcript of the hearing, EVERY witness who was on the stand to testify how "dangerous" I am had to admit under oath that I never harmed, threatened or so much as touched them--not a one. And I certainly never violated anyone's civil rights.
But that's O.K.. Your generous post shows the world how "tolerant" and "loving" this Catholic parish is. It demonstrates better than any story I could write how people would rather listen to gossip than dig deeper and confront something that might make them uncomfortable.
You DO have a choice: Do you want to be a Catholic, or are you willing to bet your eternal destiny on the comfort zone of a personality cult?
If you are really convinced that I am dangerous, if you are really convinced that I am your "enemy", do you at least have enough moral honesty to remember what Jesus told us to do with our enemies? Of course with the kind of Diocesan leadership Boland provides, I'm not surprised at the answer.
I just found your blog via Curt Jester, and I have to say that this is just incredibly sad. My prayers go out to you, your wife and daughters.
Stay strong in Christ! There are many of us praying for you!
Mark & Peter:
Robert & Tiffany have more genuine Catholic Faith in their stool than either of your hateful, heretical souls could hope to generate in 1000 lifetimes. You are both small, puney Catholic posers who, while hiding from the truth behind your lawyers and your money, wouldn't know what authentic love for Christ and His Church was, even if it jumped up and bit you both on your arses.
Both of you, as well as the rest of the fake Catholics at your parish who continue persecuting the Kumpels, should be ashamed of yourselves. I imlpore you all to repent of your sins and avail yourselves of the Sacrament of Confession (to a faithful priest) as soon as possible, lest God forbid you meet an untimely demise and reap the punishment for what you have so unjustly sown.
May God's strength and peace be with the Kumpels and may He eternally Bless them for defending His One, True Church!! May His mercy be upon those who continue to bully them...
Donin
I just read your story through a link on RenewAmerica.us and I was saddened and appalled.
A much less tragic episode that involved my family four years ago forced me to admit that the “smoke of Satan” is all too pervasive in the Church. Our parish priest banned our family from Mass first (we were confined to a hallway were nothing of the celebration could be heard because he couldn’t stand our three small children cooing or giggling occasionally (no, this was not a case of blinded-by-love parents who don't realize their children are little savages. Our oldest was 3, our youngest less 1 year old: cooing and giggling - occasionally - is what they do.) Contacted by mail, the bishop sided with the priest. We also live in the Protestant South, so switching church for us, as it did for you, meant traveling one hour.
You might like the turn the story took shortly thereafter. We were welcomed by a parish who LOVED having our children in their midst and who had a substitute priest once a month. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that the substitute was the priest who had banned us from the other church. He had wanted to get rid of us only to have to put up with the overwhelmingly “annoying” presence of our children without being able to complain about it. God has a sense of humor.
We will pray for peace for you and your family and that the God of infinite Mercy, but also of infinite Justice, will soon bring his judgment on this situation and on all involved.
This stuff happens more than people are aware. My family and I underwent some mild persecution because we had the audacity to point out false teachings and abuses. There was an attempt to discredit us and besmirch our name. I am afraid we are cowards. We gave up on the parish and moved on. This is a fight we would lose. The leadership is so entrenched that nothing will change. When the pastor was replaced it was another progressive so nothing changed. Appeals to the diocese - don't even think about it. The bishops do not want to be bothered. We have a few that are good shepherds but by far, more are interested in social justice rather than saving of souls and authentic church teaching. I love my faith but I will not get involved anymore. I go to Mass and that is it. I feel like I have lost part of me.
I think Mark and Peter are the same person.
I am confused, doesn't "Catholic" mean something along the line of: for ALL, involving ALL & Isn't it a Bishop's vocation to worry about the souls of His flock? What about souls of children? What exactly is the Bishop's worry? Is he worried that if Robert is allowed to go to Mass - everyone else will leave? I kind of doubt that this would happen. In fact I doubt that most parishioners at SJE even know who Robert is.
It is offensive to me, and bordering on the sin of "scandal," that the Bishop seems intent on letting personal feelings override what should be an obvious Christian duty of charity, and forgiveness, and welcome that should be the norm for ALL Catholics - much less a Bishop of the Catholic Church.
I think the Bishop should be contacted. I think the Bishop needs to reflect and consider changing his position.
There's a time to get over the anger. The incident first showed up in the blogosphere in 2006! (if I am not mistaken) It's time to get over the anger.
Dan,
Your words are most kind. Sadly, I fear they will fall upon deaf ears (or blinded eyes).
Xenophobia.
Ignorance.
Cliques.
Most of the people in SJE are good, decent people. Many have no clue what is going on or what has gone on--and I'm talking about a whole bunch of things.
Unfortunately, there is small, but vocal cadre of people for whom membership at SJE is not about being Catholic. It's not about the decrease of self for the increase of God. Many hold the Church's very teachings in contempt. All that matters is one thing: It's their club. And outsiders are expected to "go along to get along". I still remember some of their faces in the courtroom, disfigured with resentment. Fortunately, I also remember a few who were silent observers with hearts of good will.
I wish people could somehow understand that you become what you hate. When you hate enough, you become hate. It is ironic that many of the people who denounce Catholic teachings as "intolerant" are the living embodiment of intolerance.
We as Catholics are not supposed to tolerate sin and evil. We are also supposed to love the sinners (which really means all of us). But personal issues and blurred priorities have turned a lively debate into outright hostility.
Real leadership could build bridges rather than blow them up.
With "malice toward none, with charity for all" (I hope I don't offend anyone by quoting Lincoln) I invite anyone who hates me or is convinced I am a monster to call me or email me or contact me. If I was truly the character that has been concocted by rumor and gossip, I would have been behind bars a long time ago. I have obeyed my restraining order. Every single person who testified against me had to admit under oath that I had never touched, harmed or so much as threatened them. What people really fear is what is inside of them and my existence makes them uncomfortable with that.
I know many people hate me. You must know that I refuse to hate you.
This silliness has to end.
Many of the posts on these 3 articles about this situation are scary with references to other similar situations. We the people of the Catholic, unitied church, need to band together and tell our clergy, enough is enough. We need to let Bishops know, that we will not tolerate them using the court system to handle personal and religious differences.
Jesus recommends that we talk with our brothers and try to iron out problems, not just deny them entrance onto our private property and deny them the sacraments.
Praying for you and the family.
It was, I believe, St. John Chrysostom who looking around him said "The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops".
I live in Savannah and have had almost no interaction with Bishop Boland. I did write several letters (all unanswered) asking that he speak out on various social and moral issues that the Catholic position was either not presented or was being misrepresented in the media. I have heard the Bishop speak several times and his words seem hollow and he talks (or reads) without conviction. The actions he has taken are shocking and overly heavy handed and suggests to me that he may have some complicity in the matter. The truth will come out sooner or later, hopefully sooner. Your conscience is clean but others will have to live with their guilt. May God have Mercy on them and bring them to ask for your forgiveness for the harm that they have done to you and your family. In Christ Our Lord and Saviour, keep the faith!
I am flattered to have readers in Kansas. Now if only they weren't trolls.
Anonymous:
Thanks for the limerick.
Now you KNOW I couldn't possibly publish it here.
Robert...are you aware of the St. Joseph Foundation in San Antonio, TX? They have been defending the rights of Catholic since 1984. It's free. Google them. Richard/San Antonio, TX
Yes, thank you. We have been in touch for some time.
I will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for your and your family tomorrow. May the mantle of Mary rest round you and yors.
For now I will stay anonymous because I am only in the first stage of my diocean inquisition. Several weeks ago I called my bishop's office to verify rubics of the Mass concerning the priest allowing a grab-for-all by the Eucharistic ministers who take ciburiums and chalices off the altar without the priest handing the holy vessels to them. Because the bishop was too busy to talk to his servants, his High Priest called me back. The Father of the year told me to look it up on the internet. So I thought I would ask him another question about church property which might be more up his alley. There are three houses on our church property for the priest to choose to live in, yet the previous bishop requested that the pastor should live away from the church. So the flock bought a house far from the church so the priest "could have privacy and protect his health." Our church needs over $500,000 to fix church walls about to fall due to rotting studs caused by moisture. On top of the original estimate, our chapel ceiling caved in this week-end due to the Ida storm. Sale of the new priest house would pay for the repairs. Yes, our priest lives in a very nice house. One pastor in our diocese was forced to live in a golfing country club estate. Wow! Did I get the third degree and lamblasted for questioning church property!
Now, not only me, but my husband is considered a DANGEROUS CATHOLIC. The High Priest called up my parish priest to order him not to talk to my husband or me unless a third party is present. We belong to a church committee and were not informed of a meeting last week. When we went to communion this Sunday, the priest looked everyone in the face before he distributed the Holy Host. He looked to the floor when my husband and I approached for communion. Only God knows if he desecrated his priestly vows and the Holy Eucharist.
My husband called up the High Priest to request a meeting with him, the pastor, and us. So far no return call. I will let you know when we enter the full ranks of a Dangerous Catholic.
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