Friday, April 2, 2021

Holy Friday: Statement of the Archfather regarding Mass Shootings and the Need for Media Responsibility

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 2 April 2021 (NRom)

In light of continuing shootings even into Holy Week, His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather released a statement today on Holy Friday regarding the need for media responsibility in reporting shooting and other violent events. The statement results from a collection of scientific research demonstrating mass shooting events spread like diseases. The media can help save lives by limiting or eliminating its coverage of those events. In his statement, Papa Rutherford I called on media to exercise restraint and responsibility and for government to enact restrictions on the press if necessary.

Full text of the statement: 

Statement of the Archfather on Holy Friday
regarding Mass Shootings and the Need
for Media to Exercise Responsibility

Today as we solemnly remember the Passion and Crucifixion of our Lord, we also should pause to reflect on the current spread of mass shootings in the United States, one of which took place on Wednesday of Holy Week. It has been shown in scientific research that shootings such as these are contagious, spreading like a virus. Constant media coverage and attention does little but fan the flames and cause further spread. Research further suggests strongly that minimal or no coverage of such events could help greatly to prevent further shootings from happening after the initial violence takes place, saving lives. Yet, the media has consistently shown itself entirely unwilling to exercise such responsible restraint. Instead, it seems to relish in the death and destruction and the ratings increase and financial gain that no doubt results.

On this day in which Our Lord sacrificed for us all, suffering a horrific death on the Cross, We call upon the media to cease their excessive coverage of mass shootings and other such events. If the media refuses, then the civil government would be well-warranted to place stringent limits upon the media and its coverage of such violent in the legitimate interest of saving lives. Such is their duty to the people in their care.

Indeed, legitimate limits upon speech already exist, such as against certain exclamations in crowded areas that might induce panic and result in injury and possibly death. This, We believe, is no different. The press cannot hide behind a general duty to inform the public of facts while ignoring and abdicating completely the responsibility of providing those facts and the manner in which it is provided.

May Almighty God be with each of you as we continue through this Sacred Triduum and as the Easter season begins at the first mass of Easter on Saturday morning. May this Easter season be a rebirth of peace in the world and a renewal of normality.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Holy Thursday Letter of the Archfather to Clergy and Nobles

 FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 1 April 2021 (NRom)

The following is the text of the annual Holy Thursday letter of His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather to the clergy and nobles. 


TO MY VENERABLE BRETHREN THE BISHOPS, TO THE PRIESTS AND REGULAR CLERGY, AND TO THE SERENE PRINCES, ILLUSTRIOUS NOBLES, AND HONOURABLE KNIGHTS, GREETINGS ON THIS HOLY THURSDAY AS WE BEGAN THE TRANSITION FROM LENT TO THE GLORIOUS CELEBRATION OF EASTER.

Each of you has a special purpose. This year our Lenten journey and coming Easter season is marred by the very same global humanitarian crisis that we experienced not just during Lent and Easter last year, but during the majority of the year. Yet it cannot diminish the light of Christ or the joy of the Resurrection! Crises and humanitarian concerns are certainly nothing new in history, and indeed they are common in most of the world on a regular basis. We as leaders in the worldwide Christendom must, therefore, treat this merely as an event to which we must respond. As so many leaders of the world equivocated and played political games at the expense of the people, as governments developed tunnel vision and sparked a humanitarian crisis unparalleled in recent memory, as societies forgot their proud heritage and instead fell apart, and as people turned on each other in the most vicious ways, you as a group displayed the very traits exemplary behaviour, and honourable service that We would expect from devout Christian leaders. The Roman State in antiquity, the foundation of modern society, was built on rationality, community, courage, and virtue. It was a society that built to last – so much so that even after the Empire collapsed, its influences and even its buildings remain. We are saddened that modern society has all but abandoned its legacy, but We are encouraged that it continues to live on in each of you.

It was largely the Roman roads and eventually the Empire itself that allowed the Christian faith to spread. In the chaos after the collapse of the Roman Empire, it was the Christian faith that sustained the populations and eventually allowed a rebirth of civilisation and more robust societal structure. By setting the example of Christian service, each of you not only helps to bring order out of chaos, but perpetuate the very ideals that are required for a rebirth of society in the present period.

On this day so many years ago, our Lord established the Holy Eucharist, ordaining the Apostles priests. This day we do indeed celebrate the establishment of the Christian priesthood, for it is truly from the altar of God that all authentic service must flow. The justice of God must not be allowed to be abandoned in favour of mere worldly expediency. Yet, that happens all too often in the world. Therefore, We charge each of you this coming Easter season to continue in your exemplary service, modeling the ideals of our Christian civilisation that the light of Christ may be seen in each of you and reflected to others.

Rutherfordus Ap. I 
Servant of the Servants of Christ