Anglo-Roman Holy Father Condemns the Sale of Afghan Girls into Marriage

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 21 Nov 2021 (NRom)

The following is a Patriarchal letter from His Holiness Papa Rutherford I regarding the situation of the selling of child brides in Afghanistan. This follows earlier statements by the Archfather on the human rights situation following the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan. 

Laudetur Jesus Christus! 

     Dear brethren, the vacuum of power left in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the United States and other nations, which allowed the violent return to power of the Taliban, has serious human rights consequences. On this we have already spoken, and indeed many of the world leaders of civil states have turned a deaf ear to the suffering of many. 

     Today, We wish to address a specific issue of human rights in Afghanistan, namely that of the selling of child brides. This ghastly and unfathomable practice is the result largely of the economic tur-moil created by the withdrawal of United States and coalition forces and the return to power of the Taliban. Those who were poor before now find themselves in even worse conditions, faced with making terrible choices. Others are recently impoverished due to the circum-stances and likewise find themselves making terrible choices. Many of the poor are selling their daughters, sometimes as young as seven or eight, into marriage. Some of them are destined for foreign countries. These girls are obviously, at that age, completely unaware of the circumstances of the arrangement. The practice is completely appalling and a violation of human rights, the dignity of mankind, and the sanctity of matrimony.

     Although we can be sympathetic to the crushing conditions that are resulting in fathers selling their child daughters into marriage, we nevertheless cannot approve of the practice. The blame must primarily lie, however, with those that put Afghan families into the economic conditions in the first place. That is the Taliban, as well as the Coalition forces that withdrew from Afghanistan, taking all of their protective capabilities with them.

     This is a crisis that good people cannot ignore. Therefore, We call upon all Christian people of the world to petition their civil governments through legal means to take appropriate action to safeguard the lives and dignity of those in Afghanistan impacted by recent economic decline. Furthermore, We call upon all Christian people of Coalition nations to petition their civil governments through legal means to take full and complete responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Puerto Rican Business Leader Appointed Pontifical Nunzio to United Nations

By A. DiNardo

NEW YORK 13 November 2021 (NRom)

His Excellency Chev. José Rivera was appointed by His Holiness and Eminence Papa Rutherford I as Pontifical Nunzio of the Apostolic See to the United Nations. Chev. Rivera represents the Archfather and the Anglican Patriarchate in the United Nations, where the patriarchate is accredited in special consultative status through the Economic and Social Council.  

Chev. Rivera is from Puerto Rico. A civil engineer by profession, he has worked in engineering and construction management, as a building inspector, and as a consultant in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States.  He also served as a member of the U.S. Senate Task Force for Hispanic Issues during 1997-2001. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and was selected for the Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow, a national honor society in BSA. The selection as a Vigil Honor member is based on his  demonstrated "unselfish devotion to the welfare of others."

Chinese Whistleblower Dying in Prison - Archfather Urges Freedom

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 7 Nov 2021 (NRom) 

The imprisonment of Zhang Zhan, a Chinese attorney and citizen-journalist, raised significant humanitarian concerns around the world. She released over 100 YouTube videos of the circumstances in Wuhan, China that led to the global pandemic. The Chinese government attempted to silence her, eventually giving her a four year sentence on a flimsy pretext. She is currently in poor health and at risk of death in prison. His Holiness and Eminence Papa Rutherford I issued a statement today on the situation. The Anglo-Roman Holy Father urged the Chinese government to release her immediately. The full text of the statement is below.

STATEMENT TEXT

     We are compelled by brotherly love for humanity to speak about what can only be called a human rights violation perpetrated by the government of China. Our curial officials made Us aware that a Chinese citizen and attorney Zhang Zhan was prosecuted and jailed for filming and publicising the occurrences in Wuhan that ultimately led to the current global pandemic. The Chinese government exploited its legal system to arrest her and imprison her, imposing a four-year sentence. She engaged in a hunger strike as an act of protest, at times being force fed by prison officials. This has taken a toll, understandably, on her health. Particularly given the unjust nature of her imprisonment, this is the direct responsibility of the Chinese government. If she dies in prison or as a result of the ordeal later, the Chinese government will be culpable. Indeed, it has been reported that she is now in very poor health and in danger of dying. Therefore, We call upon the Chinese government to order her immediate release from prison to aid in her recovery to full health. We further encourage that her conviction be overturned and expunged from her record forthwith. 

Companion Hubert Germain, Knight of the Order of the Liberation dies age 101

By Jean DuBois

PARIS 14 October 2021 (NRom)

Companion of the Noble Company and French resistance fighter Chev. Hubert Germain, son of General Maxime Germain, died in Paris today at age 101. A member of the Free French Forces in the Second World War, he fought in the Battle of Bir Hakeim, saw service in Italy, and took part in the landing in South France in 1944. 

After the war he served as Mayor of Saint-Chéron, deputy in Parliament for Paris's 14th constituency,  and as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. He was also named a Companion of the Order of Liberation, an order founded by Charles de Gaulle. The order was formed to "...reward people, of the military or civilian communities, who will have distinguished themselves in the task of liberating France and her Empire."

Apostolic Letter: What would Jesus do in a story of two classes of society

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 3 October 2021 (NRom)

Apostolic Letter
of His Holiness and Eminence
Papa Rutherford I

Laudetur Jesus Christus!

What would Jesus do in a story of two classes of society, one privileged and the other a complete underclass? The world has seen many such divisions in its history such that we know it is a common and persistent condition. Today in the world, We have observed a new dividing line established around the world that is becoming increasingly widespread. This dividing line is marking the difference between those who can work and those who cannot (or at least severely limiting their options); between those who can go to any school into which they can gain admission and those who cannot; between those who can travel freely and those who cannot; and between those who can go to events, restaurants, and other public spaces and those to whom such things are closed indefinitely. This dividing line is even defining the difference between those who can go to many churches in those who cannot. Even my brother the Bishop of Rome has slammed shut the doors to that sacred and beloved church that we share by right, the Basilica of St. Peter, and indeed the entirety of the Vatican City- State, to one specific group of people mocked by this dividing line. The Basilica and the Vatican have historically been sites welcoming countless pilgrims and those in need of refuge, but no more. It is a shame and a blight against the Church.

This dividing line We reference marks the difference between those who have had the COVID-19 vaccine and those who have not, whatever the reason. This has gone beyond, as We have stated before, legitimate concerns of public health (for We Ourselves indeed promote good health in its totality) and instead crossed into the realm of totalitarianism against which our civilisation and Our Church have always bravely fought. Even many segments of the Church, however, are turning their backs on those in need and refusing to serve all humanity regardless of divisions. And so We ask again, what would Jesus do?

Scripture is clear. Jesus walked with lepers and associated with the poor, the downtrodden, and those deemed undesirable by much of society. Our Lord healed the sick, made the blind see, and raised the dead. He told those who were unloved that He Himself loved them. He raised up those who were low and welcomed them into his circle, both on earth and in heaven.

Coming out of the front of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome is the Bernini colonnade, curved to symbolise the outstretched arms of the Holy Church embracing the world – indeed Jesus Himself embracing the world through His spotless bride, the Church. Today so many have forgotten that symbol and the eternal truth behind it, as well as the example that it sets for each of us. The colonnade ultimately represents Christ embracing the entire world, regardless of race, nationality, wealth, or any other method of subdividing humanity, including vaccination status.

We as Christians cannot tolerate the idea that we would separate our fellow man into two categories according to whether or not they had a specific vaccine. We cannot turn a deaf ear to the concerns of those who have not received that vaccine. We cannot ignore and trample underfoot concerns of others simply because we may disagree with them. Not only does it set a dangerous precedent that has been used countless times, including by the Nazis in their eugenic policies, which they themselves borrowed from the United States of America’s eugenics efforts, but it is an act against love of our fellow man. It is an act against that fellowship that we are called upon to exhibit by our Lord Himself.

Therefore, let us all promote good health, as we should always do, but let us promote above all a love of our fellow man here on earth. Let us pray for those with whom we disagree rather than vilifying, chastising, and harming them in any way. Let us raise up our brothers and sisters as Christ has done.

Pastoral Letter by the Anglo-Roman Holy Father regarding Servant of God Father Kapuan

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 1 October 2021 (NRom)

Pastoral Letter by the Archfather, His Holiness and Eminence Papa Rutherford I regarding the recovery of the body of Father Kapuan.

There is much that we can learn from Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun. He was an American Army chaplain in the Second World War and the Korean War. He died in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War, and just now his body has been recovered and returned to his home in Kansas. In his service as a chaplain, Father Kapaun had a reputation for bravery, serving the troops under adverse conditions and rescuing both the wounded and the dead. He baptized, heard confessions, and said the mass far in the front under heavy enemy fire. His Jeep from which he celebrated mass was destroyed several times, but he survived. In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour, the United States of America’s highest military decoration.

Upon being captured during the Battle of Unsan in 1950, he refused to escape, instead staying to serve his fellow prisoners of war. Conditions unsurprisingly were horrid, with men suffering abuses and were afflicted by many medical conditions, malnutrition, etc. He refused to give in to despair, stood against communist indoctrination even in his vulnerable position, and worked tirelessly to keep others going.

Father Kapaun exhibits the best attributes of a selfless priest. We all hope never to be in such difficult conditions as he was, but there is much that we can learn from him in our daily lives. First, there is no excuse or reason to come down to the least common denominator simply because things are difficult or challenging. The good father said the holy mass wearing the proper vestments and using the proper forms on an altar improvised on a Jeep in the field, even under enemy fire. If he, like so many other chaplains then, could do that, we can certainly keep our standards, our dignity, and our faith during any difficulties that we face. Character is most important in adversity.

Second, life does not always go as we expect. Father Kapaun was taken prisoner by the Communists, and though that was surely known as a possibility, it also surely was not his desire or expectation. Even when life does not go as we expect, we should follow the good father’s example and not lower our standards, not give in to fear and despair, and not fall prey to the sorts of indoctrination to which people are particularly vulnerable during stressful situations. Consider now during the pandemic how many are giving into fear and are becoming victims to all sorts of harmful indoctrination.

Third, you should never give up. That is a clear message of Father Kapaun. He kept going in war and in a prison camp until he finally succumbed to death. As long as we are living, there is hope, and we can continue. The enemy wants us to abandon hope and stop doing what we are doing. The enemy ultimately is the same as always, Satan. He comes in many guises – often masquerading as a force for good. He influences governments and their agents, institutions, and even sometimes friends and family. There is no trick that evil will not use in order to harm us and bring us down. Indeed, with God all things are possible, and we must never, ever give up. We must never lower ourselves or surrender our dignity, no matter how go or desperate things may seem.

Lastly, you must remember the power of prayer. Father Kapaun credited his own survival under fire to the prayers of others. No doubt he took strength and gained courage for his own immensely brave actions from his own prayers as well. And, his prayers and the sacraments he offered no doubt saved countless lives, strengthened others in their darkest hours, and raised up many people.

It is no surprise that the few still living who remember Father Kapaun personally were overjoyed that his body was recovered and brought to Kansas. We hope that this will renew public awareness of his heroic acts, thereby inspiring others to strengthen their own faith or even come to the faith for the first time.

Origins of the Clerical Collar and the use in the Anglican Patriarchate

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 27 September 2021 (NRom)

You have seen it in Hollywood movies, in the news, and at the local church. The little white plastic tab in the front of a black shirt or the full white plastic “ring” known as a band collar. The symbols of a clergyman. But how traditional are they?

As it turns out, the modern clerical collar is a recent invention in the late 19th century by a Protestant Anglican clergyman. He took a detachable shirt collar (collars tended to attach with little studs to shirts at that time) and turned it around backwards, dropping the tie. It gradually caught on and eventually spread to the Roman clergy.

If the clerical collar is relatively recent and maybe not-so-uniquely-clerical at all, what was worn in the preceding centuries? It’s a very simple answer. Usually it was a tie. A white tie, often known as a cravat, worn over a regular dress shirt. The cravat differs from the modern necktie. It would typically wrap around the neck and tie in the front. Sometimes it would be tied in a bow (and white bow ties were common among clergy). Sometimes it would be tied in a simple knot. Underneath the clerical cassock, it provided a look that is now being mimicked by the modern clerical collar. This was common among Roman clergy for quite some time. It was also the standard to be worn with the “short habit” that was the period version of the clergy suit commonly worn out in public outside of liturgical and ceremonial settings.

A cardinal wearing the period version
of the clergy suit, with a white cravat

That was not the only option. For much of the church’s history, a white shirt collar was worn underneath the clerical cassock, and sometimes it was brought up and turned down over the outside of the cassock. You can see these two looks in countless paintings of priests, bishops, cardinals, and even popes. In fact, Cardinal Newman regularly dressed that way, even often having the top button of his cassock and the collar unbuttoned. Only in his old age did he appear to adopt the modern version of the clerical collar.

Cardinal Newman wearing an open cassock with
open white collar

Pope Innocent XI with regular
collar turned over the habit

Cardinal de Richelieu wearing a large regular
collar over the habit

This ancient and consistent custom is kept as a trade with tradition in the Anglican Patriarchate. A regular white shirt collar is known as the “regular collar” in the canons and ceremonial and is commonly worn underneath the cassock. This actually makes it easier for clergy wearing the cassock to open both the top of the cassock and collar (like Cardinal Newman) when needed for work or other purposes. With the civic habit (clergy suit), the white silk cravat is a traditional item added (and a white bow tie or a white or black necktie may be also used). Also, there is the patriarchate's "collarino," which is essentially the front part of a long cravat wrapped around the front of the neck, but instead of being brought around and tied in the front, it is designed to be tied with little ties in the back under the collar. This is the closest look to the modern band or tab collar. Many find these styles much more comfortable. These are not modernist or liberal affectations, but traditions deeply rooted in the heritage, history, and common practices of the Holy Catholic Church.

Pope Clement XIV wearing a regular
collar under the habit.

The clergy of the Anglican Patriarchate are also free to use the tab collar or band collar according to their preference, though. Neckwear was never the defining symbol of the clergy. The clerical cassock or habit of a religious order has always been a key symbol, as is the zucchetto (skullcap), which represents symbolically the clerical tonsure.