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A so-called Benedictine monastery accepted a gift from a postulant and refuses to give it back... "When Eric E. Hoyle entered a monastery in Allegany County in 2005 expecting to become a Benedictine monk, he turned over just about everything he had to the monastery. Operators of Most Holy Family Monastery in the rural Town of Fillmore accepted about $1.6 million from the former Maryland schoolteacher, who was 25 years old at the time. But a disenchanted Hoyle ended up leaving the monastery after a couple of years, and soon after, he sued in federal court to get the money back. - The rest of the story here.
First of all, I'm fairly certain a postulant or novice is not expected to give up their wealth until final profession, and then it is not advisable or acceptable to 'donate' it to the congregation one is entering. The 'donation' could become a source of pride and/or control on the part of the donor, having before his mind the knowledge that he contributed such wealth to the community. I didn't check to see what canon law has to say on these matters, but common sense should suffice here.
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That said, in this particular situation, the monastic community is not even in union with the Roman Catholic Church, much less any Benedictine Federation - they are sedevacantist nuts. Hence the novice has no recourse to canon law or the jurisdiction of the Benedictine Order. Stupid is as stupid does, but hopefully he can win his money back in civil court.
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People - you gotta watch your wallets with individuals or groups who profess to be religious - whether they are clerics, religious, or lay persons; trad, sede, or liberal. There is great gain in religion and that is exactly why a few turn it into a career.
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Photo: One of the monks of Most Holy Family Monastery. Story here.
Yes,yes and yes.
ReplyDeleteNo religious community or association of the faithful would, in terms of authenticity, EVER do this.
In fact, it is a real problem if you accept a postulant's money or inheritance; all kinds of s*** can hit the fan, more numerous than one could imagine.
You are underlining, Terry, why the faithful must be absolutely careful where they send their hard-earned money, bequests and labor; there are scams all over the place.
This is not to say there are NOT worthy endeavors; authentic places of worship, monastic life, apostolate; but check it out, folks...call the chancery; ask the local dean; ask the neighbors...
don't be afraid to even ask questions of the place itself.
If it is authentic, there should be no problem, no hesitance, no "questionable" kinds of things...
By all means, support the worthy works of the Church, esp. contemplative monasteries of nuns and of monks, and new communities that are in the favor of the local Bishop; they need your help and assistance, both of money and talent.
But beware of the charlatans; esp. the "traditional" ones; make sure they are in communion with the local bishop; otherwise, forgetta boutit!
And by the way: I know of this situation; I don't have any sympathy for this guy, I'm afraid.
He should have smelled a "rat" and the shysters behind this are all too obvious; but then again, we see what we want to see. Put on clean glasses, dear faithful; see what is real!
Ah yes, the infamous Dimonds. I am very familiar with these frauds. They are not real Benedictines even though they claim they are. Like you point out, they are Sedevacantists who claim that we have not had a real Pope since Pope Pius XII & every Pope since is a heritic & thus not really a Pope.
ReplyDeleteThey claim to uphold the traditional teachings of the Church, yet they deny many of the things that the Church taught before Vatican II by claiming it never did.
The monastery may have been founded as a real Benedictine group, but by their actions they are in schism. & as a friend of mine so rightly put it when we were discussing them, & like you said, they are a cult, not a Catholic group. I told him 1 time I am surprized that he hasn't set himself up as Pope.
As for giving the property over, that is a long tradition within the Benedictines & covered by the Rule of St. Benedict.
& while part of me hopes the guy wins, there was more than enough evidence there in advance for him to have figured this out before entering. So in a way, i don't feel that sorry for him.
Wow, I don't think he will get his money back . He should have known they( Bro. "Demons" {Dimonds} at the holy family monastery) were sedes and looked into it .
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good advice Terry .
I posted a thread on myspace once called Sedevantists is a fraud . Ya that's me Chi :D
I used to be a regular religion forum member but it has become a rotten place where I cannot stand to be anymore.
OCart nuns have in their statutes not to accept anything from candidates or their families. Don't most communities not accept anything (bar books, that sort of thing) until the donor to be has taken final vows?
ReplyDeleteTerry - does the same advice apply when you're trying to decide who to buy coffee mugs from?
ReplyDeleteLarry makes Terry laugh.
ReplyDeleteAl - I wasn't aware of that in the Rule of St. Benedict - good to know - interesting.
I didn't realize these guys were so notorious.
The entire lawsuit was dismissed. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFxKXN0rgb0
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the Judge's Decision and Order, dismissing the entire lawsuit against Most Holy Family Monastery.
http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/Articles/doc_106_decision_and_order_6_22_12.pdf
Here's a link to Bro. Michael Dimond's affidavit, which covers more facts of the case:
http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/Articles/brother_michael_aff.pdf
You, anonymous 9:57 PM, are just trying to get more SEO web activity to your www.mostholy... site. Of course the judge dismissed the case... due to the First Amendment. Everyone for unbiased facts, SEE www.dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nywdce/1:2008cv00347/68848/ -the court records on the Hoyle Case.
ReplyDeleteJean-Guy Chiasson
ReplyDeleteHad they not removed the real altars-which was part of the main structure in our Catholic churches,I would certainly go to mass,given the situation is parallel to what the prophets Jeremias said in scripture:( Lord,they have cast down Thou altar and trampled your word underfoot,I alone am left) from my birth,I was never reared in anyway in scripture or the learning of my Catholic,and,given that at the age of 37 I was miraculously converted by a very elder priest with a session of the laying of the hands with much supplications in a language I knew not(today I understand it was Latin). However,shortly after this happenstance-I arrived at understanding that the church was in a bad way. Seeing there is no Latin mass for some 200 miles radious from my residence,and my poverty allows no relief, I can only lone to attend a real Latin right mass.It is a truth that we live in the end period/time,but not be the end of the world,understanding that the 3days of darkness is yet to come upon us,and this prophecy claimed that after this event,the church(Catholic) will rise again more victoriously than before and all things will be regenerated as of old,this is very contrary to the supposed structure of the final battle spoken of by the Diamond brothers-besides,two brothers are not suppose to be in the same monastery at the same time? If we read Don Bosco,this battle is illustrated at lenght,nor does Don Bosco make mention of the end of the world,however,it does relate that the enemies on all sides were defeated,and the Holy Pontiff was victor. When the Lord Jesus did His ministry,and would heal the people,The Lord knew well that the high was his enemy,yet,He would say to some-go to the temple and offer to the high priest the gift Moses recommended,if we have a bad leader,bishops,and priests,it is because the sins of the people that called it down upon us.in closing,this is not the details of the final battle as the Diamond brothers claim. The 3rd war of wars,a short lasting fals peace,the tribulation,the regeneration--- then the end.