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BEWARE OF ALEXIS BUGNOLO - DON'T GIVE THIS FRAUD YOUR MONEY

"Br." Alexis Bugnolo would have you believe that he is a Franciscan Friar, a traditional Catholic, an intellectual and deeply interested in the conflict in the middle east and other causes. Unfortunately non of this is true. Bugnolo set up a "house of formation in Rome" a few years ago and we got to know him quite well.

HE IS NOT A FRANCISCAN. He was ejected from the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the 1990s without vows, but he tells people that he is a Franciscan or when pressed an "independent Franciscan hermit with tactit approval from the Holy Father." That was abolished centuries ago. One cannot just abide by the rule of St. Francis and say that he is a Franciscan.

HE IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL. He holds no degrees other than perhaps a BA.

THIS IS NOT HIS FIRST START-UP. Here in Rome Bugnolo's "house of formation" failed because Bugnolo could not get along with others. He received at least one young man for formation, but did not get along with him, and TURNED HIM OUT without appeal or due process. Of course there can be no due process with Bugnolo because he is not a part of the Chruch structure. The SSPX and even the extreme traditionalists have superiors and by-laws and constitutions. Bugnolo, however, lives life on a whim and everyone must follow his lead. Bugnolo also start the Scholasticuм, an online program for studying Thomistic Philosophy. It seems he bamboozled several professors, but as far as the website shows, no classes ever took place. Now Bugnolo has turned to Ordo Militaris as his new initiative by which he can garner some sense of legitimacy for his irregular life. He once hoped to start his own religious order, but given his mental instability, I hope he has realized that no one will ever grant him such authority and no one will follow him.

HE IS NOT A TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC. Bugnolo tells traddies that he is one of them whenever he can so that he can play the cleric and enjoy all their deference. In reality though Bugnolo attends the NO and communes with Bishops and monks that he ridicules. He'll claim that he is a traditionalist but he doesn't even say the traditional Divine Office!

Bugnolo has some rich family member who supports his pet projects. He has not distinguished himself in learning or piety. Please don't give this bozo your money and certainly DO NOT attempt to go fight with him in his imaginary army. For if you were ever to get to the front lines he would be onto his next project and leave you in the lurch just like he did to a young man in Rome. In your charity, starve the beast until he recognizes his own deceit and finally either retires to an actual Franciscan community or gets a day job to support himself without a Franciscan pretense. Supporting and enabling vagrant imposters is bad for the Catholic Church, and, if you do so knowingly, it is bad for your soul too.

Mike, you have some great programming. I'm sorry that you got cat-fished.