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Author Topic: Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.  (Read 1671 times)

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Offline Genovese

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Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.
« on: November 10, 2024, 08:30:40 PM »
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    • The End with S.S.P.X. Relations April 2021.
    Sadly after 29 years of being loyal to SSPX, the relationship with them has ended due to their mistreatment and abuse of their authority. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is owned and managed by our local association; and the visiting SSPX priests and the current District Superior of Asia, wanted absolute authority over the chapel and the community here, in managing our association, when according to the Malaysian Registrar of Society ( R.O.S.) rules, foreign priests cannot be members but can only be visitors/guests. The visiting priests in the past many years had no issue with this regulation and had accepted it. The close co-operation and problem free relationship with them is testament to this; but not now. We have always respected the priests’ authority in all religious, spiritual matters. Our association committee members are accountable to R.O.S. and can be legally prosecuted for not abiding to the regulations.
    Is this behaviour according to the missionary philosophy of their founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre? His main aim was to give the Traditional Latin Mass and the Sacraments to faithful who want them; not to own and run the Mass centres.
    The 29 years of loyalty did not account for anything to them, there was no consideration of any compromise but their insistence for absolute control; therefore we parted ways.  Having cut-off ties with us, they have set-up another Mass centre in another township and used our chapel’s name and prohibited the committee and some members from attending Mass there. What does such actions say about them? They tarnish the traditional priesthood and their founder’s name.
    Well by their fruits you shall know them. May God enlighten them in their errors and have mercy on them.
    CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
    • The apostolate in Kuala Lumpur started its collaboration with SSPX in 1992. Thereafter the FISSPX Association was formed in June 2008 to legalise activities thereby enabling the priests to safely and peacefully administer to the apostolate here without fear of disturbance from the Malaysian authorities.
     

    • The setting up of the association was necessary because SSPX is not able to set up its own entity in Malaysia. Since many years, foreign missionary priests were asked to leave Malaysia and no missionary priest is allowed to remain in Malaysia, but they are allowed to visit. Although it is stated in the constitution of the association that priests are only acting as advisor, however, right from the very beginning of the apostolate, the priests have always been accorded full authority, out of respect and love for the them, and trusting their priestly office and disposition, while working in close collaboration with the faithful to build the apostolate to what it is today. This has been the basis of our peaceful relationship/collaboration with the SSPX  for the past 29 years. It wouldn’t have lasted this long had the faithful been rebellious or disrespectful towards the priests.
     

    • In 2018 Father Etienne Demornex arrived in KL to take charge of the apostolate here. He immediately started to make major changes. It is normally expected that newly arrived priest will take time to familiarize himself with the customs of the administration of the chapel, get to know the faithful better to see the potential of those who are able to render their services, etc before making changes, if necessary, since it is the practice of SSPX to reassign priests every 2 years. If the chapel has been running well, why make changes to disrupt the harmony and its smooth operations? 
     

    • During his 2-year tenure here Fr. Demornex violated the FISSPX constitution by:
     

    • controlling the number of committee members, keeping it small for apparently effective control. There were no issues on record to warrant such a requirement.
    • reducing the number of members, by purposely allowing their membership fees to lapse. (Members were told that they do not need to pay the monthly membership fees). Many were taken aback when their membership were terminated without their consent.
    • taking control and presiding over the AGM (Annual General Meeting), and falsify the minutes, etc, for submission to the Registrar of Societies (ROS). In the constitution, it is stated that the President of the association should preside and the priest is present as advisor, and this procedure has been followed since 2008. Proofs are in all the minutes of the AGM held since 2008
    • appointing/selecting committee members instead of allowing proper election procedure to be carried out as stipulated in the constitution, and as had been done previously. He then selected Joshua as President.
    • Laws of fire safety regulations were also violated. When the chapel moved to its current rented premise in 2019 (a first floor unit of a shoplot), against good advice, Fr. Demornex sealed all the windows of the premise, removing fire extinguishers that were strategically placed, and blocking the housing for the fire hose. When the fire department came to inspect the premise in relation to an application for a signboard to be put up, the violation was pointed out and the application was duly rejected. The association was almost at risk of a fine of RM10,000 due to the violation. The association will need to spend more money now to put everything in order.  
     

    • After the move of the chapel, Fr. Demornex started spending for new expensive pews, communion rails, etc  although he was advised to be more prudent in spending, to take time to furnish as the funds belonged to the association and it was savings for the plan to acquire our own building. Furthermore, the measurement of the pews, etc may not be suitable for the next premise of the chapel. However, despite the advice of the committee, he went ahead with the spending, and to supplement his expenditure, he even secretly took a loan from SSPX which he then instructed the association to repay. Although the association and the chapel has been financially independent, which was only made possible due to the generosity of the faithful; and the priests have always appreciated and respected this. However, Fr. Demornex, insisted that all his decision should not be questioned, and the committee is expected only to obey and approve all payments.
     

    • In March 2020, during the major lockdown when religious houses were closed and  Fr. Demornex was in Malaysia, he insisted on opening the chapel for mass, against the advice of those who were concerned. During one of the Masses, he also gave a sermon encouraging the faithful to obey the laws of the land, but thereafter he condemned those who were absent, calling them cowards and useless. He also allowed the organ to be played loudly although he was warned that police cars were seen patrolling the chapel vicinity.
    • Father Demornex left Malaysia for a holiday in France, in early July 2020, before taking up his next assignment in Japan. While he was in France, he coerced the treasurer of the association to provide him with the password to the association’s bank account which he then tried to log into. When the bank detected this suspicious activity, they blocked the account. The signatories then had to make several visits to convince the bank to reactivate the account. It was providential that the bank did not pursue their suspicion, which risk the association being reported to ROS, the Malaysian Central Bank, and having the account closed, and the possibility of deregistration of the association.
     

    • Before leaving Malaysia, he banned 3 young men from the chapel and sacraments for 3 months, without revealing to them their wrongdoings. They were not given any counseling nor warnings. According to Canon Law 1341, “fraternal correction, rebuke, and other ways of pastoral care” before a penalty is considered.  When the 3 men and the other faithful asked for the reasons, he said that those accused should know it themselves. He said he had proof of their wrongdoings but was unable to reveal them to protect the identity of his informers. These men were sad and taken aback as during the lockdown they had taken time to spend almost every day with Fr. Demornex, to keep him company as they were concerned that he be lonely in the chapel. Fr. Demornex was happy as they played boardgames and had meals together. During those times, there was no mention to them of any wrongdoings and then the ban was suddenly imposed upon them. Some of the faithful were shocked and concerned as these 3 men were dedicated and active helpers at the chapel. Fr. Demornex welcomed, parishioners, those who were concerned to speak with him about this matter but when they did, they were again told that he could not reveal the reasons and when he was further queried, they were accused of having bad spirit. Lately, he is accusing these young men of taking revenge for the ban and creating the problems between priests and the association, which is not true.   
     

    • During his tenure, despite all the violations, he was still accorded full respect and authority, and was duly obeyed in all matters. When he left Malaysia, and since the association was required to hold an AGM  by 31 March 2021, the majority of the committee felt it was opportune to set things right according to the constitution. Proper procedures should be followed henceforth. Notice of the AGM was then sent out on 26th February and the AGM was to be held on 13 March 2021 with election of new committee members.  
    • On 28 Feb 2021, after much deliberation, Susan (Secretary) wrote a letter to SSPX Superior General, Fr Davide Pagliarani, informing him of the violation of the FISSPX Constitution and Laws of Malaysia and requesting him to kindly look into the matter urgently. Fr. Pagliarani replied advising us to have discussions with Fr. Summers and asking us to welcome Fr. Gomis, who he specially selected to take care of KL. This was promising to us and we were hopeful.
     

    • Following Fr. Pagliarani’s letter and on the same day, 28 Feb, Fr Summers sent a message to the Committee members suspending collaboration with FISSPX with immediate effect,  and notifying that he has removed “personal items” from the chapel. There was no attempt by him to arrange any meeting with the association as per Fr. Pagliarani’s advice.
     

    • Theft ordered by Fr. Demornex. On 1st Mar, when Joshua went to the chapel, he found many items had been removed, including chalices, vestments (the sacristy was almost cleaned out), mass candle stands, statues, mass booklets, etc.). A copy of the CCTV was then obtained from the landlord. The CCTV footage showed that the items were removed by Cyril Yee, Benjamin and Michael in the middle of the night on 27th and 28th February. The landlord’s secretary then confirmed that if there was a break-in, a police report had to be made. Joshua then telephoned Cyril a couple of times to give them the opportunity to rectify the situation but his calls went unanswered.  
    • Subsequently a police report was lodged on the same day but not to press charges, only for the return of the items removed.  After viewing the CCTV footage, the police inspector agreed that this is indeed a theft but he would not open a case file if the items are returned.
     

    • Cyril and Benjamin were then called in by the police inspector and told to return the items within 24 hours, failing which a case will be filed against them. At the police station, they produced a letter from Fr. Demornex authorizing them to remove the ‘personal belongings’. This confirmed that instruction was indeed given by the priest for this unfortunate theft. The police inspector then questioned, “If you are removing personal items, why are you doing it in the middle of the night and without consultation with the association? Prove ownership and then you will be allowed to remove the items”
     

    • Cyril and Benjamin then agreed to return the items to avoid criminal charges being pressed against them, and the police inspector told them to make a police report on their agreement to that effect. The items were peacefully returned to the chapel on 3rd March.
     

    • Father Pagliarani was informed of the theft and he replied on 3rd Mar requesting the association to let a few weeks go by without losing hope and peace and pray, and then subsequently to have a meeting with Father Summers to clarify matters. He said he would encourage Fr Summers to listen to our concerns and to work towards resolving them.
     

    • Joshua and Susan then jointly replied to Fr Pagliarani thanking him for his response and informing him of the intended AGM on 13 Mar as required by the ROS, and also extended an invitation for him and Fr. Summers to join in via Zoom (despite the suspension of collaboration on 28th February.) Subsequently the AGM was held on 13 March 2021, in accordance  to the constitution and we now have newly elected committee, despite Cyril’s and Benjamin’s efforts to sabotage the AGM by calling the faithful and discouraging attendance at the AGM.
    • On 7 Mar, a notice was then placed on SSPX Peninsular Malaysia group Telegraph announcing that the FISSPX account in Maybank and Sacred Heart Chapel Paypal accounts are no longer in use and henceforth all donations are to be sent directly to the account of SSPX District Asia instead.
     

    • On 8 Mar, Joshua and Susan again jointly wrote to Fr Pagliarani informing him of the above and that the curtailing of funds which are used for the upkeep of the chapel is a hostile action of the priests.  We ask again for his intervention and assistance.
     

    • Father Pagliarani replied on 8 Mar that this is another matter that needs to be discussed and resolved with Fr Summers, and he advised that he had forwarded our letter to Fr Summers “as one of the points to be clarified”.
     

    • On 9 Mar Father Demornex announced to all the faithful about what is happening in the chapel, notifying that the chapel is no longer a SSPX chapel, that the association have illegally retained SSPX goods (accuмulated the past 29 years from donation) and that donations by the faithful is under the control of FISSPX and no longer of SSPX.
     

    • On 9 Mar, Joshua and Susan wrote to Father Pagliarani, forwarding Fr Demornex’s letter and stating that whilst we have been adhering to Fr Pagliarani’s request to take some time and pray and to refrain from any rash action, Fr Demornex is trying to sabotage our hope for a renewed collaboration with SSPX. We surmised that the unquestionable authority over the chapel appears to be more important than the salvation of souls and the protection of the faithful. Fr Pagliarani has yet to reply and has silent since.
     

    • In the meantime Joshua has been contacted by other faithful hurling accusations that the association is a band of thieves and demanding that every penny that they have donated be returned to them and he was threatened with legal action. Many lies and calumny were spread but the association had remained silent and did not retaliate. We remember always the advice of a good SSPX priest: “Don’t render evil for evil but to render good over evil”. Therefore a novena to Mother of Perpetual Succour was then organized for the intention of our chapel.
    • On March 18, Father Demornex wrote to Jimmy & Susan justifying that all that he had done were not in violation of the constitution and that he had ecclesiastical rights, etc. He also accused Susan and Jimmy of destroying the chapel, of stealing, accusing her of betraying her fellow by making a police report, causing the split and other hurtful unproven accusations.
     

    • Our request for Cyril to return to the association the control of the FISSPX email account, the Facebook account and the chapel access keys (which belong to the landlord), has been ignored. Also, the former treasurer, Anna, has refused to conduct a proper handover of the association’s accounting ledger and files to the newly elected treasurer. Sadly, we know that they were only obeying instructions of the priests.
     

    • Since Susan first wrote to Fr. Pagliarani, no meeting was made possible by Fr Summers, and then he finally agreed to a meeting on 8th April 2021. At the meeting he again, insisted on absolute authority, no question on priest’s decision, OR no collaboration. While we tried to explain to him that we have and will always accord the priest full authority, however, we require for the priest to show care and concern for the faithful and not to expose the faithful and the chapel to any danger, as what previous priests have done. Not to jeopardise the faithful, the chapel and the association. This is our only request. Fr. Summers then suggested that if the committee members are afraid of any legal danger, then they should resign and be replaced by others. However, even if the committee members were to be replaced a million times, the liabilities that each has to bear remain the same. Therefore, this suggestion was unreasonable and unacceptable.
     

    • The association felt that they have tried their best to salvage the situation/relationship but it is not possible to continue collaborate with SSPX in this spirit, when the KL apostolate will be subjected to an authoritarian management with no regards to the care and protection of its faithful, and without consideration of the legal liabilities the faithful have to bear. Furthermore we were not given any hope of as Fr. Pagliarani has kept silence after his last communication.
    • Who would imagine that after 29 years of loyalty and dedication to SSPX, that it would painfully end this way? Especially for the founding members of the chapel, dating back to 1992, it is a very heartbreaking decision. We have dedicated our lives with much hard work, sacrifices, money and time and played a major role in helping the KL apostolate grow, as priests are not permanently present in KL, but only visiting during the weekends and then they are reassigned elsewhere after every 2 years, The faithful felt greatly betrayed and have lost their confidence and trust in priests. It is truly sad indeed. 

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    Offline Giovanni Berto

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    Re: Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.
    « Reply #1 on: November 10, 2024, 09:30:13 PM »
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    • Sad as it is, this kind of thing does not really surprise me anymore.

    I hope that you people have found another priest to give you the sacraments.
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    Offline Michelle

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    Re: Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.
    « Reply #2 on: November 10, 2024, 10:48:08 PM »
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    • Lacking the divine compass, they will stray from the road traced by God for the priestly ministry, and they will become attached to wealth and riches, which they will unduly strive to attain. How the Church will suffer during this dark night! Lacking a prelate and a father to guide them ... many priests will lose their spirit, placing their souls in great danger.” The poor priestly souls that would be left to uphold the Church would suffer greatly.

    The above statement is taken from the prophecies Our Lady of Good Success. 
    This is what happens when we do not have a pope to unite us in the faith and guide us.
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.
    « Reply #3 on: November 11, 2024, 02:32:57 PM »
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    • What does the "FI" in FISSPX stand for?
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    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Chronology of events and the reasons that led to the departure from S.S.P.X.
    « Reply #4 on: November 11, 2024, 03:19:42 PM »
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    • Message to both sides: Quit the 🐄💩 and get back to saving souls. You’ve sowed the seeds of discord among the faithful and left others lying bleeding and wounded in the ditch.
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