It just hit me (AFTER someone wrote me an e-mail) that we need to be prudent about posting the location of Bp. Williamson's funeral.

Here's what we need to consider:

1. No one here on CathInfo is going to be travelling to England for the funeral, and/or received an invitation.
2. They *need* to use invitations (rather than a mass public announcement) because this is for Bp. Williamson, a highly controversial figure (a truth teller, a sign of contradiction like the Holy Cross)
3. It is a FACT that the Bishop was persecuted, banned from various countries, hunted down by his enemies whenever he traveled abroad, his various venues cancelled after they were informed about the good Bishop's views on the holly-hoax.
4. At the same time, Bishop Williamson was also extremely popular among the remnant Faithful (servants of God) worldwide, and you could get quite a crowd at least enough to overwhelm many (most?) modest venues. I don't think they want to have to rent a sports stadium. And see #3. They would never rent him a sports stadium, even if we wanted to go through the trouble & expense. He had friends and supporters *worldwide*, so if you take that fringe popularity and concentrate it all in one small BUILDING -- yeah, it's going to overwhelm it.

Oh, and so far one venue has cancelled on the Bishop's FUNERAL already!

So this is not paranoia, etc. -- IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

So yeah -- this funeral is by invitation only. Sad that it has to be that way, but that's how it is.

The devils won't even leave the Bishop alone after he's dead! Really shows you what side you want to be on, doesn't it? I wouldn't be caught dead on their side. You don't see The Good Side acting like this. Like Our Lord prophesied, they think that by killing you they are offering worship to God.

In conclusion:

Please do not post the location of the Bishop's funeral here on CathInfo. Not even the city.

Here are portions of what the friend of Bp Williamson wrote to me --

"We have already lost one venue and we cannot afford to lose another. ... [If you have the name of the city] it does not take much research to work out where it may be taking place and then one journalist trying to get us kicked out a few days beforehand. I do wish Trads were more discreet and appreciated the problems in organising such an event in respect of BpW!"

I think that's wrong.  At least you, Matthew, should go and represent CI, since you've been consistent, solid supporters of His Excellency from the beginning.

If you're willing to go, just throw up a thread on the matter, and I'd be happy to contribute toward your expenses.

Ok, I'll slightly amend that --

Although there are MANY Bp. Williamson supporters here on CathInfo, for VARIOUS reasons none of them will be able to make the trans-atlantic trip to Bp. Williamson's funeral. It's a huge deal. 

In my case, I'd have to get a passport in some kind of expedited manner. Mine expired in the 2000's. I went to Dublin in 1999, and Toronto, Canada in 2003 as a seminarian. Those were the only times I needed a passport. Those things are only good for 10 years without renewing.

Like I said: there are a host of obstacles for most CathInfo members.

I just looked, and it appears that if you're willing to pay like $200 you can get a passport within 2-4 days.

Ah, OK.  That reminds me that I should probably get a passport (as mine expired some years ago) ... just in case.  As long as it wasn't due to their having neglected to send you an invitation.

Just don't let money be an obstacle, if that were the only thing.  We'd help out here.  Sometimes they'll expedite passport service even beyond normal expedited service for a funeral (though not sure if it has to be for a blood relative).

I'm also technically a Hungarian citizen (since that travels by blood, not place of birth).  I was born in Cleveland but since my parents were both Hungarian citizens, I'm also one.  I just have to go get the paperwork filled out, and also for my children ... in case some major catastrophe strikes that would suggest leaving the country (thought it might be a case of jumping out of the frying pan right into the fire).  My brothers and I were left this little rural property in the middle of nowhere out there by our great grandmother, and it's literally an hour from the nearest moderate-sized village, which in turn is another hour from a larger city, so I doubt we'd have Russian or European troops going anywhere near there.

My son is in the same situation.  He is a Polish citizen by birth, through his mother, and we finally got his citizenship certified by the consulate, took about a year and $200-$300 in fees and translation costs, you have to complete a lengthy form, in Polish (I did this and his mother refined some details), and provide family history going back three generations on both sides, then they have to send all of that to Poland for verification.  I had to have all of his docuмents (except for his US passport) translated by certified entities.  He got the certificate last year, and now I have to get his PESEL number (kind of like a Social Security number), his identity card, and his passport.  That will probably take about another year.

My son is in the same situation.  He is a Polish citizen by birth, through his mother, and we finally got his citizenship certified by the consulate, took about a year and $200-$300 in fees and translation costs, you have to complete a lengthy form, in Polish (I did this and his mother refined some details), and provide family history going back three generations on both sides, then they have to send all of that to Poland for verification.  I had to have all of his docuмents (except for his US passport) translated by certified entities.  He got the certificate last year, and now I have to get his PESEL number (kind of like a Social Security number), his identity card, and his passport.  That will probably take about another year.

Yes, it's a slow process ... but I hear that the Hungarians are quite helpful in moving things along for a little bit extra in "fees".  That's the one thing about their culture.  When I was there, I was told in no uncertain terms that if I got pulled over by the police, the expectation was 100% that I would offer a "gift" ... at which point no citation would be given.  If I failed to offer a gift, I might spend time in jail for so much as a non-working headlight.  If I provided a generous gift, the officer might even escort me to the nearest shop and make sure I got the problem taken care of immediately.

That's actually one benefit the Jews secured for us.  It had been illegal to maintain dual citizenship with the US.  But the Jews demanded that they could also hold Israeli citizenship, as anything else would have been Anti-Semitic of course, so they had to legalize it for everyone.

I think I'll get moving on this, since I don't think the future will be very rosey and it might be nice to have that option just in case.

I just looked and it has to do with dates.  I put 2/24 down for departure, since it was the earliest I figure one could secure a passport.  But if I waited a day or two the price dropped in half, and there were nonstops from Austin for about $800 round.  I just don't know the funeral dates.