The fines hovering over priests who refused to witness same-sex-marriages varied according to state. In the western states, the fees were set at 400 to 800 dollars per fine. In the northern states, the fines varied between 1,100-3,000. In the southern states, most states had yet to cooperate in prosecutions and judges dismissed cases to date. While in the northeast, fines began at 5,000 per crime. The crime was the refusal to bless ssm.
After three sets of fines, priests were imprisoned. Father Andrew led a group of priests to Rome with statistics on imprisonments.
So far, there was a clear pattern.
Father's list resembled this one:
Vermont, three priests jailed.
New Hampshire, one,
New York, forty
Massachusetts, fourteen,
New Jersey, three
Minnesota, three
Wyoming, two
Washington, twelve
Oregon, six
Iowa, four and one bishop
Illinois, sixty and two bishops
Nevada, nine
Utah, two
California, twenty-seven
Hawaii, four
Ohio, seven
Missouri, three priests and one bishop...
and so on....
This was an incomplete list, and as far as Father Andrew knew, there were more fines and more imprisonments daily. His sources could hardly keep up with the closures of dioceses and chanceries.
The main reason for Father Andrew's trip was the coming schism of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of America. That two cardinals seemed, at least according to some sources, to be spearheading this schism was more and more obvious to some.
That the Supreme Court decision gave an impetus to those wanting the American church to state boldly, to throw down the gauntlet concerning Humanae Vitae, and the newest encyclical on heterosexual marriage, Consilium Dei coniugium, written by the newest pope, Francis II, was Father Andrew's idea.
No longer did liberal, disobedient Catholics have to work inside the Church, as the culture would support a new church. Father Andrew thought that the supposed union with the Episcopalians was totally ironic. A new church joining another false church caused by an invalid marriage.
Nothing was new under the sun, mused Father Andrew, as he walked to the Papal Apartments with his guide, Msgr. Miller, formerly of the NAC. Francis II was the first pope from the United States and many of his staff were from America. Fr. Andrew felt at home, as some of the clergy he had met in his brief time here were old friends from the NAC.
That Father Andrew was accompanied by, perhaps, the youngest deputy of priests ever to be called by the Pope, was the topic of conversation in the Vatican, and, indeed, in Rome. All the priests representing various dioceses, colleges, universities were under the age of fifty.
Father Andrew was one of the youngest in the group. But, he felt very old. His bishop, now in North Dakota with another bishop waiting the decision of Rome as to his position, had insisted on Father Andrew's going with the deputation. Father Andrew's bishop was over eighty years old, a holy man with long years of service to God. Father Andrew was not sure he would see this saintly man again.
Msgr. Miller and Father Andrew had work to do. They had to convince the Pope to let emergency sacramental rules be applicable in all dioceses in North America. This would alleviate much stress and tension among the priests and bishops going into hiding.
Fr. Andrew wanted a complete relaxation of all rules concerning use of altar ware, vestments, candles, but most of all, he wanted the Pope to completely support the use of the Extraordinary Form only.
He also wanted the Pope to immediately changed diocesan procedures by shutting down all chancery marriage tribunals and by issuing a clarification on the necessity for Catholic marriages, as the new laws which were coming out of Washington D.C. would confuse millions of Catholics.
Father Andrew also wanted a clear document stating the rules for excommunication for all Catholics who contributed to the persecution of any priests, bishops regarding ssm. Father knew that obedience was the way to holiness, period.
That Father Andrew was the priest for the job was obvious. He was highly intellectual, but flexible. He had the mind-set of a military chaplain. He was a good man in the trenches. Msgr. Miller had known Fr. Andrew many years ago. Msgr. Miller also knew James. All these young men were on the same wave-length regarding the time of trial, the time of tribulation.
It, that is the time of trial, was in the final stages of preparation for the complete destruction of the Catholic Church in America and the West. Msgr. Miller sensed that only two men in America could stem the tide, if that was possible.
To be continued...