Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - August 20, 2000

Sometimes I observe what I can only call willful destruction or vandalism of church property. Certainly as a pastor I am aware that at times things get broken simply due to accidents. However, what I'm talking about are really no accidents. For example, I have posted signs down on Shadyside asking people not to walk their dogs on the lawn. The reason that I posted these was some neighbors down there complained to me about the terrible odor that comes across into their house. Some people like to keep their windows open. Also, children play on the lawn down there and it is not the most hygienic and pleasant thing when they step in or fall in animal excrement (this is the best way I can say this). Someone is now tampering with those signs.
In regard to my policy about vandalism or destruction of church property, I need to be extremely clear. If I discover who the culprits are, make no mistake about it, I will bring that to the attention of the police department and I will press charges. It doesn't matter if the person or persons says they are sorry or not and won't do it again. I will press charges. I do that for basically two reasons. One is a very practical one. Namely, that everything on this property is bought and paid for by the hard earned money of parishioners who regularly contribute to this parish. I am the trustee of the financial and material resources of this parish. I don't think it is fair to ask people in the parish to pay for repairs and replacements caused by those who have absolutely no respect for church property and civil law and whose behavior can only be considered crude and immature.
Secondly, I will press charges no matter how old or young the person is committing the vandalism because I am a believer in freedom and free choice. Every decision, every action we choose always brings with it consequences either good or bad. Freedom means the ability to choose and accept the consequences flowing from that choice. If people think they can choose destructive behavior without consequences and I did not make them accept those consequences then I would be taking away their God-given freedom. I will not do that. My father always said that when one reaches a certain age, they are responsible for what they do or don't do and should be held accountable. Those people on Shadyside who are upset about those people who either ignore those signs or destroy those signs concerning the walking of dogs on our property have said that they will report the violators to me. When this is done I will take the appropriate action. I don't think those people using the Church lawn for their dogs would appreciate their lawn being used for the same purpose. It seems to me the proper behavior would be to keep one's own dog in one's own yard and use a "pooper scooper". If someone cannot afford one of these, I will personally buy them one from my own money.
On another somewhat unpleasant matter, this week I received a letter from a person who is not a parishioner but who happened to be attending one of our Sunday Masses. Last week in my homily I was talking about malice and I said malice is when we intentionally plan and try to deliberately hurt someone. I said that in my 28 years as a priest I have, believe me, confessed many sins. However, thanks to the grace of God, one sin I never had to confess as a priest is that I deliberately or intentionally hurt anyone. Like all of us, at times I may have unintentionally hurt someone. For example, someone might take something I say the wrong way or I might be preoccupied with something and someone says hello and I don't respond simply because I don't hear them. We can all do that. Malice is something else.
This person accused me of malice because I read the official announcement in the Pittsburgh Catholic concerning the Canonical Status of Reverend Anthony Cipolla. Part of this announcement from the Bishop's official delegate for these matters said, "The faithful of the diocese are advised that Reverend Cipolla does not enjoy the faculties of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is prohibited from publicly celebrating the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church and cannot be considered a priest in good standing of the Catholic Church. Additionally, he does not possess the faculties to teach or preach on behalf of the Church nor is he to be considered a representative of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. His current status has been confirmed by the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura." The reason the bishop did this is because Reverend Cipolla has been and continues to be active in this area.
I am aware that a number of people in this parish and other parishes have a devotion to Padre Pio, a cause in which the Reverend Cipolla has taken an active interest. Be that as it may, as bishop of this diocese and as the chief shepherd, our bishop is obligated to inform his flock when anything or anyone threatens their spiritual or temporal well-being. In the case of Fr. Cipolla who is originally from this area, I myself have been advised that he has been present in the area either accepting or soliciting donations from various people. He was also scheduled to preach at the Blessed Padre Pio Day at the Holiday Inn Greater Pittsburgh Airport in September, which since the announcement has been cancelled.
What the bishop is saying to the faithful of the diocese is that the Reverend Cipolla is not in communion with him and with the Holy Father. As pastor of this parish and having gained knowledge about Reverend Cipolla's activity in this area, I also have the obligation as the chief shepherd of this parish to warn my people anytime their spiritual or material well-being is in danger. One of the marks of the Catholic Church is unity. Every priest, every faithful Catholic, is called to be in union with their bishop who himself is in union with the Pope. There is no such thing as a private or personal ministry in the church, either in the Universal Church, the Diocesan Church or the Parish. As pastor, I share in the ministry of the bishop of this diocese and work under his authority. In his unity with the pastor of the parish, Fr. Chuck or any parochial vicar also shares in the ministry of the bishop and works under his authority. All ministry is ecclesial. That is, it is in and for the Church as constituted and set up by Christ Himself. To brake or harm that unity is to put oneself in serious jeopardy with regard to one's eternal salvation.
The bishop, as pastor of the diocesan church and I as pastor of this parish must take our responsibility in this area very seriously. My intention, therefore, in having that announcement read at all Masses, was not to harm or hurt a particular person, but simply to protect my people from the harm or hurt that this particular person might cause.

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Father Kleppner - August 20, 2000

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St. Frances Cabrini Parish