“THE CATHOLIC REGISTER” REGISTERS INACCURACIES!
Parishioners of St. Martin of Tours, I have read the article in the Catholic Register (Week of Oct.
3/Page 4) covering the rally at St. Michael’s Cathedral by our St. Martin’s parishioners, and felt
strongly compelled to directly respond to some of the comments.
Catholic Register: “Parishioners demand removal of pastor”.
Response: It was never the original desire or intent of the parishioners to suggest the pastor’s
removal, but unsolved problems and concerns over 5 years have brought many, many people to
this decision.
Catholic Register: "It all started when Beltran stood at the ambo of the church before Sunday Mass
and publicly fired a choir director who had served the parish since 1977, and dismissed the entire
choir”
Response: This is untrue. The truth is, it started 5 years ago, and the actual dismissal took place
only 3 months ago. The choir director has an outstanding record of supporting the liturgy here and
elsewhere. The Choir of St. Martin’s was set up as a non-profit organization at a time when parish
funds were too scarce to purchase music, equipment, etc. All surplus monies have been donated
to various charities, supported by a full financial accounting. Over $50,000 has been donated.
Catholic Register: “Beltran claims the support of 80% of the parish”.
Response: I would guess that attendance overall is down 40%. When told that many were leaving,
the pastor said “let them leave, let them all leave!”. WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE IS
THAT? When he attacks the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul and other organizations
who fund-raise for the church, hospitals, Vita Manor, Birthright, etc., he has a problem, not the
parishioners.
Catholic Register: “(Bishop) Boissonneau has spent hours with parishioners trying to heal the rift.
When he proposed a parish council to assist Beltran in a June 23 letter read at all St. Martin of
Tours Masses, a group of 300 parishioners assembled at a nearby school and elected a slate”.
Response: FACT – they did NOT elect a slate. A proposal was put forward for people to stand for
nomination from the entire congregation. 30-50 would come forward and stand for election, with
approximately 12 being elected by majority vote – 7 would be elected from the congregation, 5
would be elected from each of the main parish organizations, plus Fr. Beltran. Beltran said “It’is a
due process. I know the procedures. But it takes time, because you have to educate the people”.
If Fr. Beltran said that he would not listen to 300+ people, why would he listen to 12? THE
LARGER QUESTION IS: WHY HAS NO ACTION BEEN TAKEN TO DATE?
Catholic Register: “Suzanne Scorsone (Archdiocese of Toronto Communications Director) said:
‘The strong impression that the Archdiocese has is that most of the people in the parish are
working well with the pastor, and the pastor works well with them’”.
Response: Are 5/600 in a parish a small group? They are concerned about erosion of spiritual
services in their church. In Beltran’s words: “This is my church…… my office”. He even said to a
long-standing dedicated lady parishioner: “Shut up …. Get out!”.
Catholic Register: “Beltran told the Catholic Register ‘They don’t welcome the new immigrants, the
new members of the community, the young people’ “.
Response: Remarks about not welcoming new parishioners of any nationality are blatantly untrue,
and suggests discrimination, which could actually raise some legal implications. Regarding not
accepting the youth, he has a conveniently short memory. The parishioners of St. Martins strongly
support the Youth Group and went all out during World Youth Day, spending untold hours and
money in funding and accommodating the 600 youth who lived with us for up to ten days.
Catholic Register: “Beltran said ‘I know how to deal with people. I know how to be sympathetic, to
be compassionate’ “.
Response: Quite frankly, our family, and hundreds of others, have not seen him put this into
practice.
******
Regarding the Bishop’s meetings with selected individuals, my wife Maureen had a meeting with
him in July. He remarked “you will be seeing a lot of me in September”. September is over. Has
anyone seen him – even once??
George Hurley, Sr., Parishioner of St. Martin of Tours for 36 years.
_______________________________________________________
Interest in our parish has been so intense that Rogers Cable TV has been overwhelmed
by calls from parishioners. They have requested that people stop calling. We will let you
know when the segment will be broadcast.
_______________________________________________________
Correction
A group of 300 St. Martin of
Tours parishioners who met to
discuss setting up a parish coun-
cil drew up a structure for a pro-
posed council but did not elect a
slate of candidates. Incorrect in-
formation appeared in the story
“Parishioners demand removal of
pastor” in our week of Oct. 3 is-
sue. The Catholic Register apolo-
gizes for its error. .
The Catholic Register, Week of October 10, 2004.
_______________________________________________________.
Email:bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Fax: 416 934-3452.
For more information, contact:
Anna Jushkevich 905 279-7822 Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
Pat DeAngelis 416 809-1819 Duncan Walker 905 277-9825
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
Judy Byrnes 905 275-1536
