The Order of Saint Charbel Inc.

See Scanned Original Letter (pdf)

4th December, 2000

Rev. Fr. John Woods,

Parish Centre

100 Casey Crescent

CALWELL ACT 2905

Dear Fr. Woods,

Thank you for your letter dated 20th November, 2000. Father Broussard has responded to your letter for me under my advice and direction. However, I personally wish to add this as well. Please take note of my address as P.O. Box 24 no longer belongs to the Order. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 815, Nowra, N.S.W. 2541.

As you are aware, Bishop Wilson has been promoted to Archbishop, so some things may change concerning my Commission - we will wait and see. However, as my Advocate I would request that once a new Bishop has been chosen that you request from him permission for Father Malcolm Broussard to be appointed as my Procurator, for this will help in the cause for my defence.

I found your letter somewhat disoriented because I believe you have misunderstood the very reasons as to why I applied for an Appeal. I had no choice in the matter, for a Decree is Law, and this Decree was out of order considering the manner in which it was given. In a Court of Law it would have been dismissed.

My Appeal suspended a judgement, as the Bishop told me to close the Order. How, pray tell, do you close an Order that has about half a million members? - and that is without a hearing! No man in his right mind would do that. It is like owning a multi-[million] dollar factory, employing 100,000 members making, say medicines, but because the code of running the firm does not, or may not, comply with certain criteria, you close the factory down and stand down the people until the Board Members can ascertain if you are doing the right thing.

Would it not be right and fair first to conduct the Inquiry with the continuation of production, and proceed accordingly until something irregular is found.

In our case, what about the many souls who have given their life into the Order, and its way of life? You cannot simply shut the gate and say that it does not matter. We are talking about the Members' souls and their children - their welfare and salvation - and it is very clear the Order is drawing souls to love Christ and His Church. Hence you have my reason as to why I made the Appeal - and still make it - until the Church acknowledges it.

I do not accept or agree with your conclusion regarding the Appeal - (quoting the wrong Canons) - because it is not a judicial forum. In other words, I cannot Appeal under Canon Law 1628, 1638 and 1417/1 - as I perceived were the right ones.

Right from the very start the Commission was to be a full-blown Ecclesiastical Investigation, not merely a report or a general hearing as to determine my status. You assumed that the Bishop did not forward the Appeal to Rome because I was confused as to what an Appeal was, and I had insufficient reasons.

I wonder sometimes, with due respect Father, whether you are working in support of Father Kevin's method of Inquiry, or if you actually take your role as Advocate, as mentioned under Canon Law, in its appropriate measure. I have forwarded the signed Appointment to you twice.

Again I wish to correct your conclusion to say that the Bishop added upon my letter of the Approval of the Order, May, 1999.

My letter stands clearly and I have given sufficient proof that the Order has received favourable support. The Cardinal from Nigeria is one in question, and various other Bishops support the Order in various degrees, which shows the Order does have support from the Church. However, that did not mean total support, for if I had that I would not seek Bishop Wilson's support.

The purpose of the Inquiry was not because of the Order of Saint Charbel - the Order of Saint Charbel is only one issue of this work. The Inquiry has to do with my claims, visions, cures, miracles, Messages etc, and the Order is one of its fruits.

You are wrong, Father Woods! The Bishop of Wollongong does not have the authority regarding New Forms of Consecrated Life. This is clearly stated in Canon Law and Pope John Paul II's "Vita Consecrata . For Congregations and other associated works - that is a different matter. The Congregation in Rome is only repeating the statement of Our Bishop - not what the Law states. I have sent to you the Testimony of the 21st of October, 2000.

If I felt that Bishop Wilson was strictly following Canon Law I would not be seeking assistance elsewhere. To me it is very clear the interpretation of the Canon Law is in question. I will wait and see what will transpire with the new elected Bishop.

I remain God's faithful servant. Wishing God's Choicest Blessing on you.

William Kamm