PUBLIC STATEMENT

OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE ORDER
OF ST CHARBEL INCORPORATED (Y2179808)

July 25, 2005

 

PART I: The Order of St Charbel has been formed in accordance with Australian Law by the State of New South Wales, and the Federal Government.

 

 

New South Wales State Regulations:
 

Approved Incorporated Organization -- (Y2179808). Approved Constitution, Registered Name and New South Wales Government Association Rules.

 

 

Federal Government Approval:
 

Certification of Registration -- ARBN 071 970 379. Income Tax Exempt Charitable Entity -- ABN 44 474 679 899,

 

PART II: Civil Rights under the International Treaty: "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Canberra). Entry into force for Australia on 28 January 1993.

 

Part iii, Art 18

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private to manifest his religion or believe in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
 

2. No one shall be subject to coercion, which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

 

Part iii, Art 23

1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

 

Part iii, Art 26

1. All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

 

PART III: Approved Constitution of the Order of St Charbel, Inc. (Y2179808)
  2. Objectives of the Association:
 

(a) To bring together Catholics for the purpose of Religious observance, worship, education, and Spiritual instruction;
 

(d) To establish and maintain Shrines, Monasteries, Convents, Priories, Chapter Houses, and like places, and any premises to accommodate Religious and lay persons engaged in the Association's work.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

 

We, the Management Committee and on behalf of the Members of the Order profess that we are good Catholics and remain members of the Catholic Church, even though this is a matter of dispute with the Diocese of Wollongong. Each of us believe in our vocation to the life of the Order in our Community, and we are free and choose to remain in the Order. In most cases over many years Mr Kamm has financially assisted the individual families in this Community (and outside) to attain a measure of self-sufficiency in order to live their family life with dignity and respect. That at all times the Members have been free to choose whether to remain or leave the Community at any time, and according to Civil Law requirements. We are happy to live out the rest of our lives in this vocation.

The Order of St. Charbel is a New Form of Consecrated Life (Canon 605) in the Catholic Church, and is not a Sect/Cult.

We believe in the Rule and Constitutions of the Order and uphold its authority and government of the members. That Mr. William Kamm is the Founder of the Order of St. Charbel and Bishop Malcolm Broussard is the Major Superior of the whole Order.

We believe and uphold family values in the Order and this Community.

We believe in the claim of William Kamm that he is innocent, and whatever the outcome of his Appeal, the Order and the Communities will live on and more forward.

We reject Media assertions of such terminology as: "Cult", "Sect", "Commune", "Compound", "Guru", "Charlatan" and "Doomsday Cult", thus associating us with other groups such as: WACO, Jim Jones, Hell's Gate etc. These are isolated breakaways from mainline Christianity. Importantly, the Catholic Church does not Investigate "Cults".

The Order of St Charbel enjoys membership in approximately 167 countries, including 3 Bishops, 26 Priests, 1 Brother, 400 Religious Sisters and 500,000 Lay Members associated with our Communities and Houses of Prayer.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law States:

Canon 220 -- No one may unlawfully harm the good reputation, which a person enjoys, or violate the right of every person to protect his or her privacy.

Canon 221 -- Christ's faithful may lawfully vindicate and defend the rights they enjoy in the Church, before the competent ecclesiastical forum in accordance with the law.

Canon 605 -- The approval of new forms of consecrated life is reserved to the Apostolic See. Diocesan Bishops, however, are to endeavour to discern new gifts of consecrated life which the Holy Spirit entrusts to the Church. They are also to assist promoters to express their purposes in the best possible way, and to protect these purposes with suitable statutes, especially by the application of the general norms contained in this part of the Code.

Canon 1353 -- An appeal or recourse against judgements of a court or against decrees, which impose or declare any penalty, has a suspensive effect.

 

signed: +Bishop Malcolm L. Broussard, Jr.

[seal]

 signed: +Bishop James C. Duffy

[seal]

 

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Last modified: May 06, 2005