Statement of Bishop Malcolm Broussard
regarding the action of Bishop Peter Ingham (Diocese of Wollongong)

This latest action from the Bishop of Wollongong is very disappointing. I would like to make several comments:

(1) I am not a schismatic! I have never been such nor have I ever considered this a possibility. On the contrary, I have always been faithful and loyal to the Pope. I have always been faithful to the Deposit of Faith and professed it in all my 25 years as a Priest. All who know me can testify how much I love the Church and profess the Faith of the Church. The same is true for Mr. William Kamm (the Little Pebble) -- in fact all of the 600+ public Messages of the Mother of God continually uphold the need for fidelity to the Roman Pontiff and the Teachings of the Church. Bishop Ingham applies Canon 1364 to me and all of those who believe in the rightfulness of my Consecration -- that we are schismatics as defined by this canon. This is simply not true -- it is an error of law, because it does not apply to me. The error of fact is that I have never chosen to alienate myself from the Pope -- I have never dissented from his authority. I have always given my assent to his teaching and disciplinary decisions. I remain to this day a faithful and loyal subject of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. The same is true for the members of the Order of Saint Charbel. Our Rule and Constitution uphold the Pope in his Primacy and place him at the head of the Order. Our 1996 edition bears this out abundantly. Consequently, no member of the Order could possibly be classified as a Schismatic -- just because I am their Superior -- because all profess the Catholic Faith and our Rule and Constitutions.

(2) The validity of the Thuc Line was not questioned by Cardinal Cassidy (3 May 1994) and Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos in 1996. Bishop Ingham is quoted by the Illawarra Mercury (13 June 2003) that "Broussard's ordination could quite likely be valid, Bishop Ingham said. But it was highly unlawful because it did not have a mandate from the Pope." (page 7). Now this is quite an admission. In fact I have never seen it said or written that the Thuc Line Bishops are in Schism. Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngo Dinh Thuc (1897-1984) had a mandate from the Pope in his time to ordain Priest and to consecrate Bishops. Only those Bishops who reject the Pope and his universal jurisdiction are truly Schismatic. Bishop Bartholomew Schneider and myself have always professed our true unity with the Pope. Bishop Athanasius -- who consecrated Bishop Schneider has in fact been regularized with Rome just two years ago!

(3) Myself, the Little Pebble and the Order of Saint Charbel need the intervention of an advocate in high places -- to help us overcome the extreme prejudice in certain ecclesiastical circles which seem determined to stop the growth of the Order of Saint Charbel. We know and truly believe that one day such an advocate will eventually arise to come to our aid. We have always maintained our Catholic identity in all situations that have surrounded us. I pray that Bishop Ingham will one day understand and believe in the authenticity of the charism given to the Little Pebble to found the Order of Saint Charbel.

May Jesus Bless all who read these lines and I ask that you pray for all of us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Bishop Malcolm Broussard