Letter to Fr Selden from Matthew Tye

Matthew Tye FRSA, an employee of the Birmingham Oratory archive and libraries during the summer months and holiday periods of 2005 to 2008, has written to Fr Felix Selden about "the most serious grave injustices" which have taken place against Fr Dermot Fenlon.

Here is an extract:

"As I write, a delegation has already visited local politicians to inform them of this injustice. Further, a parliamentary question has been submitted and will be raised at the highest level at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Westminster, London. You will no doubt be aware that these are broadcast internationally and recorded officially. If subsequently necessary, a delegation will visit Rome to draw attention to this abhorrent behaviour conducted in the name of Apostolic Visitation by yourself and your delegates."


His letter can be read in full at the Free the Three - Justice for Fr Dermot Fenlon FACEBOOK group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150421118307744#!/note.php?note_id=126031084117704&id=100001400691871

Cat becomes a star after Pope blessing

The Daily Telegraph - 8.10.2010

"Pushkin, the Birmingham Oratory cat, has become an unlikely religious hero after the Pope paused during his state visit to 'bless’ the feline and tickle his ears."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8052235/Cat-becomes-a-star-after-Pope-blessing.html

With news of the Pope meeting Pushkin the cat now widespread and indeed some reports claiming that the Pope gave the cat a "blessing", Free the Birmingham 3: Justice for Fr Fenlon asks why Fr Dermot Fenlon, Fr Philip Cleevely and Br Lewis Berry were not allowed to meet the Pope and receive his blessing?  Surely these three sons of Newman should have been afforded this dignity? 

This news story makes a mockery of the Pope's visit to the Birmingham Oratory.  It is grossly insensitive and insulting to Fr Dermot, Fr Philip and Br Lewis and it casts shame on those responsible for their exile.     

You can help Fr Dermot Fenlon

Please send your petitions and supplications in support of Fr Dermot Fenlon to:

Father Felix Selden C.O., Delegate of the Apostolic See, Confederation of the Oratory
E-mail: p.felix@oratorium.at

P. Edoardo Aldo Cerrato C.O., Procurator Generalis, Confederation of the Oratory
E-mail: cerrato@oratoriosanfilippo.org

His Eminence the Cardinal Prefect Franc Cardinal Rodé C.M.
Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
E-mail: civcsva.pref@ccscrlife.va

Furthermore, it is a fundamental right of European citizens, acting individually or jointly with others, that at any time they may exercise their right of petition to the European Parliament under Article 194 of the EC Treaty. 
Write to:  European Parliament, Committee on Petitions, The Secretariat, Rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels

2nd Open letter to Fr Felix Selden from Dr Knab

Dr Stefanie Maria Knab

Fr Felix Selden C.O.
DELEGATUS SEDIS APOSTOLICAE
PRO CONFEDERATIONE ORATORII
S. PHILIPPI NERII
The Oratory Vienna

5 October 2010

Dear Fr Selden,

I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 24 September 2010. In case you should ask me why I did not protest publicly about your scandalous ruling at the end of May, the answer is obvious: on the day after his banishment to the Trappist monastery, Fr Dermot asked his companions for “prayer and silence”.

You ask the question “I do not know whether you have examined Fr Dermot medically yourself”. My answer to that is yes, on 21 April 2010

I examined him medically myself at the guesthouse of the Convent of St Crescentia in Kaufbeuren.

It is simply a misrepresentation of the facts in order to protect yourself when you claim, amongst other things, that “To my certain knowledge, thank God, he enjoys good health”.

As you know, Fr Dermot asked for my medical advice in April 2010.

There was also a matter of medication, so I showed him the way to the Crescentia Apothecary. (In November 2001 I was in Rome at the canonisation of our Blessed Crescentia of Kaufbeuren.)

As a hospital chaplain in the Rudolf Foundation Hospital in Vienna you will be aware, dear Fr Selden, that as a doctor I am bound by my duty of confidentiality. I repeat: Fr Dermot also keeps silent about the Apostolic Visitation.

Your sentence on Fr Dr Dermot Fenlon CO of five years’ exclaustration is as much an abuse of power as it is a lack of judgement, since you failed to acknowledge crucial aspects of the case. It is foreseeable that your action against your confrere Fr Fenlon will end up before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Then I will ask Fr Dermot to release me from my duty of medical confidentiality. I will then be prepared to act as an expert witness before the Strasbourg Court.

Since at one time we supported lieutenant colonel Juergen Rose (Munich), who was refusing war service on grounds of conscience, we are also acquainted with the ECCHR. The European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights is a charitable and independent human rights organisation based in Berlin. It was founded in 2007 by a small group of well-known human rights lawyers, in order to protect and enforce by legal means the human rights which are enshrined in the General Declaration of Human Rights as well as other human rights declarations and national constitutions. At the same time we feel committed to the creative and effective use of the law as a driver for societal and social change.

The ECCHR will better enable a network of European human rights lawyers and human rights activists, who will exchange their knowledge and experience in the battle for human rights and together develop cross-border strategies.

Against this background I recommend that you read very carefully the speech of Pope Benedict XVI at Holyrood House, Edinburgh on 16 September 2010 (“and to promote the spread of authentic human rights”).

Say “Yes!” to authentic human rights.

I do appreciate your personal request for making peace (“pacification”):

I will light a candle for you in our parish church of St Martin in Kaufbeuren.

Yours sincerely
Dr Knab
Senior Doctor of the Central Anaesthetic Department, Ostallgäu

PS.  Unfortunately I found no answer to my questions in your letter referred to above. A pity!

The Archivium Project

Cardinal Newman Archivium • Birmingham Oratory from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.