In Summary

     It has come to our attention that Bishop Cullen has chosen to release a public press statement about the Canon law dispute with the National Centre. The National Centre for Padre Pio, Inc. regrets that Bishop Cullen has chosen to publicly air this dispute while it is currently under appeal. In accordance with Canon Law, that appeal must go in the first instance to Bishop Cullen himself who is required to impartially review the matter and to "seek an equitable solution by common counsel" (Canon 1733 §1). Bishop Cullen's press release leaves no doubt that he has pre-judged and pre-determined the matter. Clearly Bishop Cullen has ignored the precept of Canon 1733 to avoid contention, which makes the purpose of our appeal appear pointless. Nevertheless, the Centre will comply with Canon law and follow the designated appeal process.

     The Corporation, despite its appeal, and contrary to the implication in Bishop Cullen's press release, has complied with the Bishop's December 17th, 2003 request that the Centre refrain from allowing the sacraments to be said at the Centre. All visitors to the Centre have been notified of this change and no violation of the Bishop's request has occurred. Thus, Bishop Cullen's conduct in issuing this press release is inexplicable to the Corporation.

     Bishop Cullen's December 17th letter focuses on the Centre's Association for Poor Souls. The National Centre for Padre Pio, Inc., created the civil association known as the "Padre Pio Association for Poor Souls" pursuant to the blessing of Bishop Welsh, Bishop Cullen's predecessor. The Association has designated requirements and purposes and the use of monies donated to the Association is restricted as originally understood by Bishop Welsh. This civil association, which has no standing in Canon law, imposes a trust obligation upon the Centre in accordance with the Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation law and the Centre holds the funds received to and for the authorized purposes in accordance with the Corporation's representations to the public. As such, the National Centre for Padre Pio, Inc., repeatedly informed Bishop Cullen that it could not lawfully terminate the Association nor transfer the Association to another entity as either action would abrogate the Corporation's civil trust obligations and violate the terms pursuant to which the monies were raised. Since it is a civil association and has no standing in Canon law, Bishop Cullen had no authority whatsoever to order the National Centre to terminate or transfer the Association. Correspondence received from the Bishop's civil counsel with regard to the Association for Poor Souls has consistently failed to disclose any reason for the Bishop's desire to terminate the Association, dealing instead exclusively with his desires without benefit of reasons. Regardless, we cannot and will not engage in what our solicitors advise us would be a breach of our trust obligations merely to satisfy the unexplained whim of Bishop Cullen.

     At no time has Bishop Cullen asserted that the National Centre has failed to conform to any Canonical mandates as regards the Association. All correspondence to which Bishop Cullen refers in his news release dealt with an unrelated request by the Corporation for Canonical standing. Even that correspondence, contrary to Bishop Cullen's conclusion in his news release, failed to contain any information on any objections the Bishop has to the National Centre's work and operations.