The response of our organization to the news story “'Embarrassment:' Why the Pope Won't Come to the Capital Region” by Time Warner Cable News on July 1, 2015 is as follows:
Ever since our organization purchased the former Jesuit Retreat House from the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, our organization has been maintaining a good relationship with Father Peter J. Murray and Father Robert McGuire. But what Joey Caruso said in the news “It’s been ongoing problems from day one” is a completely astonishing lie which was an attempt to disgrace us. In addition, our organization started to build and use a new road in September 2009. In order to honor the friendship between Father Murray and us, this gravel road was named “Friendship Road”. Large vehicles used it to reduce the traffic of and burden on the Shrine Road.
After Father Belgarde became the director of the Shrine, he showed his unfriendliness towards Chinese tourists. We have sent representatives trying to have a meeting with him, but he always refused.
On April 1, 2013, the Shrine Road towards our temple was blocked by tree trunks and our water supply was cut off, without any notice (picture 1). These situations directly hindered the living conditions of the people in our organization. We regarded these as inhumane and extreme.
We wrote to the Provincial of New York Province Society of Jesus, David S. Ciancimino, S.J. and received his sympathy with his correspondence on July 10, 2013, in which he gave instruction to Father Belgarde to remove the barricades.
However, in 2014, Father Belgarde blocked the Shrine Road again with concrete blocks at the time when Father Ciancimino resigned from his position, and used the excavator to damage the Shrine Road, which has decades of history serving as a road for thousands of pilgrims (picture 2). He forbade our members, all visitors and pilgrims from accessing it. Even the postman was intimidated when delivering mails to us. Our mail service was therefore interrupted in the past two years. The worse thing was, at the same time when Father Belgarde prohibited Chinese people from entering the Shrine, he also erected 14 insulting “No Dogs” signs (picture 3), which caused the voluntary protests by some people who wanted to defend the right of accessing the road. These protests were made peacefully.
Since our organization was founded, we have been dedicated to the mission of health, peace and harmony, and contributing to the prosperity of local tourism. The misrepresentation from Caruso has caused severe damage to the reputation of our organization and triggered the misunderstanding and enmity between religions, which might lead to even more conflicts and confrontation. (picture 4)
We think what made Pope Francis feel embarrassed and decide not to come to Auriesville was because that the misconducts by Father Belgarde and his men had breached the teaching of the God, from the very beginning. The failure of creating harmony in the area is the real reason why the Pope canceled his visit to the Capital Region.
Therefore, our organization is asking a public apology from Caruso, for his misrepresentation without a factual ground. We reserve our rights of seeking legal assistance.
We welcome all media to come to the site for investigating the truth. When we do not feel secure, we hope we can be protected by the state and Federal governments.
Date: July 2, 2015
World Peace and Health Organization
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