A PYRRHIC ACCOMPLISHMENT Wikipedia defines a pyrrhic victory as: “a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.” Today, April 7, what is left of the St. Isabel community, will gather to celebrate the completion of the building fund goal. While it took a rather long time to get there, the new members who stepped up to the plate are to be congratulated. Most are surely not burdened by a complete knowledge of the church’s sordid history. Some have fallen victim to the lies that are so freely circulated by those pretending to call themselves ‘religious.’ In a very recent Church Bulletin the reaching of the fund drive goal was described: “from the very beginning, this campaign has been more than just a fundraising effort [how is that?]. It’s been a testament to our shared faith, our unity, and our collective determination to make our faith community whole again. For the newest church members it is precisely those underlined words which were in the hearts of those people who beautifully rebuilt the church for 6.5 million dollars that you have been spending time renovating. We were the ones sweeping up water after Hurricane Charley, we were the ones attending multiple Masses in the Church Hall where our guests and the parishioners were extraordinarily generous in reaching our goal in record time, and we were the ones who were extraordinarily patient after delays in building that didn’t need to happen. We doubt much is said about us, because the Business Manager and the present so-called pastors have demonized us and are responsible for throwing us out of our own parish. It was with great reluctance that we left St. Isabel, but one needs to feel wanted and appreciated by those calling the shots: the Diocese, Business Manager, and the two administrative heads who never deserved the name of pastor. To be honest, you will never “make the faith community whole again” – it is impossible to do – for it was maliciously destroyed by those invested with the power to do so. You stand on the shoulders of some of the finest people who ever lived, people who should never have been treated as badly as they were treated. We wish you the best of luck.
parishionersforjustice.com 