Father Gruner Appeals to the Pope:

"Stop the Persecution of Priests Faithful to the Laws Protecting

the Blessed Sacrament"
January 2nd, 1985
His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,
Vatican City,
Rome, Italy.
Your Holiness:
In January of 1980, I wrote you a three page letter, copy of which is herewith
enclosed, regarding Communion in the Hand and persecution that priests
endure, who, for reasons of conscience, do not follow this practice. At that time,
I asked for a public statement from Your Holiness, to allow priests to continue
their Sacred Ministry and not be subjected to persecution by their superiors
(Parish Priests and Bishops) for following their conscience regarding this matter.
In 1982, application was made to serve the Diocese of ..., by Father Gruner. The
bishop, Bishop ..., would have welcomed my services but he imposed as a
condition of my coming, that I give Communion in the Hand. I explained to him
in person as well as by letter, that this was against the Law of God and of the
Catholic Church, and, therefore, against my conscience. I also indicated that
although an Insult had been given by the Vatican to go against the Letter of the
Canon Law when certain conditions were met (which the Divine Law itself
demand be fulfilled), these conditions, in fact, are not being met and both the
Divine Law and Canon Law do not permit me to give Communion in the Hand
without committing a sin. Enclosed is a copy of my letter to the bishop in
question. As a result, the bishop did not accept my services, even though he
had a shortage of priests. He did acknowledge by telephone that I truly had a
problem of conscience.
A few years ago, the Archbishop of ... confided to me that Sacred Consecrated
Hosts were found in his Cathedral after the Sunday Masses, because of the
practice of Communion in the Hand. I believe he reported this to the Canadian
Conference of Catholic Bishops, but he wondered if his report about this matter
ever reached the Vatican. According to a report given to me, a priest who
attended your Mass at Downsview, (Toronto, Ontario, September 1984)
Father ..., reported to a cloistered Redemptoristine Nun, that several
people were engaged with the task of collecting the numerous Hosts
left on the ground after the Papal Mass was over. As I understand it,
the Hosts were gathered into garbage bags, and subsequently
burned. These are but a few of the many sacrilegious incidents that are
occurring as a result of the practice of Communion in the Hand. This shows, as
well as by my own observation, that adequate Catechesis has not been given
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regarding Communion in the Hand. Giving Communion in the Hand without this
adequate Catechesis is contrary to the Indult. A copy of our translation of this
Indult is also enclosed. Furthermore, the adequate care to see that the Host is
not dropped on the ground as is commanded by Divine Law, as well as by Rule
No. 5 of the Indult, has not been followed, as seen by the report of the
Archbishop of ..., Archbishop ..., now retired.
It is not my place to judge what other priests or bishops do, however, I am
responsible to God first of all in my administration of the Most Holy Sacrament,
and, therefore, I cannot, in conscience give Communion in the Hand.
Nevertheless, there is still widespread ignorance on the part of bishops and
other religious superiors that somehow or other, I am 'not Catholic' or 'not
obedient', because I follow the Law of God and of the Catholic Church in this
matter.
Now, in 1985, a few years later, since the confusion regarding what a simple
priest's obligations and rights are concerning this matter, I appeal to you once
more. This time, I would ask for a simple letter signed by Your Holiness,
expressing that Father Gruner and any Catholic priest living and working in a
country in which the Vatican has permitted the practice of Communion in the
Hand, may, and indeed, must, if the terms of the Indult are not met, refuse to
give Communion in the Hand, and that no religious superior may penalize
Father Gruner or any other priest for following the dictates of his conscience and
the Rule of the Church in this matter.
Thank you Holy Father, for giving this matter your kind consideration. I pray to
Mary, Our Mother, that your reply will better enable me to fulfill Her requests at
Fatima.
Yours sincerely,
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Father Nicholas Gruner, S.T.L.
The above blanked out names and places were, however, made explicit to the
Pope. The material which Father Gruner enclosed in this letter was published
in The Fatima Crusader Issue No. 28.

The Pope Does Not Reply

At First the Following Acknowledgment of Father Gruner's Letter Was Sent
Secretariat of State
Vatican City
February 4, 1985
The Reverend Nicholas Gruner
Box 3394
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Ottawa, Ont.
K1Y 4J6
Dear Father Gruner,
I am directed to acknowledge the letter of January 2, 1985 which you addressed
to the Holy Father, and would inform you that it has been duly transmitted to
the Congregation for the Clergy which is the competent office for attending to
such matters.
Assuring you of my prayerful good wishes, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Monsignor G.B. Re
Assessor

Saint Michael the Archangel

Defend Us in Battle

... But the Persecution Continues

No other action has been taken other than calling a special Synod in 1985 which
promised to correct the abuses following Vatican II but instead, in practice
confirmed them and ...
The Persecution Continues.

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