office located at 310 Prospect Park West today even though Bishop DiMarzio wasn't there.
The Bishop was scheduled to attend a meeting at the Diocese but it was cancelled because of the funeral of police officer Omar Edwards, which he was attending.
According to a parent who was at the protest, parents were "warmly greeted" by the Diocese employees as well as the employees of The Tablet, the Diocese of
Brooklyn's newspaper which is also located there.
Interestingly, a reporter for The Tablet interviewed several of the parents; they were told that The Tablet will run a story on the controversy.
Saint Savour alumni and
parishioners intend to continue to bring their protest to the steps
of the Diocese, at its locations at Greene Street and on Prospect Park West. It is still the hope of the parents that Bishop DiMarzio will eventually decide to meet with the parents and confirm
whether he, in fact, was responsible for Mr. Flanagan's non-renewal as part
of his vision for the future of parish schools.
decision concerning Mr. Flanagan. " I believe Fr. Murphy has now
decided to claim it was all part of Bishop DiMarzio's decision given the
serious backlash he has received in his Parish, which has come not only from the parents,
but from many of our older parishioners as well. I don't believe
the idea of casting someone aside simply because you believe
they are too old and, as it appears Father Murphy has done, has been
taken well by them."
John, why the challenge? Why? Why do you persist in your insistence that Maura Lorenzen was fired, dismissed, asked to step down or in anyway terminated against her will from her position at Temple Beth Elohim when it is so easily verifiable that she wasn’t? The newsletter you cite is from the Temple’s Congregation, not the school. Her job was never in jeopardy. Have you called? Don’t answer with foot in your mouth. If your intention is to drive me and others who wish to have an intelligent exchange of opinion from this blog, well then you win. You are a black hole of logic and reason. Don’t waste another keystroke on my behalf. I won’t see it. I’m gone.
Emiko, Bill and Judi. Where are your denials about Maura Lorenzen now. A review of the Congregation Beth Elohim Newsletter clearly reveals the shift at the the Temple. The Executive Director, eleven members of the Board of Trustees, several officers and several administrators all “stepped down” in recent months. So perhaps you are right Judi, Maura wasn’t fired, she was just asked to “step down”.
All I have to say is that Fr. Murphy is petty! Funny, I never liked his attitude when he first came to the parish. When Msgr. Nagel transfered from Saint Saviour, I stop attending mass! Mr. Flanagan has done a remarkable job during his tenure at St. Saviour’s Elementary School. He was going to retire in another year. Why not allow him to do so?
I’m also suprised that the Diocese of Brooklyn isn’t doing something about this. Considering how much we all donate to the Roman Catholic Church, the least they all could do is respond!
I did also forget to mention, please see the new post on the muted voice of James Flanagan himself which contradicts exactly one of your points. May God Bless you.
Wow. “True facts”. Either Farther Murphy has disclosed those only to you or you know not what you speak of. He has ceratinly not disclosed anything to anyone else and that is a TRUE FACT. So which is it? If he has, then please say so and state it as such with a direct quote from him. Those lines I quoted were from his lips during his Channel 12 News Brooklyn interview. I seek your enlightenment so I to may be a better person and take the high road also. Otherwise your opinion is just that. I haven’t read anything that disputes what was stated. Have a nice day.
Joe, Tom. Mike. Mary. etc, There is no possible chance that Beth Elohim fired Maura Lorenzen. Maura is an incredible educator and administrator. Families and staff alike are quick to point out what an asset Maura has always been. Parents of students verbalize the confidence they have leaving their children in Maura’s care. Just as important is the fact that Mrs Lorenzen’s staff see her as a leader, mentor and role model. My advice is relax. If by chance, you are correct and Maura does become your principal, count your blessings and say a prayer for Beth Elohim’s loss. God Bless all. Peace.
Maggie, Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate that someone has finally told the concerned parents, or as you refer to us “said upset people”, the true facts of what has happened at Saint Saviour’s. Please forward my personal apology to all innocent educators who are being implicated in the affair of the principal. You are also correct in that Father Murphy has taken the high road, in this case straight down to Florida while all of this turmoil is going on his Parish. I am not sure how long you have lived in and been a member of our Parish or how many of your children actually attend Saint Saviour’s, but please know I too am hopeful for blue skies ahead in our Parish and the end to the last five years of overcast and gray skies in Saint Saviour’s Parish.
The vitriol being spewed here is coming from the lower selves of various anonymous posters who seemingly enjoy two things: making stuff up, and making more stuff up. Sometimes you have to just get in the gutter with folks. So be it. Here I come.
First, I congratulate Tom Paine for having the temerity to put his full name down in support of his post. No kidding. Thank you, Tom Paine for your full disclosure. Unfortunately, you are no Thomas Paine, as common sense is surely not a phrase that would come to mind after reading your comment. Using words such as “buffoon” and “toxic” would be laughable if they weren’t so ill-conceived. In the affair of the principal here, it’s not about whatever world of pain you may have experienced in Catholic school. It’s about a decision you don’t like. And frankly, not a whit of sense can be made from the ‘burden/buffoon/honor/credibility” word mismatching going on in one of your sentences. But there’s no question that you’re coming from a glut of unresolved issues. Point, such as it is, taken.
As for Joe, the only facts speaking in your post are the ones you’ve gleaned and clumped together from rumor, innuendo, and imagination. Good luck. I have no doubt that hanging out with folks to have a beer is high on your list of priorities.
Now, John, you are the most promising in terms of your career as a fiction writer. How do you know all this stuff about people losing their jobs, and friends getting jobs, and kicking someone out of a job? The only disconcerting thing here is, well, everything you wrote. Perhaps you may want to try writing fortune cookies?
These are the facts, unaltered by opinion:
• Fr. Murphy did not renew the contract of the current principal at St. Saviour Elementary.
• (Some) people are upset.
• Fr. Murphy has not, apparently, been forthcoming enough for said upset people.
• No one is quite sure who the new principal will be.
• The Bishop of Brooklyn has not satisfactorily answered the – again – upset people’s demands.
• The outgoing principal of St. Saviour Elementary had a long and good career.
• The outgoing principal of St. Saviour Elementary is loudly silent in support of the cause of the upset people.
• Innocent educators are being implicated in the affair of the principal because somebody said so.
• The academic quality of St. Saviour Elementary is not the question.
Finally, and here’s a straight-up, out-front opinion: I bet there’s some mud Fr. Murphy could sling about the outgoing principal. Coney Island mud, at that – which is some of the best mud on the Atlantic. But he’s taking the high road, up on the boardwalk, trying to figure out if Nathan’s will donate some hot dogs to the annual picnic. Or whatever really great priests do when they take a day off. Nothing but blue skies ahead for St. Saviour Elementary, Father. Thanks for all that you do. As if he’s reading this…..no way. Unlike us, he has better things to do.
Why is it that the people who are protesting are being acused of all wrong doing? You don’t know us nor do you care to know us you just judge us. You have no right to judge me for wanting answers. We have requested an answer from Father Murphy and he will not meet with us as a group. He will not even answer an email from me. All I want is know what his vision is. Why is that so wrong? I say how dare you judge me without knowing me. How do you think you are. I am a parent of two children in the school. You who judge me do you have children in the school. Do you care about my children? Don’t judge me for wanting only the best for my children. Maybe you should take a good look at yourselves before you judge others whitout asking the questions.
Emiko and Bill. Please know I am well aware of the alleged issues that Father Murphy has had with Mr. Flanagan. If the issues were as strong as either of you seem to insinuate, Father Murphy would not be claiming that he has decided not to renew Mr. Flanagan contract as part of Bishop DiMarzio’s plan for the future of our schools. If, as you claim, there is a rational basis for his decision he would surely have advised all of his Parish of them and not apparently just the two of you. It is the very weakness of these “issues” that has caused him to now hide behind “Preserving the Vision” as the basis for his ill informed decision. Perhaps you should speak with Father Murphy about the accuracy of the alleged issues. As for Maura Lorenzan, the truth behind my words will be revealed in time. I suspect, however, that you both just don’t want the truth to be out there.
As emotions heighten to excess it is disheartening to see that some individuals in defense of Mr.Flanagan have begun to post unfounded postulation. This hurts everyone. It slanders the innocent and mocks the truth. Innuendo stated as fact is a house of cards upon which no defense can securely stand. A simple phone call to Temple Beth Elohim would reveal that Maura Lorenzen has not “lost her job”, as some have vigorously claimed. That being verified one can no longer allege that Father Murphy has “thrown away” Mr. Flanagan to give the job to a “friend who recently lost her job”. That Father Murphy has yet to make a clear public statement to the parents of SS does not warrant the invention of false malicious hearsay any more than does the conspicuous absence of any words of defense from Mr. Flanagan. Clearly there must be an illuminating history of prior exchanges between both parties, the disclosure of which could come as well from Mr. Flanagan as Father Murphy. Were there goals set that weren’t met? Were there plans made that weren’t implemented? Is Father Murphy really blindsiding Mr. Flanagan or are there long standing unresolved issues? Surely the parents walking the line have discussed these questions with Mr. Flanagan and are satisfied with his response. Or have they simply not asked choosing instead to create their own answers as did those who never called the Temple Beth Elohim.
John, with regard to your posting of June 13 I caution you to please check your facts. Maura has not lost her position at Congregation Beth Elohim. This is something that can easily be confirmed. It seems that this and other falsehoods are consistently being entered on this blog. I believe that one should be able to support Mr Flanagan without spreading lies and hurting people. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
I believe Father Murphy has been less than forthcoming in providing an explanation for his decision because he can’t come right out and say I am replacing Mr. Flanagan with my friend who recently lost her job. While Father Murphy now claims he is interviewing potential candidates for the position of principal, we all know that Maura Lorenzan is the only “candidate”. The fact that she recently was told she would not be returning to Temple Beth Elohim and Father Murphy’s decision that this was the time for a “change” in the school appear far too coincidental. That a man who has dedicated 37 years of his life to Catholic education and has successfully run Saint Saviours for the last 25 years can simply be thrown away so you can give a job to a friend is very disconcerting.
I empathize and sympathize completely with Mr. Flanagan, the parents, teachers, children & parish.
I know what they are going through. The parish where I worked for 16 years has gone through a similar debacle at the whim of a misplaced neophyte priest-pastor. I was wrongfully, maliciously and vindictively terminated from my (primary) job of the past 16 years as liturgist and director of music at the end of December 2008. I was given no prior notice or warning of my termination and was given no definitive written or verbal reason for my termination. This priest-pastor had only been ordained 5-6 years when he was (suddenly) appointed as pastor of the parish roughly 6 months prior to my termination. He has singlehandedly turned the parish upside down and driven people away. Even people who continue to go to the church avoid him and opt to receive the Eucharist from lay ministers or the other priest. He began his tenure as a know-it-all, a tyrant, passive-aggressive-insulting bully and he is far from what one would call remotely humble. I don’t think it is even in his vocabulary. He is not a team player. Another irony is that this priest is not even an American-born citizen. Others of the small staff began looking for new jobs last fall because of the difficulty of working (not with) for this man. Bishop DiMarzio passed the buck to the area vicar upon receiving letters, petitions and calls as early as late August-September of 2008. People didn’t receive responses from the area vicar until November, after the priest was already installed. These were (essentially) form letters sent from the vicar. An attorney stated the content of the letters ignorant and insulting. When I was fired, it was obvious to me the Director of Human Resources was uncomfortable and he told me he could do nothing and that the pastor could do this, it was “his right.” After 16 years of service I was insultingly offered only 2 weeks of severance and I lost my medical insurance less than two weeks later. The cobra is $602 a month! Parishioners have been complaining about this priest-pastor since he arrived and they continue to do so. He lied to them about my termination and why the choir was missing. Parishioners continue to communicate with me, sadly informing me about how many people have left the parish and how awful the liturgy and music are since I am gone. We constantly received compliments from parishioners and guests alike for our liturgy and music. I took great pride in what we did there and following the Roman Missal & Liturgy Documents & Papal Legislation on Sacred Music. I did not apply for the job at this church. 16 years ago I was asked (when a substitute) by the pastor to be his director of music. I subsequently worked with three consecutive wonderful pastors, assisting clergy and great little staff. I was treated with respect and appreciation. Reference letters from the former pastors and vicars are extremely complimentary of my work, expertise and express respect and affection for me as a person.
It is obvious to me that Bishop DiMarzio sits in his ivory tower and does not care about lay employees or parishioners. It is all about money and not about grace, kindness, caring and compassion. If the parish where I worked was a big $$$ contributor to the diocese perhaps the Bishop would have paid attention to their complaints and pleas to be rid of this new priest-pastor. It is indeed a feudalistic dictatorship and they answer to nobody, certainly not to their flock. I just hope B. DiMarzio & the coterie of rotten dictatorial clergy out there remember there is no church without the flock! I do believe the majority of clergy are good men and I have worked with many in the course of my career in sacred music for over 35 years. It is unfortunate the egos and agendas of a few rotten apples spoil the lot.
I just hope Bishop DiMarzio is ready for some lawsuits if he continues to allow such mistreatment of employees and parishioners. It is about time he comes down out of his ivory tower and face the music.
It is now the time for Dan Murphy to exit. He has been and remains toxic to our community, and therefore he has forfeited his right to “serve” as a priest and pastor. It is sad that he simply does not understand, more likely, does not care about the wrong he is doing. The burden for his lack of credibility and honor merely identifies him as a buffoon among educated and informed people in the community The days are long gone when parishioners simply agree and obey church officials with their own selfish agenda.
Maggie,
Your assurances of Fr. Murphy’s “brilliant plan” and knowledge of him are admirable but may be be blind as they have no basis to support them. As Fr. murphy has refused to share any information on this matter with anyone, with all due respect, I will let the facts speak for themselves. Fr. Murphy has had every opportunity both before and after this became a crisis to reach out to the parents and share his vision. He has quite to the contrary publicly stated that “The parents have no say”, “If they do not like the new prinicpal, they can take thier children and leave”, “the children Drain him”. Those comments do not exaxtly fit with your charecterization of these circumstances. As you state, Fr. Murphy may very well be a “good guy”, however, I am not involved with St. Saviour’s to hang out with him and have a beer.
I am not a member of the St. Saviour Parish; however, I am a member of the St. Saviour Community. My daughter is scheduled to graduate next Friday evening, ending my time as a concerned, active parent there. I have volunteered at various activities, including Coordinating Class Parent for the past 3 years. My older son graduated from a different school in Park Slope; there the principal has also been successful, maintaining that school with a strong arm and securing students outside the parish community. My recently deceased mother advised me to send my daughter to St. Saviour. She met Mr. Flanagan many years ago through the various school meetings in Brooklyn; she assured me that he ran a school with high standards. She was right! And I dare say that if she was here today she would join the parents on the picket line. In my final letter to the parents of the graduating students I asked them to keep Mr. Flanagan and St. Saviour in their prayers. While I cannot be there to support the line daily, I am there is spirit.
We have had three children attend St. Saviours. Through experience we know Mr. Flanagan is a hard working principal who is dedicated to his students, faculty and the parish. He has successfully kept the school thriving. We are disheartened that after 17 years of knowing Mr. Flanagan, he may be forced to leave the school in such a sad way. Our hope is that Mr. Flanagan will be granted an extension of his contract. We applaud the St. Saviour school community for coming together during such a stressful time.
One good thing about this situation at St. Saviour’s Elementary is that the parents are clearly involved in their children’s education. This is ideal in terms of a comprehensive education plan. It’s interesting to note that the demonstrations are characterized as peaceful; so far, the lesson being sent to the children is that our democratic process works without fireworks.
It will also be a good lesson to experience the resolution to this — I have no doubt that Fr. Murphy is acting in the best interests of the school and, most importantly, for the children at St. Saviour Elementary. Surely, this is the parents’ fear….that the outgoing principal’s tenure is somehow linked to the end of quality at the school? They may even be concerned that this is a bell-ringer action designed to signal the school’s ultimate demise.
The parents have acted in a way that supports intelligent dissension and purposeful questioning. Maybe they could use some information on what’s next for the school? Sounds right to me — most smart people just want to have a look at the plan. Knowing Fr. Murphy, I am 100% convinced that he has a brilliant plan. My only regret for him is that he’s embargoed from articulating it. Because that’s the only way Fr. Murphy would not be communicative. If you know him, you know that.
Maybe one other way, too — an entirely Christian way. Fr. Murphy is too good a guy to get up and say, “I found a better leader.” I believe he would rather carry the burden of legitimate public outcry at his actions rather than embarrass the outgoing principal with even one word of negative comment or comparison.