Sword Of The Spirit At Franciscan University

The Sword Of The Spirit At

Franciscan University of Steubenville This collection of articles and documents is meant to illuminate the influence that the Sword of the Spirit (SOS) -a collection of Charismatic Covenant Communities- had on Student Life, Theology and the future direction of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Page 1: “Community Devised Plan To Recruit Participants” is an article from the Wheeling Inelligencer that describes some of the relationship between FUS and the SOS Covenant Community. It only skims the surface however. The FUS spokesman tries to downplay the relationship between the tarnished Covenant Community and the University. In a last resort, he states that, “…the entire theology faculty has taken an Oath of Allegiance to the pope and church. They would be the first to speak up if something contrary to the teaching of the Church were being taught on campus.” This included at least three theologians who were at the time fully committed members of the Covenant Community and full time tenured professors at FUS… but who had not known that SOS teachings were at variance to the Church’s, as their Bishop Albert Ottenweller would say on page 6 of this post. Page 2: This is the memo that Andy Zibrotsky refers to in the article of page one. It describes the careful way that FUS approached certain men who it felt held promise as possible SOS members. It is a careful debunking of the myth that “love and brotherhood” united these communities. Strategic relationships based on recruiting agendas and the growth of the community –a conditionally based “love of Christ”- is a more accurate definition of “love” in SOS Covenant Communities. Page 3: In 1977, FUS President Fr Michael Scanlan TOR brought the little Covenant Community under his control into the forerunner of the Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God Covenant Community in Ann Arbor MI. Scanlan would use the growing Covenant Community in Steubenville to support Franciscan University by adding those who came to be a part of a Covenant Community to the employment roster at FUS. This practice is detailed in Scanlan’s 1986 autobiography, “Let The Fire Fall.” Page 3 is a reproduction of the that page in Scanlan’s autobiography that describes the role of the Covenant Community in the life of Franciscan University. The page printed next to it is from the revised 1997 edition of the same book. Fr Scanlan has redacted his story to eliminate any mention of the Covenant Community’s crucial role in the “Renewal” of Franciscan University. Pages 4 & 5: These pages are called “Schematics” and were created by the SOS Covenant Communities in the mid to late 1980s to show members how the SOS Covenant Community was “renewing” Franciscan University. In 1991, The Bishop of Steubenville (the late Albert Ottenweller) would awaken to the fact that Fr Scanlan has brought into his diocese the Sword of the Spirit -a group he would later find guilty of spiritual, emotional and mental abuse of Catholics in his Diocese. His first action in the matter was to make the SOS Covenant Community (connected to the Diocese canonically via its Christ the King Fellowship Parish) terminate any and all connections to the Sword of the Spirit (SOS). The Covenant Community complied, and Ottenweller withheld the term “cult” to describe them because of their compliance. He then stated that participation in the community had a deep impact on the members, saying: “There needs to be therefore a program of re-education to return members to a sense of Church important for all those who call themselves Catholic.”1

1

http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/55661455/Bishop-Ottenweller-s-Correspondence-with-Servants-of-Christ-the-King1991-92 page 12

Page 6: This was Andy Zibrotsky’s first article about the SOS-FUS connection. Bishop Ottenweller believed that the possibility of SOS influence at FUS was present, and offered to investigate if anyone from the University appealed to him. The fact of the matter was however that this article was buried in a Saturday edition of a paper from a town 40 miles away during the month of August (1991). Very few students at Francisan University were even aware that there was an investigation, as it had not come to light until May of 1991. By that time many students had or were leaving campus. The investigation finished in June and the results were published on June 21, 1991 in the Catholic newspaper, “The Steubenville Register.”2 How could students have even known they had the option of appealing to their Bishop? University officials certainly never sent out a notice of the Student’s rights to such an appeal. They were doing anything they could to distance themselves from the Covenant Community.3 The fact is that all 5 Coordinators4 of the SOS Covenant Community would –at one time or anotherbe employed by Franciscan University. Attorney (and SOS Coordinator) Keith Fournier would be hired by President (and SOS Head Coordinator) Fr Michael Scanlan to run Student Life at the University. In 1997, Kathleen Van Schaijik would write about how Student Life had suffered at the hand of Fournier and the Covenant Community concepts he was charged to implement.5 Page 7 and 8: These pages come from the “Confidential Policies of The Servants of Christ the King” (a Branch of the Sword of the Spirit.) This was the local SOS Covenant Community’s handbook for their “Coordinators,” or the men who sat at the top of the pastoral leadership in SOS Communities. It was a secret document and was not to be disclosed to the general members. And it never was. I came into possession of this document only after the late Bishop Ottenweller’s death in September, 2012. These two pages are excised from the larger document6 because they describe how the “Basic Christian Formation” program offered at Franciscan University was a parallel course to the Covenant Community’s “Foundations 1” course. In order to become a fully committed member of the SOS Covenant Community, candidates had to take certain courses from community teachings referred to as “Foundations I and II”. This document states that students who have taken the Basic Christian Formation” program taught at FUS are exempt from taking the SOS Covenant Community’s teachings because they were –essentially- the very same thing. There is a good chance that this course is probably still taught at FUS today. John Flaherty, 2

3rd Revision: January 14, 2013 Grand Island, NE [email protected]

http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/19099693/Ottenweller-Finds-Allegations-Valid-Steubenville-Register-06211991 http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/19098510/RodgersMelnick-2-Charismatic-Sect-Dominated-Lives-ExMembers-Say 4 http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/19591839/Sword-of-the-Spirit-Coordinators-Scanlan-Kneier-Fournier-TickerhoofSengenberger 5 http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/103839744/Strife-at-Steubenville-Cracks-In-The-House-Scanlan-Built-NCR-Feb-2000 page 4 6 http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/109101709/Confidential-Policies-of-the-Servants-of-Christ-the-King-June-1990 3

MEMO

DATE: Spring, 1989 TO: Household Advisors FROM: John Sengenberger RE: Practical Insights on building relationships with students

strategic

1) " Identify the students in your household who you sense might oave a call to community life and are of strong character. Set out to build a personal relationship with them. 2) Invite students to share in family life in the community. Marr ied adv lsoz s should a Ls o invite community single men emd women t.o dinner" at these: times. Single! advisors should ask 'the families th"ey'itHate to if they would be able to invite a student as a guest for dinner (the Lord's Day Celebration).

3) Invite~ ~nd escort students to community event~; especially single men's nights, singles' prayer meetings, guest gatheriri~s, and social events. Informal social activities with families or singles in the community are also good to consider. 4)

Spend

athletic

time

events

with students

like

~

basketball,

other open events that would ~llow

campus;

join them for ~ocial 'or of praise, or any relationship building time.

festivals

5) Arrange a specific tjm~ ~~ talk with students specifically about the community. Be open about your intentions to have them prayerfully consider a level of commitment to the community (Affiliate or Initial). A drink in the pub, a pizza at pizza hut, a walk on campus can all be good places to do this. ~- .j ~:.

6) Ask forth~ir'feedback and continue the ir leve,1~"of"1 nterest wi th community.

to follow-up

with them on

,~ 166 / Let the Fire Fall

190

growing in Christian character, relating to other .1 people, and other practical topics. The campus ministers also pay attention to "the life" fire of the Holy Spirit. About ninety percent of our r, students are baptized in the Spirit by the end of any school year. That's an astonishing statistic, one that humhl me before the faithfulness of God. Young men and worn the college are attracted to this experience by the witness of II lives of the people they see around them. Peer pressure wor jn the opposite direction than in most schools-tow!!-r,' ~ertIi!n aw!y frQ!!ll!i.!!1 toward a stronger) III weaker, Christian commitment, toward maturity in Christ 111111 away from the foolishness of the world. Most of the £eopie who work in camp~s ministry :11111 stua~.~t lifeare IE.em~erso!!he ~e~!1}! ofg1!.~ist tl!fIGng, group of tfiree hundred Christians in the Steubenville ar, woo have made a covenant commitment to liVetIie'i'rCfirisrillll lives together and tota~e res£onsiOiTlty for each other. Th .community consists of- oth married and single lay people plus some nuns and priests like myself. The members of th community meet weekly in men's and women's groups mutual support, sharing, and prayer, just as the majority of Steubenville students do in their dorm households. We also worship together every week and support a number of local and regional outreaches. I meet weekly with Tom Kneier and Keith Fournier, university alumni who oversee the community along,..with myself and other, newer coordinators. \ The community contributes invaluable service to the university. Membersofthe community moderate every household on campus; their responsibilities include giving direction, teaching, counseling, and acting as general overseers. ~The community also provides the recruitment pool for entrance level administrators, provides the staff for the conference office, and is a great asset in recruiting faculty who want to.be associated with a Christian community. I

nn

~

lWll

Let the Fire Fall

staff from one half-time person to five full-time people plus additional part-time staff and interns, and then we integrated them with student life. These men and women provide instruction in the basics of the Christian life, as well as in practical details of Christian living. Students learn about prayer, Scripture study, overcoming personal problems. They also learn about dating{g~Fing in Christian character, relating to other sin eop e, and other practical topics.

IP'

The cam ministers and staff of the student life office were also arged with the development of "life"-the dyl nami ,transforming power of the Holy Spirit that reshapes \ t lives of the followers of Jesus Christ. The "life of the ~~S Spirit" is essentially an adult conversion. In the early days .\1~ of the refounding of the college, most people in the college community experienced this through the process of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, usually within the framework of a set of teachings and prayers called the Life in the Spirit Seminars. These seminars are still offered to students and others in the university community. Charismatic praise is a prominent feature of campus life, especially during monthly Festivals of Praise which fill Christ the King Chapel to overflowing on Saturday nights.

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Over the years, students have come to this adult conversion in other ways not explicitly associated with the charismatic gifts. These include consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, consecration to the Sacred Heart, and formation through the Secular Franciscans. Retreats focusing on these spiritual traditions are offered frequently. They are paths to the same end: surrender to the Lordship of Christ, conversion of the heart and mind, and an expectation that we can live all of life in the power of the Spirit. Two of the university's commencement speakers, Cardinals Bernard Law of Boston and John O'Connor of New

I.

Oh io Valley Chri s tia n Ass oci a lion (OVCA) - ecumenical evangelistic programs II. Couples for Christ - Catholic married couples outreach III. Assistance in Motherhood (A.l.M.) - ecumenical pregnancy help center - Speakers Bureau: (Education) "Life Issues": AIDS, Right to Life, etc

LOCAL OUTREACHES

I. FELLOWSHIP OUTREACHES

II.

. St. Vincent de Paul Society - works of mercy outreach Service & Action C.. o~nm ;·itee - Support Parish for Decency Network - ~~~~~~~~~~~

I

~

SERVANTS OF CHRIST THE KING COMMUNITY

I.

_\

New Covenant - editorial board and office II. F.I.R.E. - - - -- -- - - - - -- 4 headquarters and personnel A. Fraternity of Priests - headquarters and personnel B. F.I.R.E. Growth Weekends - personnel

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT OUTREACHES

I.

""' ~

8/28/88

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OUTREACHES

.___

I

Evangelization Center A. Conferences, Seminars, Institutes B. Youth Apostolate and Alliances C. Parish Evangelization Training D. Publishing and Pilgrimages E. Television and Radio F. Human Life Center II. Student Life A. Households - Advisors and resources B. Student Programs - speakers and resources C. International students - resources III. Decency Network - Ecumenical anti-pornography movement

Ottenweller Says 'Servants MaYJ-taveI,nfluenced Scho·ol----,

-

., I

,

'By ANDY ZIBRITOSKY has a recourse to come to us," he' church," he said. . . The InteUigencer Staff said. "There are people who are , Members of the Servants of Christ. Ottenweller said, though, he has involved in the community and work Ute King at the Franciscan Univer- no problem with members or Ser- at the, umversity. The community is sity of Steubenville: could have varus of Christ the Kina working at large enough to have its own parish possibly influenced the direction of the Franciscan University of Sieu- in Steubenville, so it's not unreasonthe school over the years, Bishop benville. They are two distinct able some people would work at the Al~rt C?ttenweller said. . entities and ev.~iyone has the right to university," he said. I think that community members freedom of choice . Fox noted there are employees have by their positions at the Several community members have who have taken an oath of loyalty to university ha~ s01'!leinfluence possi- 'w
URDAY AUGUST 3, ,1991 i " f CLASSIFIED' 19-21 ' ," , i COM.ICS 17.18 .'. ; . ; S~ORT.~,-1-&...1J1,-,".. ;

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A priest will be appointed to serve I as a liaison between the grc:>upand the diocese ~o give the bishop a \ greater overview of the community. : Oucnwcllcr noted they had a ,pasLor .' : in that fellowship, but, he did n?t : function the same. way as others did in an ordinarypansh. , Ottenweller noted the diocese has invited psychologist Dr. M~~aret ' Singer to address any past difficul'ties former members experienced \ regarding family problems, f~hngs i of being misled.a change of lifestyleand other areas." ' ~ "We tried to bringin v,anous.people j for givi~~ counseling m these kind ; of cases,': he Said, , ' ~ OttenweJler said community : members have started the proces,s of trying to meet the recomm,endatlons for resiructunng f~om the diocese. "The community IS now, 10 the process of orgamzl~,g ~oJ'!lmlttees to •. examine' the begll~nmgs of the; . community, its teachings, the pattern ,. : of its gatherings" its outreach, the i ' pastoral care of Its members, youth , ; programs and men and women;; , groups," he said. , ; "From every evidence w~. have, \ they have been cooperative 10 every • i way. They have been very respect- ' i ful,'t.he,said.. ': . ', Ottenweller also noted the leader- " :ship also has had 16' three-hour '; i. meetings within the last ,six weeks. ; Covenant communiues are not' i evil, but are good to have around, ~ei. .said. "We just want ,the fellowship , ;to be something that s going to be ) (positive in the community. members :, ilives and help them meet the goal of ; }spiritual growth~,as well a~ support- : (ing one another, he explained . i

•••

•

.

-

------.ncr~~:~L/ Fa'3E-

AFFI LI ATE COriM IT MEN T 5

one

...

I !J

Members Dastoral

AFFILIATE I.

cannot

extend

his

Initial

commitment

bevond

this

nt .

DC.)

In the Initial care rather than

Commitment Dastoral

full

will receive care.

limited

COMMITMENT

Objective: (04/23/87) The Aff:1 late Commitment Pro~ram IS Intended to allow undergraduate students attendIng the Franciscan University of Steubenville the oDDortunlty to actively carticlDate in a 1 :mited caDaclt~ in the lIfe of the Serva~ts of Christ the Klng.

II. Level A.

of Commitment:

AffIlIates will !:>ec omm i t t e d to r e sc l ar- attendance at all community gatherln9s. They mBY also attend the social actIvities of the community and the 9uest sinsles DraVer meetings although thIS IS not reqUIred.

8. AffIliates 101111 be aSSigned district of their household adviser IS In the community).

to participate adVIsor (assumIng

In the

the h ou

Ir

s eh o 1 d

C.

AffIliates Will be asked to f·:,llow the t eacb i n=s of the ChristIan Formation Program at the Franciscan University of SteubenvIlle including its teachin9 on datIng and courtshio. ~hlch IS founded uDon the same prlnCIDles as the communIty's

D.

Affiliates undprwa~

will net commitment

o ara l l e l

Instruction

*

to a t t en d the Initial an d sInce they WIll be re c e i v i n s campus throush the Christian Formation

be Invited courseson

pro'3ram.

Ln r t r a t r cn s.

ThE-

Pr0ce~a

IS

a secarate

~is(ernment

not

~e .nv;ted

process. to

make

&

Gommunit~

L..lee'end. G.

Fr

e ci n

s

ca

Jntr0~u(ed

o

Un

r ver

st

t

v

()t

Ste'Jbe~·

at 6 9E-nera1 satherlng These are ordlnarll~

..~111r: atf:l1~tes

LJll1

once each semester the two times that

b

e

Brd can maLe

(October Gne

AFFILIATE Page

COMMITMENT/TRANSFER

STATUS

6 1. Afflllat-=-s mav oc c as i cn a l lv (ie. once a month) attend the Fellowship Liturgy of Servants of Christ the King although their primary attendance should be at the University LIturgies.

III.Conditions

for Approval:

A. S't u de n t e are to be in "'3ood s t an d i na" wIth the Franc i s c an UnIversity and active members of an approved camous household. This is to Insure that thev are: 1. Able to take on thIS addlt:onBl commitment in light of their camous commItments (Ie. academic, SWOP, I. 2. ReceIvIng adequate support and care for theIr lIves through the household structure. b.

Students must have attended the Franciscan UnIverSity of Steubenville for at least one year in order to be approved for the AffilIate Commitment. ThIS IS to insure adequate time for adjustment to camDUS lIfe and integration of the Initial ChristIan formation teachIngs at the FranCiscan UnIverSIty.

C. FInal approval of all candidates the coordinators.

must

be received

from

D. The Affll late Commitment Pastoral candidates Length

Program will be overseen by the Administrator or e coordinator who will intervje~ and make recommendatIons to the coordinators.

of Affiliate

all

Commitment:

A. Affiliate Commitment status wjll automatically concluded when an indiVIdual is no longer officially the FranCiscan University, normally upon graduation.

be a student

at

B. Affiliates

may also continue In active o art t c i c a t i on in the community over the summer months if they are taking courses on campus or have a Job on cameys or are lIving on camous.

C. A student's affi11ste commItment status can also ended at any time uean tke r~auest of the st~dent

TRANSFER I.

be or

of

STATUS

~embers of The Sword of the S~lr;t w~o transfer from other Communltles In Th~ Sword of the SOlr It to Servants of ChrIst

the

the