Association of the Hermit Intercessors of the Lamb Shut Down By Archbishop

Intercessors
Omaha Archbishop George J. Lucas used a Church procedure on Friday, October 15, 2010 to shut down the Association of the Hermit Intercessors of the Lamb, a contemplative, intercessory, and mixed (lay men, women, and clerics) public association of hermits.
Lucas suppressed the Catholic association after a majority of lay directors of the Intercessors of the Lamb, Inc., the association’s civil corporation, impeded him from exercising his legitimate governance of the association and providing pastoral solicitude for professed members. More information regarding the act of suppression can be found by following the links below.
Public worship and the celebration of the sacraments are prohibited on land owned by the Intercessors of the Lamb, Inc., a Nebraska corporation. Priests and deacons are forbidden from ministering at the property. Donors are advised that contributions to the Intercessors of the Lamb, Inc., will not go to support a Catholic organization. Moreover, the vows of former association members ceased at the moment of suppression. Catholics worldwide are encouraged to refrain from participating in Intercessors-sponsored activity.
Those who wish to support approximately fifty of the former members who are now being cared for by the Archdiocese of Omaha can send donations for this specific purpose to: Intercessor Relief, c/o Archdiocese of Omaha, 100 N. 62nd St., Omaha, NE 68132. Checks should be made payable to the “Archdiocese of Omaha” with a notation made in the memo field for "Intercessor Relief."
Updates on the status of the former association will be made available on this page.
News Release
Statement of Archbishop Lucas

I 1st heard of this group over 10 years ago. At the time everything seemed fine to me with how they were operating & their relationship to the Church. In 1992 The late Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan recognized the group as a private association of the faithful. In 1998, then-Omaha Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss granted them the status of a a “public association of the faithful.” Last year newly installed Archbishop Lucas was approached by Mother Nadine Brown to request his guidance in determining the group’s future.*

In recent weeks they came into the spotlight with the news of foundress, Mother Nadine Brown, stepping down & Rev. Gregory P. Baxter was appointed trustee. This came about as a result of Mother Nadine's request & the investigation by the Rev. James J. Conn for the Archbishop that followed. Friday, Archbishop Lucas announced the dissolution of the group.

From everything I read it looks like there were some real problems & concerns. But it also seems that those who were living at the Center, including Mother Nadine, were willing to cooperate to clean things up & keep the organization going. It is the lay board that is the problem.

This isn't to say that Mother Nadine didn't make mistakes, she probably did. But it is clear to me that she was willing to correct things. But, it seems at this point that the real problem lies with the lay board.

According to their press release The board disagrees with many of the actions, statements and findings of the archdiocese." (Intercessors of the Lamb closed) OK, but why weren't they willing to meet with the Archbishop to discuss things with him? In refusing to meet with him they were willfulling rejecting his lawful authority inder Canon Law.

I do know that the Archdiocese is doing what it can for the 48 members that were at the Center. The fact that they freely left the Center is more evidence that it was the lay board that was uncooperative.

What will happen to them remains to be seen. Maybe something can be done so that the reform & restructuring can still take place. There is clearly a need in the Catholic Church for people to intercede for the Church & its members. & it is clear the 48 members wanted to do that in obedience to the lawful authority of Archbishop Lucas.

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* Additionally Intercessors of the Lamb had a rating of "excellent" for "fidelity to the mind of the Church" by Catholic Culture. That includes fidelity to authority. Knowing what I do about Catholic Culture, I am sure that their rating shows again that the problems are with the lay board.

Also "Intercessors of the Lamb" was a member of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious. The Council members are orders that profess fidelity to the magesterium, unlike the LCWR. Again, more evidence the lay board is where the problems lay.