| ||||
Medjugorje News & ArticlesAdded March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Questions push families away -- Birmingham Post-Herald on Caritas of BirminghamOther languages: English, Italiano
By Sara Foss, Birmingham Post-Herald When the Flynn and the Littiken families moved to Caritas of Birmingham, they did it for their children. The idea of a wholesome farming community, where devout Roman Catholics worshipped together and worked side by side, appealed to them. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Local Man Escapes Alabama Cult -- Fox News on Caritas of Birmingham and Terry ColafrancescoBy Andy Treinen, Fox News 19 Faith is defined as a complete acceptance of a truth which cannot be proved by the process of logical thought. All of us have faith in something, but sometimes our faith is betrayed. That's exactly what happened to a local man who after nine years, came to the realization that he was in a cult. Tom O'Neill, a Xavier graduate and former teacher at LaSalle High School, was also in the FBI for 20 years. But none of his past work prevented him from making one of the biggest mistakes of his life. Now, his daughter is the one at risk. "What is happening at Caritas is exactly the same as Waco, Texas," claimed O'Neill. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Religious mission faced with defections, lawsuit -- Associated Press on Caritas of BirminghamOther languages: English, Italiano
By Associated Press A multimillion dollar religious mission in rural Shelby County is under fire from critics and former residents who accuse the leader of brainwashing and financial mismanagement. Longtime members have left Caritas of Birmingham after becoming disenchanted with the operation, and the organization is named in a federal lawsuit over its work to promote visions of the Virgin Mary. The disputes center around Terry Colafrancesco, the founder and leader of Caritas, which has a publishing house and operates a travel service to Europe. Complaints about the organization were revealed Monday in a story by the Birmingham Post-Herald, which said Colafrancesco did not respond to repeated interview requests. An attorney who has done legal work for Caritas said Colafrancesco and his followers are good people with a "positive mission." "Terry has always had the philosophy that he doesn't respond to people who say bad things about him," said lawyer Joseph Ritchey. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Religious group faces lawsuit labeling it a cult -- Jay Reeves on Caritas of BirminghamOther languages: English, Italiano
By Jay Reeves, Montgomery Advertiser Sterrett -- A multimillion-dollar organization that promotes visions of the Virgin Mary is fighting charges of being a destructive cult as religious pilgrims from across the nation arrive at its Alabama compound seeking spiritual renewal. Five former residents of Caritas of Birmingham have filed suit in state court seeking an unspecified amount of money from the group and its founder, Terry Colafrancesco. The suit claims Colafrancesco lures people into Caritas with promises of spiritual enrichment and then drains them of money. Families are made to live in nasty trailers at the group's compound, and Colafrancesco controls their lives almost totally, the suit claims. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Caritas of Birmingham is not a Roman Catholic organization"Considering the above, it can be concluded that if someone supports Caritas of Birmingham, they are supporting a strange, religious sect and this potentially, which may cause serious damage in an individual's personal and family life. If you are Roman Catholic perhaps you should first seek spiritual direction from the recognized and historic Catholic Church, before becoming involved with Caritas of Birmingham and/or the Community of Caritas." Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Pinckney's Laura Flynn and family fled 'cult' in Alabama and found security here -- Ann Arbor News on Caritas of BirminghamOther languages: English, Italiano
By Jason Deegan, Ann Arbor News Staff Reporter The Flynns say they are focused on moving on with their new lives, but they feel obligated to talk about their experiences to warn others. Their terrifying tale started in 1991, when the family sold everything, moving from Jacksonville, Fla., to Birmingham, Ala., to join Caritas, a group the family thought was a religious mission. Caritas, founded in 1988 by Terry Colafrancesco, claims to be a spiritual community dedicated to promoting the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which six youths say they witnessed in Medjugorje, Bosnia, in 1981. Flynn said the family lived in a trailer inside a compound where roughly 50 people of Roman Catholic faith live. The Flynns stayed with Caritas for nine years, despite living under the control of its leaders. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Covenant Communities / Caritas of Birmingham?By Covenant Community Blog "I am very familiar with covenant communities, however, have had some inquiries regarding Caritas located in Birmingham, Alabama. This group seems to have some similarities to abusive covenant communities." "What I know is that the group is governed by a former KKK member who believes that his purpose is to have the folks in his group live according to the "teachings" of Mary - related to apparitions in Medjugorje. While most folks whom I know who are involved in Medjugorje prayer groups have a healthy relationship with one another and the Church, Caritas seems over the top." Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Position of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Mother Angelica on Caritas of Birmingham, AlabamaDespite its proximity, whenever anyone asked Mother Angelica about Caritas she never encouraged anyone to visit it. As for Caritas of Birmingham, the recent bishops of the Birmingham diocese (Boland and Foley) have done nothing to favor this site, and have forbid the celebration of Mass there (though not confessions). The position of Mother Angelica has always been to discourage people from going there. That is also EWTN's position. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama Denis Nolan's letter to "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Caritas of Birmingham, Sterrett, AlabamaNovember 25, 2000 Terry Colafrancesco Dear Terry, It has been brought to my attention that in response to questions coming to Caritas about Fr. Svetozar's recent fax expressing the concerns of the Franciscans of St. James in Medjugorje about your community, people are being told: 1. Sr. Emmanuel has been asked to leave Medjugorje. Added March 27, 2010 / Category: Caritas of Birmingham and "A Friend of Medjugorje" Terry Colafrancesco, Sterrett (AL), Alabama How to Change Your Husband: Owner’s Manual for the Family by “A Friend of Medjugorje” -- i.e. Terry Colafrancesco of Caritas of Birmingham, Alabama - review by Dr. Adrian ReimersBy Adrian J. Reimers, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame for St. James Parish, MedjugorjeDear Fr. Svetozar, Here at last are my observations and analysis of the book you sent me, How to Change Your Husband: Owner’s Manual for the Family, by “a Friend of Medjugorje”. The author, as I can recognize from his earlier writings, is Terry Colafrancesco of Caritas of Birmingham. You may feel free to share this letter with Fr. Ivan Sesar, OFM, or with any other person you desire. | | |||
| ||||
| ||||