Sexual Abuse in the Churches
James Hayes was the archbishop of Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1967 to 1990. We wrote him our letter after a local priest had been diagnosed with AIDS and before sexual abuse scandals in his church became almost daily news.
April 4th, 1988
Mr. James Hayes,
Archdiocese of Halifax
P.O. Box 1527
HALIFAX, N.S.
B3J 2Y3Dear Sir,
Bad enough that people like yourself do not know what manner of spirit you are of (Luke 9:55 - removed from most translations), but to come out with statements that AIDS is not a punishment of God is so diabolical, that when servants of sin (John 8:34) come out with such statements, it is time to make straight the way of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Let me first point out that sin is not an act, as this world has made you believe. It is the state you live in, separated from God. Sin is the fruit of the natural man. You yourself were born in sin and under the power of Satan. Yes, you yourself live in sin according to the flesh and the spirit of this world and unless you Repent (change spirits) you will die in your sins (Rom. 6:23). You have been deceived as I was for 38 years, when I was a catholic and walked according to the spirit of this world. And while you think you lead a flock of sheep you are scattering a group of goats in all different directions.
God is the creator of all things. AIDS, cancer and every other disease is a punishment from God as a result of the unbelief of the nations (Ex. 9:15:26; Deut. 7:15; 28:60). Because you have changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, God has given you up to uncleanness through the lust of your own heart (Rom. 1:23, 24). Yes, popes, bishops and priests all walk according to the spirit of this world (Satan) and through philosophy and vain deceit do they spoil man, after their traditions and rudiments of this world, and not after Christ (Col. 2:8).
Not only are some of the people, but also some of your popes, bishops and priests of your institution homosexuals, pedophiles, fornicators and drunkards. Some even do catch AIDS as a punishment from God, as they live a life separated from God and under the power of Satan (spirit of darkness - sin).
And while they think they know and serve God, they do serve unto them which by nature are no Gods (Gal. 4:8). Do you ever wonder why so many of your people are dying in hospitals (stronghold of Satan)? Because you have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5).
What right do you have to even make statements on abortion when it is said that Pope Gregory in his time ordered a fish pond in Rome, situated near a convent, drained and at the bottom were found over 6,000 infant skulls. Didn't you know that the province of Quebec records more abortions than any other province while it is predominantly catholic?
What right do you have to make statements of immorality while the papal household itself has been accused of rape, adultery and all other manner of fornication?
I won't even go into detail about some of the other things that have been recorded throughout the history of the catholic institution.
No wonder my Lord and Saviour calls people like your self hypocrites over and over again. Even names, such as, fools, blind guides, snakes and vipers were commonly used when Jesus Christ referred to the religious authorities, who eventually silenced Him by hanging Him on a cross.
Unless you Repent (change spirits) you will not understand what I am telling you for as scripture records; the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him (1 Cor. 2: 14), and because you are of your father the devil you cannot hear my word (John 8:43,44), who has deceived all the nations - including yourself (Rev. 12: 9).
Didn't you know that celibacy is a man made doctrine (Matt. 15:9) decreed by Pope Hildebrand Gregory VII in the year 1079 AD? As Paul spoke to his son Timothy in 1 Tim. 4: 1-3: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times (since Christ) some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry. Jesus never imposed such rules, Peter was married and Paul states that bishops were to have one wife and could have children (1 Tim. 3: 2,4).
It is for this reason I wrote to you, that your eyes may be opened, that you may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18), that God peradventure will give you Repentance (changing of spirits) to the acknowledging of the truth; and that you may recover yourself out of the snare of the devil, who is keeping you captive at his will (2 Tim. 2:25,26).
Once God would remove the veil which is upon your heart (2 Cor. 3:15) you would no longer deceive the people of this nation. God would also set you free from the mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots (catholic institution) (Rev. 17:5), through whom all the nations have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication (Rev.17:2). God would also show you that the golden cup you hold in your hands is the filthiest cup of all (Rev. 17:4).
And you still wonder why the nations are being punished with a disease such as AIDS?
There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21).
You blind guides, AIDS is only the tip of the iceberg. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding (Prov. 9:10).
In the love and service of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Andy van den Berg
Footnote: The following stories followed James Hayes after I wrote him.
- May 30, 1989. The Mail Star published a story headlined: Halifax priest with AIDS hopes to stay in ministry.
- June 13, 1989. The Mail Star published a story headlined: Catholic Church a haven for perverts, inquiry told.
- From the The New York Times, June 1989. Some Clergy suffer from AIDS.
- September 28, 1989. Priest turns out to be philander.
- September 17, 1990. The Mail Star published a story headlined: Fifty percent of priests not celibate - study.
- March 1, 1997. The Daily News published a story headlined: Former Archbishop sued. Church should have known about alleged sex assaults, lawsuit says.
- On January 31, 2000 the Associated Press reported that AIDS caused the death of hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in the United States.
- Archbishop James Hayes retired in November 1990 less than three years after I wrote him.
We first made contact with Colin Campbell, bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia on November 12, 1988. A copy of our letter to him is included in the chapter Soldiers for Christ of the book A World Deceived.
The bishop used his weekly column (One View) in our local paper to communicate his distorted and confusing messages, in particular those on celibacy. In fact on February 5, 1993, the headline of his column read: Celibacy truly gift of God, blessing in Catholic Church. This was after the news of a number of sexual abuse scandals had already made headline news.
Two years earlier on September 6, 1991 he used his column to personally attack the work of our ministry and headlined his column that weekend: Spiritual Arrogance Blinds One to God and referred to us as vengeful, hateful and demanding task-makers.
We already knew that by revealing the truth, the bishop would classify us as evil (Matthew 5:11) and by doing so he only placed condemnation on himself and his church, which is not after Christ but a man-made institution in which there is no salvation, through which he was deceiving all of its members.
It is interesting to note that the local paper never allowed us an opportunity to respond to the bishop's false accusations. You can read more on this in the article 'Influence of the Media' listed on this website.
Please find below a copy of our letter in response to his column.
September 6, 1991
Mr. Colin Campbell
P.O. Box 1330
ANTIGONISH, N.S.
B2N 2L7Dear Sir:
This is in response to your recent allegations and false accusations about us, for my doctrines were not mine but His that sent me. No, we were not surprised and we will not sue you for defamation of character, for the laws of the land are written for the people of this land, e.g. four priests in your diocese who did not conform to these laws. The believers live according to God's law and according to His words.
Before I ever wrote you, I knew how you would react and what you would say. As scripture records in Matt 5:11,12: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely (lying), for my sake (all we did was bring Christ to you). Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Your judgement of us is after the flesh, and the way man judges us, I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgement is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me (John 18:16.17). Because you are a servant of sin (John 8:34) my message remains the same. You must REPENT and turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18). Only then will you come to know God and will HE reveal Himself to you. And only then will you be able to do His will and will you know that the doctrines, I spoke of were of God, not of myself (John 7:16,17).
But since you were so willing to publicly accuse us through, the news media, we would appreciate it if you would be equally willing to invite me to an open (public) debate on all of God's words. Since you claim yourself to be so right (self righteous) and knowledgeable in the Lord, you should look forward to such a debate. If you wish, please feel free to bring as many theologian friends with you as possible, for even God will clearly show to all those that would be in attendance that the very words you use out of scripture are the same words that condemn you (John 12:48). And since you have befriended yourself with the news media, please feel free to invite them as well.
You talk in your column about people challenging us while you yourself have not challenged us on one issue. Well, here is the opportunity for you to show whether your righteousness is of God or of your own (Rom 10:3). We look forward to your response. In the meantime we have attached corrections of all of your allegations in order to make straight the ways of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As always, I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have, so that, I may help and show you the ways of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that you may come to know all those that are Christian and all those that belong to the true church, the body of Christ.
In the love and service of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Andy G. van den Berg
- Colin Campbell resigned as bishop on October 26, 2002
- It should be noted that copies of our letter to Colin Campbell were forwarded to Ted Yuke and Michael Aud, ministers of two local Pentecostal churches, who in 1989 dealt with a scandal involving one of their own ministers. The Archbishop for Halifax Austin Burke and several priests were also sent copies along with a number of local TV and newspaper personalities.
Since the news broke about Bishop Raymond Lahey and the charges against him for possession of child pornography, we forwarded an e-mail to Anthony Mancini, Archbishop of Halifax, Nova Scotia and his staff on October 1, 2009 and invited them to review all the pages and articles of our website, in the hope that they will come to know what spirit they serve (Luke 9:55) and that they may offer themselves to the acknowledging of the truth and repentance, so that they may come to know the true and living God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Footnote:
While preparing for this article on October 3, 2009 our local paper published the following.
"For a long time, the Roman Catholic Church routinely covered up child sex abuse committed by its priests and monks, turning a blind eye, transferring child abusers from one parish to another when their crimes were discovered. Bishops lied about the coverups. The former bishops in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and Boston, Massachussets, USA, were forced to resign for this reason.
Bishop Lahey was forced to explain in court in 1999 why he didn't record allegations about a sexually abusive priest in western Newfoundland. He said he forgot. The John Jay report by the National Review Board found 11,000 allegations of sex abuse had been made against 4,392 priests in the United States over 50 years. God knows how many similar cases have taken place around the world, or how many victims have kept silent."
The truth is God does know and for you to know the truth we suggest you start out by searching for yourself (Matt. 7:7). You could start out by reading all of the pages and articles listed on this website in particular the articles entitled: What is Sin? and Repent.
When you accept our message of the Gospel of Christ and believe in the baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4), the way it was preached by Christ and the apostles, God will open your eyes and reveal Himself to you and give you understanding of the Scriptures (1 Cor. 2:14). He will also reveal how this whole world and all the people have been deceived (Rev. 12:9). Our ministry merely explains how and by whom this whole world has been deceived.
- Archbishop James Hayes died on August 2, 2016.
- Bishop Colin Campbell died on January 17, 2012.