It is with great sorrow that I learned of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The Pope Emeritus was born and grew up in some of the most turbulent years of the twentieth century. Despite this, he fostered a life of prayer that would be consistent throughout his life. The Pope Emeritus channeled his God-given gifts into writing, and the Church universal gives thanks for his extensive theological writings.

While differences set us apart, the Society of Mercy and the Old Roman Catholic Church maintain filial devotion to the Papal office and its holders. I ask our members to join with me in praying for the repose of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's soul and for the current Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he mourns his predecessor.

+William
Superior General - The Priestly Society of Mercy
Archbishop-Metropolitan - The Old Roman Catholic Church

Our Superior General sent a message of condolence to Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales regarding the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In part, it highlighted the good works done by His Royal Highness through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award as well as his involvement in many charities. The Superior General also extended his condolences to our Primate, Archbishop Lewins, who leads the Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain.

The Superior General sent a letter of support to the Primate of the Armenian Church in America resident in New York regarding the recent conflict in the Artsakh region. It is produced below:

We lament with you about the situation in Armenia and Artsakh. The aggression shown against people of Armenian descent is unjust and hearkens to painful memories from the past of mistreatment and genocide against the Armenian people.
 
Our prayers are united with you as we seek God’s intervention in granting peace to the region. Please convey our best wishes to His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Catholicos of All Armenia, and assurance of our continued prayers for your beloved homeland.
 
May Our Most Blessed Mother, the Theotokos, intercede for you and the Armenian people.

Our core charism as a Society is mercy. We must, therefore, condemn the murder of Mr. George Floyd as an unmerciful action and seek justice from civil authorities. We also call for full investigations into other recent killings of people of color which have shocked us collectively as a nation.

We also heed the call of Mr. Floyd's family and plead for an end to additional violence. It is imperative that civil authorities act in the aftermath of recent killings by working to aggressively dismantle disproportionalities affecting people of color, especially within the criminal justice system. Furthermore, we must all commit ourselves to implementing mercy towards others by eliminating disparities which adversely impact our Brothers in Sisters in Christ.

May the "the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7) and may we all come to the realization that we are made equally in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).

+William
Superior General

6/19/2018

As a Priestly Society committed to mercy, we cannot ignore the plight of immigrant families who are being separated at the border. Christians in good conscience may disagree about the methods of immigration reform, but our arguments and actions must reflect the dignity and value of every human life. Separating families denies the sanctity of life and is an unconscionable act.

As Christians, our faith compels us to show hospitality to strangers. This is a core tenet of our faith, and is especially pertinent because we worship a Savior who fled His own homeland. I urge the Administration to rescind the government’s policy of zero tolerance and offer my prayers for the families and children impacted by this policy. 

+William
Superior General