Thursday, April 5, 2018

Frankly, Something Stinks About The Death Of LOC Anthony Freeman

The Catholic blogosphere has been alight with the death of Brother Anthony Freeman, a 3rd-year seminarian with the Legionaires of Christ.  He had a large social media presence as he sought to use that medium for evangelism.  He was the cross-bearer at Pope Francis' Easter Mass at the Vatican just one day before he was found dead by fellow seminarians.  He was only 29 years old.

The blogosphere is alight with laments, prayers and remembrances.  What I fail to see is questions about his death - which is quite frankly suspicious in nature.
  • He was a member of an order that has become quite jaded owing to the horrendous scandals of its founder, Fr. Maciel.
  • He had quite a presence in the social media world.  Was he privy to sensitive information as a result?
  • He played a prominent role in the Easter Mass. Did others see in him a target whose death might be seen as a signal of sorts?
  • Was the noising abroad of his death intended to be a warning to others?
  • People who are 29 years old don't routinely drop dead.  There has to be a reason for his death.  And no, the platitude "it must be God's will" simply won't suffice.
The Crud site reports that an autopsy is underway.  That is the first time I heard of a comprehensive examination of this young man's death.  Already some are trying to chalk his death to "natural causes".  At 29???  Maybe that's the case, but the specific nature of these "natural causes" needs to be determined.  In addition to praying for the repose of Brother Freeman's soul, let us pray that the investigation of his death be authentic as opposed to coverup-damage-control so as to reveal the whole truth.

22 comments:

  1. You're absolutely right!!! It's the very FIRST thing I thought....."something's up with this young man's death". And yes, 29 yr old people don't just DIE from natural causes!! Did he have genital heart defect? No one says a word.....just 'natural causes'. Unless we hear more, and hear it from maybe his parents that knew of something we don't know.......something's rotten in Denmark.

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  2. Young people die unexpectedly. The daughter of a friend died at age 20; her heart just stopped. Your five comments have little connection to reality -- they amount to saying "Maybe, maybe, maybe." Well, maybe not. Yes, Maciel was a monster. Yes, many young people have a presence in the social media world, but without being privy to "sensitive information," as if this man might know anything even worse about the Legionaries. And tell me what the signal and warning of the Easter Mass death is.

    Always happy to have the Legionaries beat up, but be logical and rely on facts and not sensationalist speculations.

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    1. You're right. Maybe or maybe not. But please read carefully. I said nothing about a signal from the Easter Mass. I believe I laid out the case clearly to indicate that this death may be suspicious. I hope that's not the case for if it is the case, the perpetrators are at large, possibly in the Vatican.

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    2. Yah....friend of mine dropped dead at 19 YO, taking summer classes at Creighton. Went from 70 degree classroom to 90++ degree outside air, heart couldn't take the stress. RIP.

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    3. That was an atypical situation. We await the investigation in this case.

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    4. Unexpected death in young people has warning signs. Unexplained fainting (syncope) or family history of sudden cardiac death.
      29 year olds don't just die. Perhaps some investigation into his recent life, and his family health history will give an indication, as much as an autopsy.

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  3. The Lord called this devout and faithful seminarian Home on one of the highest Solemnities in the Church calendar, just after he had completed a full eight days silent retreat where the soul is immersed in prayer and the Sacraments. The only thing that "stinks" about this, or is "mysterious" about this is, "the entertaining of suspicious and uncharitable thoughts" and possible "rash judgement". These are points that often we are taught could be matter for Confession, No? Hmm?
    Let us then wait in humble good will and prayer for the examen and for Brother and his family. God's ways are not our ways. He calls some holy souls in youth. Physical defects in the heart are not totally uncommon in younger people. Good thoughts are a joy.

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    1. True, God's ways are not our ways. However, let us not assume that this admittedly bizarre death was God's positive will. Many questions remain. If this death was indeed brought about by foul play, then the perpetrators are at large and pose a threat to others. By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by "good thoughts", but we were never commanded to be pollyannas. The Scriptures say "the truth shall make you free", not "good thoughts shall make you free".

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    2. "In the evening of life you will be judged on charity." St. John of the Cross
      Rash suspicions are not "truth". We are commanded to see the good first and not to spread detraction.

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    3. You have failed to demonstrate that the questions that I raise are "rash suspicions". Your labeling them as such does not impact their validity. As for "good" please don't confuse that with seeing through rose-colored glasses.

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    4. Here is the result of the autopsy. Are you going to drum up some kind of conspiracy theory after you have spread needless suspicions. Normally called calumny.
      The death was due to a dilated cardiomyopathy according to the result of the medical examination communicated to the congregation today, Friday, April 6.”

      The Mayo Clinic explains that dilated cardiomyopathy might not cause symptoms, but for some people it can be life-threatening.
      Do the Legionaries and all other readers of your blog get an apology from you sir?

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    5. Marie Teresa, your reading comprehension skills leave much to be desired. Please re-read the final paragraph. Given the circumstances, the questions I (and others) raised were entirely reasonable. Why do these questions cause you to knot your knickers? I'm beginning to suspect you might be affiliated the Legionaires, or with Regnum Christi, the lay affiliate of the Legionaires. I am pleased that in this case foul play has been ruled out. Apologies for reasonable questions are not necessary, your obvious snit notwithstanding. If this post gets you this worked up, you'd better not read this one. https://www.barnhardt.biz/2018/04/06/the-legion-of-christ-is-a-criminal-organization-therefore-the-death-of-anthony-freeman-in-rome-must-be-investigated/

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    6. I think my suspicions - regarding this conversation - are confirmed.

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  4. I input this into my google search engine: Was Brother Anthony freeman murdered? ... and your article was the first to pop up. My daughter had been in regular contact with him. The last time she spoke to Brother Freeman was right before his silent retreat. I immediately knew there was something wrong with this story! How could a healthy 29 year old have died of natural causes? My daughter had just spoken to him on the phone and he was happy and energetic. I am so glad to hear there is an autopsy underway. I pray for the truth to be revealed. And am praying there is not a cover-up!

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  5. It is always suspicious when a young person dies. He was reportedly very tall. Perhaps he had something called Marfan's Syndrome, which can be undetected and sometimes strikes athletes. God rest his young soul.

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  6. I typed this into my Google search engine: Was Brother Anthony Freeman murdered? And your blog was at the top of the list. My daughter was friends with Brother Freeman and she had just spoken to him right before his silent retreat. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him. He had told my daughter this: "I hope this doesn't change anything, but I am going to acolyte the mass on Easter with the Pope." What does this mean? I hope this doesn't change anything? She didn't ask and didn't really understand what he meant by that.. Anyhow, I pray that the truth will be revealed. I am relieved to hear they are doing an autopsy. I pray there are no cover-ups!

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  7. ALSO! The Legionaries took over his Instagram account, changed his bio and removed his highlights that featured Easter Mass with the Pope...

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  8. I believe that it shows that being around Poop Francis is the kiss of death!

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  9. Also there was another young Priest that died unexpectedly on Good Friday. Fr. Krystian Kotulsky, 31, in Poland. He had just finished distributing Holy Communion on Good Friday when he collapsed on the Altar. They took him to the John Paul ll Hospital and put him on life support and he died not long afterward. There again......does a 31 year old die of 'natural causes'?.....31?? These are practically kids we're talking about! (gives away my senior year status:) I don't think the article said he died of natural causes, it really didn't give any explanation. They did show a picture of him, and he looked like a young healthy Priest. It's beyond odd that 2 young priests died 'unexpectedly' just days apart celebrating the holiest part of the liturgical year.

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  10. Another young priest (this one not a seminarian) also died recently: https://gloria.tv/article/goHdvwy3tjFb1MphE83GjJYZ2

    So strange, both of them, but this one is not as well publicized.

    -Dawn

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