Monday, August 31, 2009

Oh...say it ain't so, Bishop Martino!

I am inexpressibly sad to learn that Bishop Martino of Scranton has resigned. This article is infuriating - Teddy Kennedy was a more prominent Catholic figure than our Bishops, true, but somehow the author seems to imply or equate prominence with moral authority. And while the author hints at a divide with the Vatican and Bp. Martino, where's the explanation?

I'm just sick at heart.

I need a physical and spiritual Tums. Gotta ponder and pray. What's next? Who's next?

Comment away, friends - because I don't get this at all.

2 comments:

Joe of St. Thérèse said...

:(, I've heard, it's been a bad week for Catholicism

Anonymous said...

"And while the author hints at a divide with the Vatican and Bp. Martino, where's the explanation?"

I don't buy that. Were that true, the Vatican would never "promote" the similar Archbishop Burke.

I think his retirement is basically due to the reasons he stated; the job was simply too stressful for him and it was taking a toll on his health. There was a very vocal progressive contingent in Scranton, and he inherited a number of progressive priests who wouldn't cooperate with him. He was more or less fighting the good fight with little help from his clergy.

Let's hope that he gets healthy, that Scranton receives a solid successor who can keep the pedal to the metal, and that +Martino may one day summon the courage to clean up the DoR (Ok, I'm dreaming with that last one -- he'd have an even tougher time here with the Sr. Joans and married priests of the DoR).

If this event can teach us anything, it's that we need to rally behind our next Bishop any time he stands up for the faith. Our next bishop will need our support mightily, because there are several vocal liberals in the area who will try and destroy him.

~Dr. K