Despite the inconsistent talk of Bishop Roger Morin at the USCCB session this week, CCHD has not screened grant applicants thoroughly enough yet, and some of the groups exposed by CCHD critics for abortion advocacy are still receiving CCHD grant money.
More info at American Life League.
Category: Bishops
The Legion need to cooperate, says Archbishop O’Brien
In his first interview since the Legion announced its apostolic visitation , Archbishop O’Brien of Baltimore speaks the truth in charity. Basically, this visitation is a chance for the Legion to gets its act together, but they need to cooperate fully with the Holy See.
Are you confident the Legionaries are ready to cooperate?
I hope so. I’ll put it that way: I really do hope so. It depends on so many individuals being open, because it just takes a few to try to block it and to mislead. I hope that the Legionaries will realize that in the long run, this is going to help them.
You’re recently had talks in Rome with Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, the superior of the Legionaries. Are you confident he’s ready to cooperate?
I can’t say. I’m quite sure he would want to see this thing cleared up, and I hope he’ll realize that the best way is to encourage everyone to cooperate.
What are the issues that the visitation should consider?
In the first place, they have to look at Maciel himself. What are the facts, who knew them, when did they know them, and why did it take so long for them to become public? They should look at the financial dimension. They also need to examine who the victims are, and what’s being done to meet the needs of those victims.
Then, they need to look at the structure that Maciel created. There was a good deal of secrecy in his own life, and there’s secrecy in the structures he created. It would be helpful to know why there is such secrecy. For example, why is there such an effort with their seminarians to limit their exposure to the real world out there? What are their recruiting strategies for vocations to the priesthood? How above board are they? What are the numbers involved, how many priests have been ordained and how many are still active in the priesthood with the Legionaries?
The whole interview is worth reading by clicking here.
Qualifications for a Bishop
Scranton’s bishop Joseph Martino has been doing a great job lately of communicating the Catholic faith in public in spite of opposition, instructing Catholic institutions and public officials, and through them, the faithful at large. He’s shown a commitment to prevent Church events from being used to honor reprehensible politicians. He’s reminded a Catholic college to show its commitment to Catholic moral teaching and distance itself from any endorsement of immorality. He’s taught politicians publicly about such as the injustice of government tolerance for abortion, let alone subsidy of it, and
When I read the Bishop’s letter to the misguided Senator Bob Casey Jr., whose voting record is not worthy of the Casey name, I noticed that Bp. Martino is the holder of an earned doctorate in Church history. Now that’s not a common accomplishment among bishops. The most prominent bishop I know of with a similar background is the estimable George Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, who made his studies at Oxford.
We certainly need more such bishops like these: able to stand against the fashions of the moment and teach Christian doctrine. Perhaps we can start looking for bishops among other priests with a background in Church history, and with reason: men with enough interest in Church history to study it in depth are likely to have particular qualities of temperament that the Church needs, such as an admiration for sacred tradition. That is an important quality in this time, when Pope Benedict wants to promote a correct understanding of the Second Vatican Council as a development in continuity with the preceding 1962 years of Church life, and not a breach from it.
Furthermore, bishops with a knowledge of past relations between society, the state, and the teaching Church can have a realistic understanding about what is possible and what is not: that pleasing everyone and leaving problems unattended is not the pathway to peace.
Cdl. Laghi and the U.S. episcopate
Noting the passing of Pio Cardinal Laghi, former apostolic pro-nuncio to the United States (grant him eternal rest, Lord), here is a 1990 analysis by Jesuit Father Thomas Reese, on the bishops appointed during Cdl. Laghi’s tenure 1980-1990.
Fr. Reese’s data disproved some liberal myths about the Laghi bishops, and his article contains one quote that might reinforce conservative complaints: Laghi’s predecessor Abp. Jean Jadot said: “There is no difference between the appointments made by Laghi and myself. Most of the candidates appointed I would have proposed as my number one choice.”
If only he’d called me.
Oh, dear. My archbishop has committed a bit of a faux pas: starting a blog, and a bit awkwardly.
Good evening.
I’m sure your day has been just as full as mine. I began my day by celebrating mass at the Cathedral Rectory Chapel at 7:30 this morning and had a productive meeting with the Presbyteral Council from 10:30 until 2:00 this afternoon.
Well, at least we know it’s authentic, then. (And yes, I checked, the domain name does belong to the Archdiocese.)
Anyway, welcome to the Catholic blogosphere, your M&Ms!