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Resignation of Martino was no surprise
He raised the issue a year ago with cardinal of Philadelphia
Sep. 01, 2009
Bishop Joseph Martino, right, speaks at a news conference Aug. 31 about his resignation. At left is retiring Scranton Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty and Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali, center, who has been appointed apostolic administrator of Scranton. (CNS photo)
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PDF versionAt the press conference Aug. 31 announcing the resignation of Joseph Martino as bishop of Scranton, Pa., Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali said, Martino's resignation "comes after much prayer and reflection," and the decision "also carries with it a deep concern for the well-being of this local church, with its clergy, religious and laity."
Given Martino's stormy tenure in Scranton, words like "deep concern for ... this local church" have led some to wonder how voluntary the resignation was.
The God in Government blog of The Washington Post reminded readers that Martino "made a rather spectacular appearance at a parish forum last year where members were discussing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' document on political responsibility. He ordered the discussion closed, telling the group, 'No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese. The USCCB doesn't speak for me.' "
Noted religion journalist David Gibson wrote yesterday that "church insiders say Martino had also worn out his welcome with his brother bishops and the Vatican."
"So his resignation may be further evidence that the U.S. hierarchy is divided between moderate voices and a more strident conservative minority that is struggling in the wake of Obama's success with Catholic voters. "
At 63, Martino resigned well before the Vatican's mandatory retirement age of 75. A statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Martino was retiring for “health reasons.”
The bishop said he is "certainly not prostrate with illness," but the stress of running the diocese had led to insomnia and “crippling physical fatigue.”
Asked if he was surprised at the resignation, Rigali said, "Surprise I don't think is the word. I was happy to know that the bishop had done what he thought he should do and that I knew he would do it with a great deal of conscience and that it would work out for him and the church."
Martino then added: "About a year ago, I mentioned in passing to the cardinal that there were times when I thought perhaps that the best thing I could do for the diocese would be to move on. ... Things roll along and you begin realize that a small thought is a very good thought that needs to be implemented."
It was, of course, a year ago that Martino burst into the national scene. During the 2008 presidential campaign, he frequently criticized Catholics -- including fellow bishops -- who suggested that abortion was only one of many issues by which to assess candidates.
Shortly after the election last November, Martino stood on the floor of the bishops' meeting in Baltimore and pledged to withhold communion from Biden, who was raised in Scranton, because he supports abortion rights.
Martino later issued similar threats to Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., after he voted to confirm Kathleen Sebelius, who supports abortion rights, to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
Martino also warned Scranton politicians that he would close the diocese's cathedral on St. Patrick's Day if they honored any politicians who support abortion rights; he tried to shut down a local Catholic college's diversity program after it hosted a gay rights advocate; and he refused to recognize a local Catholic teachers union. He also presided over mass consolidations of schools and parishes, many of which have been contentious.
At the news conference yesterday, Martino asked forgiveness from "anyone I have not adequately served as bishop."
Asked what he thought his legacy would be he recalled his homily at his installation mass in which he echoed the call of Pope John Paul II: "I called the diocese to reach out to the deep … for the church and church members not to be afraid, but to go out into the deep and take courageous steps to bring the kingdom of god into fuller fruitarian, to give the church greater life."
That challenge, he said was expressed in slogan, "Called to Holiness and Mission," which was also the title of the pastoral planning process he implemented that led to the scheduled closing of more than 100 parishes and schools in the diocese between 2007 and 2012.
"Unfortunately that term" -- Called to Holiness and Mission -- "has become almost completely identified with the closing and opening of parishes, but there is more to it than that. That is only a means to an end."
The end, he said, was to achieve greater holiness, to look outward, "to look to others and give them love and service."
"With institutional changes in the diocese, our schools, our parishes, I think we will be a little leaner and a little more able, as all people are when they are leaner, to have more energy and do the work of God more efficiently and effectively. I hope that is my legacy.
Asked about regrets, he said he only wished he had more energy and stamina. "I've often been amazed at my brother bishops who have remarkable physical energy," he said.
[Contributing to this report were Catholic News Service, Daniel Burke of Religion News Service and Dennis Coday of NCR.]
Martino suggested in passing
Martino suggested in passing to the Cardinal [who is on Congregation of Bishops] 'that the best thing he could do would be to move on'
Maybe he was hinting for an A/B post in Rome or USA..
Assuming the stress argument
Assuming the stress argument is true, the bishop wore himself out by seeing a boogyman under every rock possible. That would drive anyone mad if you think everything, no matter how minute is bad as this bishop did.
"So his resignation may be
"So his resignation may be further evidence that the U.S. hierarchy is divided between moderate voices and a more strident conservative minority that is struggling in the wake of Obama's success with Catholic voters. "
Well let's just hope that behind closed doors, the "moderate voices" continue to rid the American Church of "a more strident conservative minority."
Interesting comment,
Interesting comment, considering that this is not about the "American Catholic" Church, rather it is about a Bishop of the Roman Catholic church who stridently supported (except for his comment about the USCCB which at best has issued many statements that lack support for Church positions)the Church and Rome. Let's see, what is wrong with him stating he would withhold the Eucharist from so-called Catholic's who have exhibited through their public acts and statements a failure to follow Church teachings - thus commit sin and should not receive the Body and Blood unless absolved. What is worse, these people continue to pronouce their "catholocism" in public while stating their support for abortion and other un-catholic positions. The Bishop followed orthodoxy of the Church and supported its positions very clearly and rightly. Every one of our Bishops should have such strength of character in shepherding their flock as the vicar of Christ and as the ordained successor of the apostles. It is time Catholics around the world support the Church, strengthen our faith and do so in a public manner.
Although debilitating,
Although debilitating, insomnia and fatigue are quite treatable. Bishop Martino could have asked for time off. It seems likely that he wore out his welcome. In a column a few weeks ago, EJ Dionne wrote that the Vatican is becoming concerned about the American church's increasing polarization and politicization. According to Dionne, the Vatican has been discretely trying to cool things down. Maybe this resignation is part of that effort.
From your lips to God's ears.
From your lips to God's ears.
Well, it's about time that
Well, it's about time that the Vatican started to cool off what fires they've been fanning. I agree with you on this suggestion as to what is going on. It's all gone too far, and made it virtually impossible to be doing what we are supposed to be doing together.
Martino might have survived
Martino might have survived OK if he was in a solid GOP diocese like somewhere in Texas or Alabama where most of the flock would be in tune with his politics so he wouldn't have much occasion to fly into a rage over differing viewpoints.
Face it, folks, the Bishop
Face it, folks, the Bishop was canned. This is what happened to Archbishop Burke here in St. Louis. These guys who think this is 1955 and every Catholic is a sheep and/or a child with no personal conscience or relationship with God are on their way out. Throwing one's weight around and dictating, rather than leading, has driven far too many of the faithful away. This pope sees the American Catholic Church is serious disarray and wants its member to look at life as an entirety, not just lead on the issue of abortion.
The leaders who see no merit in discussions of war, the poor, or the future of Catholicism are finding themselves on the outside, discussing abortion, looking in.
At last someone who speaks
At last someone who speaks the truth and calls it as it is. And thank God for canning Burke, an idealoge of the firt order.
Sadly, he might have been
Sadly, he might have been able to do more if he had not been so bitterly confrontational with everyone. I feel bad for the Scranton Diocese, they have been badly damaged by Bishop Martino. Just as Saint Louis and Kansas City have been damaged by their Bishops.
Confrontation over ONE issue is not the right way. Being willing to sit down and dialogue openly and hoinestly and be willing to listen to both sides is the way to go. It was proved with the decision of Gov. Richardson's decision to do away with the state's Death Penalty once and for all.
As the old saying goes "you can attract a lot more bees with honey then with Vinegar".
The people of the diocese of
The people of the diocese of St. Louis and Kansas City/St. Joseph have not been harmed by our bishops, but edified by them. The Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas has also been in concert with them. I believe that those of us in their diocese are blessed to have their guidance. They have stood up for life from conception to natural death, for us saints and sinners, for the churched and unchurched, for those condemned to die by the state and those dying of natural causes, for the underpriveleged and the well off,and for those in need of a compass to the eternal Beatific Vision. May God Bless Our Bishops!
It is good that they got him
It is good that they got him the hell out.
Martino should spend the rest
Martino should spend the rest of his life working in the missions to atone for his behavior.
It is deeply painful to read
It is deeply painful to read the smug delight with which some write, on this sad sad event. May the good Lord bless and strengthen this bishop, and place him in a position of abundant fruitfulness for the Gospel.
Amen to that, Tomas. The
Amen to that, Tomas. The good bishop fought the good fight, and in doing so, was a true Soldier of Christ, as we are all called to be. May our Lord bless him richly for attempting to shine the Light Of Truth into the Bastion of Moral Relativism known as the American Catholic Church.
I agree with you Tomas. May
I agree with you Tomas. May Our Lady of America extend Her graces onto him to succor him, and grant him a new mission in the spiritual battle for the Catholic Church in America. The time is growing short, my brothers, fast and pray for the bishops of America.
Take a peek at the Code of
Take a peek at the Code of Canon Law on the removal of a pastor (c.1740-c.1747). A pastor has fifteen days to resign (and save face), and his Bishop owes him either another assignment or a pension.
Sadly, we'll never officially know if Bishop Martino's situation was more of an odium populi issue (sorry, old term) than a real health issue. Mother generally is more concerned with saving face than with telling the truth and functioning transparently--and just like any other large, business-model secular bureaucracy, She loses cred in the process.
Can NCR please do some discrete digging and help us discover the truth? We're not getting it from religion news writers; they're too afraid they'll lose sources and access if they ask anything that might be perceived as "oppositional." Mother does not understand that layers of bureaucracy and hidden action foster confusion, fear, and sadness. NCR, we need you more than ever! We need not fear the light of day, if there's love.
Now to repair the damage, if
Now to repair the damage, if possible.
It is spiritual law that
It is spiritual law that everyone and anything that is unbalanced will sooner or later self-destruct. We have seen the sad cases of Gov. Sanford and Bishop Martino lately, just the latest in a long list. I pray the bishop, who did a good job re church and school closings in Scranton (less then half the population of 1950), will now find some degree of inner peace. And, maybe, he will come to inner terms with his own obvious homosexuality and accept himself as loved as he is.
NCR is so predictable.
NCR is so predictable. Dissident, liberal bishops and clergy are termed "moderates" while those who - GASP! HORROR! - actually hold to the teachings of the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church are sneeringly referred to as "more strident conservatives". In other words, it is the more reasonable position to rebel against Church teaching and Tradition and to do everything possible to undermine the authority of the Holy See.
Will the 60s radicals and the generations they poison ever grow up?
This is between the LEFT and
This is between the LEFT and Right World Government and those who wish to Destroy the Church, but in Gods time he will sort out the cockle from the wheat. I am smiling because I know what's surely coming.He tried to do what was right, but it's too late the enemy is within the Church. You might think you are 99% Right but it's that 1% that will take you straight to hell. The gates of hell shall not prevail even if the whole world comes againt the church as it is now. Amen come Lord Jesus SOON.
I applaud this wonderful
I applaud this wonderful courageous Bishop. He is truly a man of God and speaks the truth. He does not white wash the truth to please those who are not abiding by the teachings of the Church. He is a chapmpion for life and has suffered for preaching the truth. Those who oppose this man of God are those who are those who are not practicing the true faith, who have a seperate adjenda, one with liberal philosephies. I give as an example, St John Vinney, St Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio as but a few who were not recogized for their teaching while they were alive, but were vindicated and then recognized as saints after their death, as this Bishop will be vindicated in due time. He is a breath of fresh air and I wish I had had the honor to have had him as my Bishop instead of the loosey goosey liberal ones we seem to have sent to us in NJ. God Bless and long live Bishop Martino! I will be praying for you!!!!!!
"Say yes when you mean yes
"Say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no and anything else is from the evil one". I'm sure the Sorrowful Mother is begging for more intercessors for more caring special sons such as this priest. The stress on such men today forced upon them by the left wing Church defenders makes of them white martyrs. He spoke of his family's susceptibility to such stress. He did his best with what he had - living, as Mother Teresa said - faithfully if not successfully. He must have suffered much during his tenure. But here, among the self righteous "caring" we'd rather comfort the apostates and those in real schism .... even if, as yet, their schism goes outwardly unnoticed and unrepaired by those in authority. It is coming into clearer view every day. We are now witnessing the time Pope John Paul the Great predicted of the clear choice between backing evil over good. You used to be able to hide those answerable to God personal choices, but no more.
If only all Faithful Roman
If only all Faithful Roman Catholics would complain to the USCBC, maybe we could jolt them back to the reality of our faith. However, it's hard to "jolt" someone whose belief in the One True God & His Son, is questionable at best, & further, they have no fear of Hell because they don't believe in that either!!!!! As an old woman myself, I'm appalled at all of the OLD Bishops.............they should be terrified!! Their time is so very short!!!
May the bishop be blessed.
May the bishop be blessed. You people don't have consciences otherwise you would have listened to him. He was trying to have you develop good consciences and abide by the 10 Commandments, bedcome holy people and mature in your faith, but none of you listened. Shame on you all.
What should be happening in
What should be happening in this country:
http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/national/artykul115227_pro_abortion_p...
Bishop Martino is such a
Bishop Martino is such a great man of God and I pray to have the same love and desire to protect the deposit of faith as he does. His comments might not have been in union with the bishops conference but he was and is in union with Peter. The Bishops conference in this instance was not in union with the Pope. Much like St Pio and all those who try to remain faithful to Jesus and Mary...there is persecution involved but it comes with the territory-Jesus was persecuted
This is a tragedy. Bishop
This is a tragedy. Bishop Martino is a wonderful bishop. He is in conformity with Church teaching. He has the guts to tell it the way it is and should be. So many bishops seem to back down to anyone who is in power, has money or fame. I wonder how they will answer to Jesus when they have their day in court! Why do I keep thinking of Judas and Pontius Pilot in relation to those bishops.
Good Job Bishop Martino. I do hope you find peace!!!
I was reading the comments
I was reading the comments posted here with horror, until I scrolled to the top and saw that this was the website of the National Catholic REPORTER.
That calmed me down. You can't expect much from a old boat except
a lot of bilge. You liberals are the ones on the way out -- eternally if you don't start being more careful.
I HOPE THE CONSERVATIVES ROOT
I HOPE THE CONSERVATIVES ROOT OUT THE LIBERAL VERMIN OUT OF THE CHURCH.
GOD BLESS THIS BISHOP.
THE CAFETERIA IS CLOSED AND NARROW IS THE WAY TO EVERLASTING LIFE.
OF COURSE MANY CATHOLICS VOTED FOR OBAMA.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF TARES WITH THE WHEAT AND GOATS WITH THE SHEEP.
This is very sad. This
This is very sad. This bishop was strong and stood for the truth even if it wasn't popular with the people...just like Jesus...and we all know what the people who opposed him did to him...
Why are there even bishops at
Why are there even bishops at all? They are to uphold and to defend the divinely revealed truth and to bring into the world more and more the kingdom of God. Sin gains power each day. Bishops are not made to be liberals and compromisers. Anyone with a weak mind and love of oneself can do that, it is the safest and easiest thing. No, a bishop is given a choice at ordination either save your name or your soul. Everyone gets a fair chance and everyone has free will. To speak the truth and enforce it requires a great love for God, true love of others and one's own soul. Most bishops choose their name over their soul. God bless this hero of a bishop!
The Church has been divided
The Church has been divided for many years now. I have watched it happening since the late '60's.
With this division will come a stand-off eventually. Father Martino follows the laws of Rome (thank God) and is up against those who want to tweek and submit to laws they don't want to agree with for whatever reasons they have.
Through the years I have attended every church in my county and can tell by the priests and congregation whether they support Catholic teachings. It was shocking and disheartening to see what is happening to our Catholic faith but reading about those who are taking a stand like Fr. Martino and Fr. Entenauer gives me hope that the Church will weed out those who are a diluted form of Catholism.
Personality aside (as we have many bishops and priests who lack likeability), Father Martino spoke for many of us in the Church but even he can only withstand the attacks and lack of support for so long. I pray for him and wish him well and hope he regroups and comes back swinging.
Warning to those who are
Warning to those who are neither hot nor cold..."I vomit you out of my mouth". Those who "think" they are a success in this life, may have a rude awakening in the next. Don't be so joyful at this news, it is a sad day. One with true charity does not rejoice over such things.
This is very sad. This
This is very sad. This Bishop seemed to have a very clear and good understanding of the dangers of liberals and luke warm Catholics both in the clergy under his care and his brother bishops in the NCCB and he wasn't afriad to point out their poor record of teaching the truth and keeping sacred the faith handed down through the centuries. He didn't seem to have the diplomacy skills necessary to fend off his brother reprobate bishops who didn't like him. Let's hope and pray that the vatican will appoint a man who can shepard this diocese with Love and Truth and also have the gifts to be able to deal with a very hostile media and renegade luke warm clergy. Let us pray
The "Cafeteria" Catholics in
The "Cafeteria" Catholics in the United States voted Obama into office, as well as the Clinton election in the nineties. America has a huge population of the "brand" of Catholicsim known as the "Cafeteria Catholic". The news like to identify them as Roman Catholics, because they like to mock "The Church and its' clergy. The sad part is that, many times, the people and clergy gives the news media an opening and examples to run with, which are very scandalous for Jesus's Church.
If you are not an "authentic" Catholic, you are an imposter,and referred to as a "Cafeteria Catholic", if you believe in abortion and continuely vote for politicians, of the same "mindset" and "heartset", and you are still claiming to be Catholic, you are delusional.
Abortion should not be referred to as , "just one issue", that alone shows the weakness of your mind. Abortion is killing and denying an , innocent and helpless individual, a Unique human being Life itself; that will never have the chance to take a breath on earth.
Anybody that tries to equate abortion to other needs, such as the feeding the poor, or health care better get the scales off of their eyes. Do not even try to compare abortion to the death penalty, there too, you would be in total error. Bishop Martino was correct, however, he probably could not cope with all the people that have become "goats" instead of "sheep". Who said, "the goats will be on the Left and the sheep on the Right"? The sheep will make it through the eye of a needle, where as a goat will not obey and will not serve.
Speaking well of the dead -
Speaking well of the dead - excellent:
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&...
Bishop Cistone Came from
Bishop Cistone Came from Pennsylvania.
Bishop Joseph Martino just resigned
Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty retired.
I wonder what our Lord has planned for Pennsylvania.
Taking out the good Bishops. kinda like taking Lott out of sodom and gammorah before the big bang :)
I have to read Revelation and the words to the Church in Philadelphia.
God Bless!!!
Tony
God bless Bishop Martino- he
God bless Bishop Martino- he had the courage to do what is right in the eyes of God, instead of in the eyes of men. All of you great Catholics out there are so easily able to throw the issue of killing unborn american children (51 million of them)under the bus, so you can just "get along." There will be no getting along with the Culture of Death, no matter how much you ignore the killing.
Martino spoke truth and
Martino spoke truth and apparently the truth hurts. Please delve into your hearts and ask yourselves why he angers you so much. As a leader of our church, he will have to answer to God one day on how he led you. He will be able to do that with a clear conscience. Will you have the same conscience before God?
Now to repair the damage he's
Now to repair the damage he's done, if possible.
There's an issue that has not
There's an issue that has not gotten much comment here. It looks as if Bp. M was moving toward an inevitable excommunication of Sen. Robert Casey. He threatened him a number of times. The Vatican must be aware that this would raise some very complex problems for Catholics in the US on questions that we thought were settled in the JFK era. This is all the more true since the bishops disagreements with Sen Casey seemed mostly to do with partisan politics than with Church teaching--Casey really is pro-life, but he's not a Republican.
I knew nothing bout the
I knew nothing bout the bishop until I read of his resignation. From some of the comments by persons who knew him better I conclude that he was orthodox and disciplined. I believe that some of our clergy and bishops play to the crowd. The either don't accept the rules or fear the loss of parishioners if they insist that the faithful (?) follows the rules and avoid scandal. We have just witnessed the mammoth production that eulogised Ted Kennedy.
I have reead all the comments and am not surprised ar the differences and emotion revealed. Comments by former catholics are irrelevant. They are not members of my club. I have watched Ted Kennedy over a life time. His public life was not an inspiration I submit tht we must treat his public imsage apart from what his end of life was. He was a bad example of what a
catholic' s public life should be.He did not merit acclaim by the church on his death. Death bed conversion or repentance is another issue. A quiet simple burial service would have been appropriate. A mass featuring a non-catholic president was hardly a "simple service:
What a strange and vicious
What a strange and vicious comment. Some how the resignation of Bishop Martino enables you to launch into an ad hominem non sequitur about Edward Kennedy. The best thing for you to do is to take to heart the words of the 15th century theologian Ambrogio Traversari "de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est" ( in other words--don't speak ill of the dead.")
It is my opinion that Bishop
It is my opinion that Bishop Martino is being persecuted for his teaching of truth on the abortion issue. He is showing mercy by revealing truth. Hate the sin...love the sinner. Bishops must teach truth so us sinners can know how to make decisions that will enable us to attain heaven. Repentance is needed most especially by advocates of abortion. Even high school biology students know life begins at conception. Jesus is the Lord of Life and Love and the Bible is all about Jesus and his people. Thou shalt not kill, one of the Ten Commandments, is found in the Bible and is not open to debate. The bishops are to be brave and speak the truth. They are not to use their positions to obscure the truth or curry favor with the spiritually ignorant. Obeying God assures us of God's protection and blessings. God forgives sins not excuses. We must repent as a nation on this life and love issue. Jesus is Lord of Life and Love...illustrated most profoundly by His death and resurrection. He alone is worthy of our love. He alone is lord. He said if we love him, we will obey him.
The Catholic Church is not
The Catholic Church is not about politics, so I'm surprised the Bishop is 'resigning'. Tough times are here and we're all looking for scapegoats, the Bishop has nothing to do with local politics, if 'they' want to put him center stage as an unelected offical, it is only because 'they' have become extremely frustrated with whatever political plans they have. It's a common symptom going around nowadays, frustration. One thing you can't eliminate, social conscience, which regretfully has become completely divorced from the political process a long time ago and if the Bishop in anyway sparked the need to respect good conscience to be included in any human process, then he did his job very well, even if he did find the need to quit half way.
So, Martino was fired! I
So, Martino was fired! I certainly hope so! Now let's draw up a list of other bishops who also deserve to be fired.
It seems to me that since
It seems to me that since each of us is a creation of God, put on this earth to further the will of the Father, we all need to be more respectful of each other, especially if we disagree with their position. None of us are perfect in the eyes of God (nor can we be), but all are sinners. So let us ask pardon for our sins and resolve to respect those who disagree. Recall the gospel story of the weeds and the wheat. Let God make the judgment as to which of us is which. With His great and total Love, I suspect we will all be surprised at who joins us in praise at the throne of God.
Over 70
The Roman Catholic Church is
The Roman Catholic Church is NEITHER Democratic nor Republican. WHen voting one should vote on issues and not claim a political party, for neither party follows TRUE Catholic Teaching! Abortion is evil. Capital Punishment is Evil. War is evil! Martino was wrong in focusing on a single political party and on a single sinful issue. He was also wrong in going against his brother bishops, by declaring that the USCCB had no say say so in 'his' diocese. As a bishop he was called to preach and "guide" his flock not slaughter them.
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