Wisconsin parish worker fired for feminist views

This does not surprise me in the least. Unfortunately, my religion, is going back to pray, pay and obey. I'm a cradle Catholic, I have 12 years of education from priests & nuns. To bring back that old saying, WWJD, What would Jesus Do ? I think He would be on the side of Ruth, a Biblical name. May God have mercy on us all !!

God bless you Ruth Kolpack for your courage and commitment.

There are many denominations in which members who happen to live in a particular geographical area in a particular decade consult with each other and decide which traditionally Christian teachings are to be accepted and which are to be replaced. As a former Episcopalian, like the first respondent, I choose to be Catholic partly because the basic teachings in the catechism have input from the prayerful minds of people from all continents and cultures as they continue the tradition of past centuries. No one mind can interpret Christianity as well as the collective wisdom of those many thinkers.
A pastoral associate who teaches what she believes when it is not what the church as a whole teaches is sowing confusion.

For a more balanced approach to this story, I'd suggest that you all check out this story on the American Papist blog.

Check out the comments on there...some of you all may learn something new and 'spirit-led'!

What century are these people living in? The issues of women as priests,married clery and lay involvement are not going to go away. Catholics are much more educated and informed; they love their church and are much better versed in the gospels than earlier generations. They are not going to stop talking or writing because the patriarchy can't keep up. The church is a living growing body of humans not a historic monolith. We are Catholic and required by Jesus to question. In order to do that we as members of the Body of Christ remember there should always be "unity in diversity" and "and in all things Charity". Weren't they Augustines teachings?

Dear dt

What a stupid comment. Do we have all the facts? Of course we do. Whan did the NCR ever print a biased article?

Wait a minute all you who are throwing stones at Ruth.

Re-read the article. She didn't refuse the profession of faith or the oath of loyalty. It never got to that. She refused to refute her thesis because the bishop who hadn't read it said she should.

How is that being a shepherd? That is being a tyrant who is willing to believe that "bits and pieces" of a masters thesis are enough to condemn it. That is listening to whispers from people who are too scared to say what they think in public rather than take the time to listen to the person who is sitting in front of him. How is ten minutes sufficient time to interview someone who has years of faithful service? I haven't read her thesis, so I can't speak to her orthodoxy or lack thereof. Neither can the bishop.

Also - she received the M.Div. from St. Francis - a Catholic seminary. Have all her teachers there been fired? What about the priests who studied with the same professors? Why isn't the bishop examining all of them?

Martha Bains

Dear Eleanor777

The bishop wouldnt speak because a frivolous suit for defamation would be costly. That's why we only have one side of the story.

Where I work, you can't even speak well of a former employee, lest the company be sued by another former employee who doesnt get praised. You are instructed to say nothing.

read Fr. Schillebeeckx's perfect works on Ministry, and see the pastoral role this good woman served faithfully since 1971. In this age of no vocations worth a dime, we need thousands of her, not to fire her.

Time for the hierarchical Church to embrace and to hear its finest theologians, such as the great Dominican (and self-proclaimed "Happy Theologian") the Reverend Father Edward Schillebeeckx, who precisely defined this very point. It is time for the bishops to read and to study our faith, not to play power/authority (again see Father Schillebeeckx upon this point as well).

It is time for those guys up enclosed in the towers to come outside and embrace the People of God.

Has Dolan learned any Spanish yet? Or does he hope to get by with Vatican style Italian?

Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis!
Give birth to the Church which serves and liberates all God's people into the fullness of grace and ministry of our people, no matter what their externally imposed title and functions may be.

Our bishops (and too many priests) resemble the corporate CEO's that have driven our country's economy into ruin. By their corrupt actions of covering the sex abuse scandal and taking responsibility for their actions they have ruined the financial health of our church. Now they are cutting staff in many dioceses and parishes. Many folks who have dedicated their lives to serving the church for little pay compared to their value in the market place. To do so they use the orthodoxy card. These men know how to run a business, and not well at that, but they lack any sense of justice and one might say spirituality. When I look at the gospel this is the very thing Jesus railed against that the law was meant to serve people not people to serve the law. When someone purports to have all the answers I know their relationship with God is nonexistent.
Everyone says here they are not leaving because it is their church. You are the church not these puerile celibate men! We ought to leave them en mass and follow Jesus. Let them alone to run their conservative brethren.

Poor Ruth! As one Pastoral Associate to another, my heart goes out to you.
I have been slowly dying in my role; ministries taken away, marginalization, etc. Yours is a bloody and sudden death. You and I have given our lives to the church. You with 30 years and I with 25. We both have masters degrees in church theology and years of ministry but that counts for nothing at all in the institutional church.
Our people love us and that is what I hold in my heart and I know that I answered God's call. I am too old and tired to seek justice now. That will have to be taken up by others who answer God's call for inclusiveness and justice.

Don't worry Lib-Heretics we are gradually returning to the teachings of the church and if you will not come we will remove you piece by piece. You have had nearly 50 years with your little "Experiments". Net Results? - Society is a total mess, abortion, sexual immorality, rampant materialism and pitting one gender against another via militant feminist which destroys the family...thank you Feminist Witches....lets not forget the insane reduction in vocations over that time, the liberalization of the seminaries and 1960's clergy whose lib "Diversity" and "Tolerance" covered the sins of pederast homosexual priests, and the total destruction of orthodoxy in the Catholic Universities. You have done your worst and indeed it is awful but as Jesus said, the gates of hell will not prevail. Its over for you heretics, admit your sins, repent, and recommit yourselves to the church. The church is an "Absolute Good", it is obviously not of this world, none of its doctrinal teachings are wrong...some of them are only "Hard" and in that I empathize with you, believe me I fail consistently to live up to them, but Jesus went way out of his way to explain, numerous times, that to follow him, the pathway to being a child of god, there will be suffering and it will be hard...just deal with it. Accept it. In the meantime, the Orthodox Catholics will follow the churches teaching on sexual morality AND helping the poor and the hungry as we always have. We will follow ALL the teachings not "SOME". Its over get used to it...your experiments are coming to an end. Admit your a sinner like us all, except and repent. We implore you. If not, tough love will continue to be employed and Thank God for it. Please join me in the confessional tomorrow so we can remove the beams out of our eyes together. God Bless

The thesis in question was written in 2003. Who or what prompted the review of its content in 2009? And what's so un-Catholic about inclusiveness? I thought thought that's what "catholic" means. Despite JPII's and other Vatican prelates' attempts, the issue of the role of women in the Catholic Church has not been irrevocably defined nor all discussion on this issue forever silenced - any more than its celibacy requirement for priests. What has happened in Madison is what takes place too often in dioceses ruled by JPII and Benedict 16's episcopal appointments. The "law-and-order" Catholics report to such appointees what they perceive as occasions for "confusing the faithful." The Catholic Taliban strikes again.

Sounds like this is another bishop, sadly there are far too many of them, whose approach to managing people is, My way or the highway. What about Jesus' way?

Jesus chastised Peter, calling him a stumbling block. As it was, so it is now, with so called church leaders leading inquisitions against good catholics. The real church - the body of believers - is almost always ahead of its so called leaders. Now more than ever the so called leaders are fools, hurting the church, and people like Ruth - the real leaders in the body of Christ - are being persecuted. As it was, so shall it be. When the bishops persecute you, and lie against you, and punish you, give thanks, for that was the way our ancestors treated the prophets of old.

Very saddened to see Ruth Kolpack lose her position at St. Thomas in Beloit, Wisconsin. I know Ruth and she has been very dedicated in her position at the three Beloit Parishes in the southern most part of our diocese. The same fate -pushed out or fired from your job- has happened to other female parish and diocesan employees under Bishop Morlino. And, how do I know this? Because it happened to me! We have a 'bad egg' for a Bishop. And, yes, we have a handful of parishes that no longer allow girls as altar servers, too. Our diocese is extremely divided and we cannot dialogue with the Bishop....he is ineffective, won't listen and is not pastoral. Please pray for the removal of Bishop Morlino out of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin!

If Ruth was fired because she pointed out that in the early Church, women were presiders of the Eucharist--she is correct. Women were. St. Paul called
certain women, "Apostles," "deacon" "Leader of the Church---Chloe in the letter to the Corinthians".

And what about the frescos found in the Catecombs of Rome--with a woman standing behind the Altar with bread and wine on it and her hands are spread upward calling down the Spirit of God?

Ruth ought to get herself a good lawyer (one who has a background in canon law as well--although canon law isn't like American civil law). She ought to take the bishop to court. No Catholic leaves their civil rights outside the church when they are baptized. Ruth's civil rights were violated. I can't even begin to list how many of her rights as a Catholic.

Tight values -- loose controls! Many of the decisions of the hierarchy appear to be based on the need for power and not on the work of the Holy Spirit alive in the Body of the Church. As a result we have the opposite, loose values and tight controls. Thank you for your years of service, Ms Kolpack, our prayers are with you.

Bishop Morlino’s Pricklish Personality Might Prove Costly
2008 June 20 by dekerivers
http://dekerivers.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/bishop-morlinos-pricklish-per...

How do Madison Catholic parishioners not laugh out loud when seeing Bishop Morlino?

The stories abound about his irksome personality, and near perfect ability to embarrass himself and the Catholic Church. If not trying to steer voters to cast ballots to reflect his own bigotry from the pulpit, he is trying to whitewash his involvement in the bloody School of the Americas. The school has different names, but the aim of military training that resulted in deaths in Central America from this school could not be missed by any sane person. Real men of God would call the school a sin, not sit on its board as Morlino did.

The ongoing petulant behavior of Morlino does not cast a favorable light on the diocese, and makes one wonder if the light of God made it all the way to the center of this Bishop’s heart. I am sure that many of the local priests have an answer.

According to the lawsuit, Phoenix Fundraising surveyed 6,000 parishioners and interviewed 83 diocesan priests. In a letter last November that is part of the lawsuit, Morlino told parishioners “all responses will be considered confidential.”

Priests also were granted confidentiality, according to the lawsuit. This was especially critical so they “felt free to comment without fear of repercussion,” the lawsuit says. Many of these priests “expressed concerns that were later summarized, without identifying information, in a report” to Morlino.

John Richert, president of Phoenix Fundraising, contends in the lawsuit that when he met with Morlino March 7, the bishop wanted the firm to turn over all 6,000 surveys as well as information from the priest interviews.

“Bishop Morlino insisted on the disclosure of the confidential data, including the names of specific priests who had expressed concerns or registered complaints about Bishop Morlino during the survey process,” the lawsuit says. “Bishop Morlino was visibly agitated when Richert refused to turn over this confidential information.”

One diocesan priest interviewed Thursday by the State Journal said he was relieved the company honored the confidentiality pledge. The priest said he participated in the Phoenix survey.

“I really respect the company for that,” said the priest, who was granted anonymity by the State Journal because he said he feared negative fallout from Morlino. “This just seems unjust on so many levels. Beyond that, it’s just embarrassing.”

He said morale is low among priests and some parishioners are stunned by the lawsuit.

“I think they’re amazed that Morlino would risk this kind of bad publicity,” he said.

But now there is a new story in the Wisconsin State Journal that makes all the tittering and whispering in the pews start anew.

A fundraising firm hired by the Madison Catholic Diocese to gauge support for rebuilding St. Raphael Cathedral says Bishop Robert Morlino insisted the firm turn over confidential information gathered from surveys and interviews, including the names of priests who complained about Morlino.

The firm, Phoenix Fundraising Counsel of Madison, says it refused to disclose the confidential data on priests and parishioners and now can’t get the diocese to pay its bill.

It has sued the diocese in Dane County Circuit Court for payment of at least $350,000, which includes work on a feasibility study and a planned capital campaign.

This all makes me so very sad. Another person, who believes in God, Jesus and the Gospel is fired. I have seen this too many times - devoted, giving people, just kicked out or in Ruth's case fired - - do we just kick someone out of our family? No! We should care for each other and listen to each other with respect.
I truly believe in our God, Jesus, the Gospel. But, so often I don't see this in our institutional church and this story is another example of power/control instead of love and compassion.

Church Music Director Sacked for Being Gay
September 16, 2008
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid61511.asp

The music director of a Wisconsin Catholic church has been fired for living "an openly gay life," reports the Wisconsin State Journal.

Charles Philyaw had worked as director of music liturgy for the St. Andrew Catholic Church in Verona since 2004, eventually directing the church choir, leading the liturgy committee, and playing for multiple masses on a weekly basis.

But in June, according to the State Journal, the church's parish priest, the Reverend Dave Timmerman, informed Philyaw he was being let go because he led an openly gay life. Philyaw and his partner, James Mulder-Philyaw, were active participants in the Verona religious community.

Apparently, Philyaw's firing came after five parishioners raised concerns about the gay couple's visibility at church functions and activities. The church's bishop got involved, which eventually led to Philyaw's termination.

"Absolutely, Chuck lost his job because he's openly gay," Jo Ellen Kilkenny, one of the five parishioners who raised concerns about Philyaw, told the State Journal. Kilkenny said she did not intend to get Philyaw fired but felt uncomfortable after receiving Communion from Mulder-Philwaw and contacted the diocese for spiritual direction.

There's no word yet on whether Philyaw is planning a lawsuit against the church. What is clear is that Philyaw and Mulder-Philyaw are now facing a possible foreclosure on their home. St. Andrew Catholic Church has also been turned upside down by the firing, with many people feeling Philyaw was unjustly let go.

Wisconsin protects workers from sexual orientation discrimination, though churches are allowed to hire or fire without regard to discrimination laws if an employee's main duties are ecclesiastical or ministerial. The gray area in this case is whether Philyaw's position fell under those categories. (Neal Broverman, The Advocate)

Jury dismisses priest's suit; Bishop Morlino addresses background on case
-- Posted: 8/9/2005

http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/2005-08-04/index.html

JANESVILLE/MADISON -- On Aug. 4, a jury in Janesville decided against Fr. Gerald Vosen, a priest of the Diocese of Madison on administrative leave who claimed he was falsely accused of sexual abuse by a former altar boy.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury rejected claims that the now 26-year-old man had defamed Father Vosen. Father Vosen, 71, had sued the man in 2004 claiming the allegations were false. The jury concluded the allegations were substantially true.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison had placed Father Vosen on administrative leave in February of 2004. He said an investigation by the Diocesan Review Board had confirmed that at least one of three victims' allegations was credible. The diocese referred the case to the Vatican.

Because Father Vosen faces a canonical trial in the Diocese of Madison in the future, Bishop Morlino said that he cannot comment on the specifics of the verdict in the civil trial in Janesville. He did address the background on the case.

"With the advice of the Diocesan Review Board, I placed Father Vosen on administrative leave and reported the matter to the Holy See in accord with church law," said Bishop Morlino. "The Holy See has instructed that a canonical trial take place to determine Father Vosen's guilt or innocence. Thus any personal judgment in this matter is of no consequence because the matter will be resolved by a canonical tribunal of which I am not a member.

"All individuals have a right to a good name and to resort to the civil courts to protect their good name. While I would hope, that in general, Catholic priests would not resort to our civil court system, I cannot curtail their rights as citizens under the laws of the United States. It is our tradition in the United States that one is considered innocent until proven guilty.

"Since the canonical procedures ordered by the Holy See have begun, the whole matter is subject to pontifical secrecy and the penalties for any violation of this secrecy are very grave indeed," said Bishop Morlino. "So, as we continue to pray for all victims and for all priests, no one should be surprised at the lack of comment from the Bishop's Office or elsewhere."

Verona church music director fired for openly gay life
SEP 15, 2008

Philyaw says he was fired as director of music liturgy at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Verona after five parishioners raised concerns about his openly gay life.

His firing has divided parishioners, pitting friends against friends and spawning a sharp debate over Christ's teachings. More than 100 church members signed a petition -- sent to Morlino -- praising Philyaw and bemoaning his dismissal. But others say Philyaw's firing was inevitable because his employment made a mockery of Catholic doctrine.

His firing has not shaken his faith in God, he said. He and his partner now worship with a United Church of Christ congregation.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/304781

Ruth told the truth about the patriarchy in the church in a thesis she wrote six years ago. The bishop, we are told, did not read the entire thesis, only bits and pieces. It allegedly mentions women's ordination and inclusive language as well. If Ruth was fired for not recanting what she wrote in the thesis, I say that she is a courageous woman and unfairly burned a heretic. Let's take this story and use it for good - this incident helps us greatly in the cause of equality. Without this story, we would not so easily make a point of the sexism in the church. Now, do you see where this already has taken us? To a point where I am pretty certain that more people will stand up and face the sexism and demand justice. Thank you, Ruth, for holding your ground and not renouncing your beliefs. You are a great role model.

"Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" - Mathew 5: 16

Amid all this turmoil for Bishop Morlino, it may be relevant to quote Jean Vanier when he addressed the meditation to the Bishops of the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion on July 30, 1998.

http://www.zenit.org/article-7081?l=english

Jean Vanier on the Meaning of the Washing of Feet

"I know, we all know, how difficult it is to exercise authority and power. Either we are too controlling, and want everything to be in order -- preventing people, or not permitting them to be empowered. We try in every way just to hold on to things. Or else we run away -- we do nothing. We want to be popular and want everyone to love us, so we don't make decisions. And we hurt people by making the decision of not making decisions."

"Jesus knows that to exercise authority is not easy. I know myself. For many years I was responsible for my community. How quickly I could hurt people by not taking the time to listen to those who are weaker; to those who weren't of my idea; to those who maybe had a different vision; to those who could criticize things which were really criticizable in me or in things that I had done. I saw a lot of fear in me. It is not easy to exercise authority. It is not easy to be parents -- to help children to gradually come to freedom, and not to be there just to control them. Instead to help each one to become themselves."

"Everyone of us here, we exercise power in some way -- as parents, teachers, priests, bishops. And we know that it is not easy servant leadership -- to really give ourselves to others; to help each one to rise up; to know when to make decisions. It is difficult. We need that power of the Holy Spirit, because without that power of the Spirit we will never be able to exercise authority as Jesus exercises it."

May the Holy Spirit guide Bishop Morlino to resolve this issue, bearing in mind: Mathew 5: 16 -
"Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

God bless,
M.Francis

For those interested in a less NCR-biased article, although you probably wouldn't be on here if you were, check out www.americanpapist.com.

Support our Bishops!

I wonder if NCR could share with us the entire thesis Ruth wrote. Then we could all see what is so bad that she had to be fired. Or we might see why she shouldn't have been.

Happenings like this are just another form of abuse of power by clergy.It's happening all over the world.There's usually a pattern-whenever a woman does well in Church related /social activities, she is labelled a feminist and very soon conservative catholics and clergy begin with false accusations/lies and faultfinding--then she gets fired, without any reason or explanation or face-to-face talk with the accusers.It's the usual EVIL in these clerics.Enough of it! At least I don't care a straw about their EGOs .In today's world,such thinking would not be tolerated in the corporate world .There ought to be a spirit of collaboration rather than dictatorship by Men!

They say that God is Love.If this is true, women should be able to love themselves as women -in God's presence. If instead religion is always reminding women that we are worthless or less worthy or subject to men forever, then I doubt whether God is Love. I would rather do without religion.It is hell anyway with the way clerics treat women.

Unfortunately it is the Bishop who is at fault. He thinks he knows everything when in fact he knows very little. When he was in Helena MT he was known by everyone as "Bishop Jerk" (as well as many other epithets that were even ruder), and they were mightily glad to see the back of him when he departed. Since arriving in Madison it is clear that he hasn't changed. One wonders if the burning down of his cathedral was a sign of God's judgement on his ministry so far. ;)

As long as the laity tolerates such abuse of power it will continue. The congregation can only blame itself if it allows the use of anonymous allegations to attack a person who has an outstanding record. It is not as though this is so unusual. You (the laity) are only powerless is you accept the Bishop's decission. Speak out. Disobey irrational bullies who try to impose their dicissions then pretend they cannot speak because they want to protect the reputation of the person they have abused.

I thought when you did something wrong while in the employ of the Church, you were quitely moved to another parish. when did this policy change?

As a graduate student, following the guidelines for lay ecclesial formation set up by the USCCB in 2007, I find this situation very troubling. I am putting myself in debt since I am a lay person and not permitted to use any monies that seminarians have access to. I identify with Ruth, insofar that I have dedicated my life to working in the church that I grew up in and love deeply; I serve the People of God using ALL the gifts and talents God granted me. This Catholic church is my chosen avenue to Christ - I gave my "oath of loyalty" back in third grade when I was confirmed; I have had no reason to change that over the last 45 years of service. Every educational opportunity that presented itself, I took advantage of so that I could be the most prepared and knowledgeable for the People of God I serve. When 20-somethings assume they know more about the church's teachings, that's when they need to be sure they have done their homework - even after 45 years I know that there is so much more to know! When I was a 20-something my humble respect for my elders and their wisdom was an important attribute in character. And humility? There is such a thing as false humility. True humility is based on honesty in any relationship. Where is the humility on the part of this man who is privileged to be bishop? Where was Christ in his persona in this situation? Perhaps I missed it somewhere in the Gospels that Jesus had sinners declare an oath of loyalty in order to follow him...sorry - that was a bit sarcastic...time to sign off

"with an implicit exclusion of women from key roles, such as the priesthood."
- Well considering that the discussion on women's ordination has been closed and the Church's statement on it placed in the Deposit of Faith, this is not surprising. It's a bit of a non story if you asked me.

Hye Chostwo I am casting the first stone right at the heart of liberalism. I really really hate you people and what you have done to the Church. Good honest hatred. I pray that the war in the Church finally become violent, where you liberals, both laymen and clerics are forver driven from the church. It is your side with its "tolerance" and "diversity" that have crippled Mother Church, caused confusion among the faithful, decimated the liturgy, allowed sodomites to infect the priesthood like the plague that they are, drop of in Church attendance, and every other rotten thing that happened to the Church. I accuse, your side, I accuse and condemn it. I dont want diaglogue or collegiality, I want you gone. I detest everything about you people,, you would more quickly applaud a sodmoite priest for "coming out" during the Mass then allow traditionalist to hold have the Tridentine Rite.
May this war in Church continue until your side is GONE....

Figures you would quote a protestant bishop whose church is fast becoming irrelevant

Those in the parish who are rightfully saddened by what has been done to Ruth Kolpack should leave (or at least stage a temporary boycott) the Church. Vote with your feet and your wallets!

Finally, "I am not a scholar..." has hit on it. This woman only received her masters a few years ago and she is near retirement. She has no great body of work which would qualify her as a scholar. What pretension to greatness she possesses. [I have a master's degree in another field and have written much, but I am not at the scholarly level either.]

The woman believes in women's ordination and feminist terminology in the liturgy. The institution if it was Catholic that approved her thesis is wrong-headed as well. The bishop didn't have to read the whole thesis to know her views. Presumably, the jig was finally up when perhaps the latest pastor, or some parishioners brought this to the attention of the bishop.

The other problem with this woman at this parish is that she's considered the center and the "foundation" of the work of the parish. That's creepy. Jesus should be the parish's foundation. As far as temporal leadership, the pastor should lead and spiritually guide the parish, not a lay woman (or man). This is the Roman Catholic model: clergy leadership. The ordained ARE different, but not BETTER. We do need to marry and to have numerous children and encourage them to be open to vows of marry and to vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We need to reproduce to continue the faith. It's a good thing that the pope is instituting the Year of the Priesthood. These men's roles have been "diluted" and need to be re-invigorated and set in their rightful place.

Hang in there "20 something moderate".

I actually remember Father Morlino from my childhood: he gave sermons that left my parents outraged and me crying for mercy. Never in my experience have I met a less pastoral man, or one who had less compassion for women. I am deeply saddened that a person who has so clearly served, inspired and helped her community has been let go on what looks very much like ideological grounds. The beauty of our Catholic Church is that it has--in many ways--been the location of work for justice, peace and human dignity. The pendulum has swung again, and here is another casualty.

Finally, "I am not a scholar..." has hit on it. This woman only received her masters a few years ago and she is near retirement. She has no great body of work which would qualify her as a scholar. What pretension to greatness she possesses. [I have a master's degree in another field and have written much, but I am not at the scholarly level either.]

The woman believes in women's ordination and feminist terminology in the liturgy. The institution if it was Catholic that approved her thesis is wrong-headed as well. The bishop didn't have to read the whole thesis to know her views. Presumably, the jig was finally up when perhaps the latest pastor, or some parishioners brought this to the attention of the bishop.

The other problem with this woman at this parish is that she's considered the center and the "foundation" of the work of the parish. That's creepy. Jesus should be the parish's foundation. As far as temporal leadership, the pastor should lead and spiritually guide the parish, not a lay woman (or man). This is the Roman Catholic model: clergy leadership. The ordained ARE different, but not BETTER. We do need to marry and to have numerous children and encourage them to be open to vows of marry and to vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We need to reproduce to continue the faith. It's a good thing that the pope is instituting the Year of the Priesthood. These men's roles have been "diluted" and need to be re-invigorated and set in their rightful place.

Hang in there "20 something moderate".

Hello all,
Have you read the entire article? It states...

No specific accusations supporting the dismissal have been publicly made. A news release issued by Kolpack supporters stated that over the past three years, Madison diocese officials received “several accusations” against Kolpack.

No one knows what these accusations were or how long the diocese has been working with her to try to get her to change. You are hearing one side of the story and we all know we always try to make ourselves look very innocent.

Don't judge.

Colleen

For those of us who believe that a Bishop has a responsibility to see that the Catholic faith is taught accurately, actions like this are, for the most part, a godsend. Bishop Morlino, however, is known even among some orthodox faithful and priests for being a bit of a bull in a china shop. I would urge the orthodox posters on this board to consider that some aspects of this may have been badly handled, even if the decision was unavoidable if the Bishop was to do his job. As frustrating as the angry dissidents are, when we respond in an uncharitable tone we do the devil's work for him.

That being said, I am shocked but not surprised by the astonishing vitriol being poured out at the bishop. This is nothing new to Madison; the previous Bishop had to close down a minor seminary, shrinking in enrollment and hemorrhaging money, that hadn't produced a vocation to the priesthood in decades. He also had to intervene at UW-Madison to get them to offer students litugy and teaching that was not off-the-wall; for both things he got vilified in the press and had TV cameras called to the campus.

You never read in the papers that a tight-knit group of middle aged "progressives" was using its institutional and bureaucratic power at the University Catholic Center to squelch students who wanted something more in line with the Catholic faith they had been raised in and wanted to learn better and follow. You also never read in the local papers that UW-Madison is now generating vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and is a national model for campus ministries that draws people from all over the country for workshops and training; that's not the news progressives want to hear.

I have to say first and foremost (as others have) the startling harshness of so many on this issue. I have to say this especially towards those who tend to be regular readers and commenters in the NCR family, who are here often because of the "rigidity," "judgmentalism," etc. that they perceive to come from orthodox Catholics and orthodox Catholic teaching.

That being said, I believe the article, is pretty clear that what should be expected of Ms. Kolpack was indeed expected, in that she was given a chance to make a statement of faith and loyalty. Why would anyone who worked for the Church be unwilling to do this. We are servants of the Church and Her message, we are not there to push our own messages or agendas. As a pastoral associate Ms. Kolpack has the responisibility to pass on the faith, and the message of the faith is quite clear.

If she prides herself as an ACADEMIC (I'm not sure what an academician even is) then why did she not continue on in her studies, or at least puruse a position of academia, where her "reputation as a scholar" could be put to better use.

There seems to be a lot of suspicion in this article, and I must say, from all the accusations against the bishop, the suspicion seems to come very clearly from Mr. Kolpack and the writing of the NCR

Keep it up "Moderate Catholic 20-something." Good for you for standing up for the Church - you seem to be a lonely voice here. I don't have an opinion on this story yet, because we don't know all the facts. I'll be interested to see what other details come out. But I must say to the people jumping in on the side of 'diverse opinions' and 'alternate viewpoints' in the Church, I do think it's reasonable to question whether you're approaching your faith appropriately. If you are truly Catholic, you believe that the Church is an authority on moral teachings (this is pretty much the definition of being Catholic as opposed to other Christian denominations). Certainly, that authority is not infallible on all issues, but when a person's default response is one of disagreement, dissent, and opposition, it makes me question whether you submit your will to God or submit only to your own "conscience" (which when not formed properly guided by the teaching of your Church means sumbitting to nothing but your own feelings and opinions). So as a fellow, Catholic 20-something, I wanted to lend a voice of support to those who decide not to jump down the Church's throat at every possible opportunity. Let's see how the facts play out and see if this woman's thesis/teachings/actions turn out to be in opposition to official Church teachings.

Not that this should be a rallying point for all of us, but I would like to include myself "publically" on the list of Catholic twenty-somethings!

I was going to explain my perception of the dreadful handling of this incident, but I decided not to because Lydia Cypher, Phoenix, Arizona, said it all and rightly on March 17.

Complaints against Bishop

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/292544

Lawsuit: Bishop demanded names of complaining priests
Pat Schneider — 6/20/2008 1:33 pm

Diocese of Madison officials were tight-lipped Friday about a lawsuit charging that the church reneged on a contract after a consulting firm refused to tell Bishop Robert Morlino which priests complained about him in a survey on the prospects of a planned $70 million capital campaign to build a new cathedral.

William Yallaly, an associate director of communications, said Friday that the diocese would not comment on the lawsuit filed earlier this month in Dane County Circuit Court by Phoenix Fundraising Counsel of Madison, which is seeking payment of $350,000 for services rendered and other damages. Phoenix attorney Timothy Edwards also declined to comment.

It's not the first time the outspoken, deeply conservative Morlino has been accused of heavy-handed tactics. In 2006, his threat of repercussions against any priest who challenged his hard-line stance against same-sex marriage -- including a mandatory, recorded sermon to be aired at Sunday Mass -- prompted some area Catholics to lash out in a full page ad in local newspapers.

The multi-million-dollar capital campaign was being planned at a time when the diocese was consolidating parishes because of a shortage of priests and confronting criticism from rank-and-file Catholics for placing bricks-and-mortar spending ahead of social justice initiatives.

This time around, Phoenix claims that despite a November 2007 letter to parishioners promising that all survey results would be "considered confidential," Morlino on March 7 personally pressured Phoenix president and CEO John Richert to turn over the results to him. Morlino demanded the names of priests who expressed concerns or who registered complaints about him in the survey process and was "visibly agitated" when Richert refused, the lawsuit against the diocese says.

As part of a feasibility study for a capital campaign to replace the arson-ravaged St. Raphael Cathedral downtown, Phoenix interviewed 83 priests, many of whom expressed concerns later summarized without identifying information in a report to Morlino.

Confidentiality is a common, accepted practice in the fundraising industry and imperative to maintain Phoenix's credibility as an independent third party, the lawsuit says. It also says it was an essential tool to ensure that parishioners and priests felt free to comment without fear of retribution.

Diocesan officials requested confidential survey results for a second time on March 12, according to the lawsuit.

On March 26, Morlino told Richert that the capital campaign would be on hold for at least a year and that the diocese would not hire Phoenix when the capital campaign resumed, the lawsuit says. Asked why, Morlino reportedly told Richert that because Richert was held in such high regard by priests, he might be in a compromised position if the priests and Morlino disagreed about the campaign.

In his April 3 column in the Catholic Herald, Morlino wrote that after praying on and considering the results of the feasibility study report, as well as checking on "the signs of the times," he decided to postpone the capital campaign for at least one year.

"Let me be clear that I do not detect opposition to a capital campaign in the feasibility study, but I do observe unanswered questions, to which I hope to give a response in this intervening period," Morlino wrote. "I believe we are blessed in the general conviction of our people, in support of the cathedral project."

Richert had indicated his agreement with Morlino's reading of the study, Morlino wrote. He went on to cite the faltering economy as a sign that the timing for the capital campaign was not right.

On April 4, the diocese officially announced that the campaign would be postponed.

The lawsuit against the diocese details several instances in which diocesan officials promised to "take care of the paperwork" on what Phoenix proposed to be a $6.5 million contract for a 152-week capital campaign and represented publicly that Phoenix was the capital campaign counsel.

By March, Phoenix offered the diocese a pared-down, less expensive contract, it alleges in the lawsuit. By March 28, Phoenix presented the diocese with an invoice for $487,816, which the diocese countered with an offer to pay $350,000, with an initial payment of $250,000, that Richert reluctantly accepted. The diocese never paid these amounts as promised, the lawsuit says.

Next Pope Morlino -

Great Resumes do not make great Popes

ExJesuit climbs Episcopal Ladder

Why did this former Jesuit cahnge over to become a diocesan Priest?
To climb the Episcopal Ladder?
All power corrupts.
Absolute Power corrupts absolutely

http://www.sentinel.org/node/4028

The new bishop, as I mentioned earlier, was ordained a Jesuit priest but eventually was incardinated as a diocesan priest of Kalamazoo back in 1983.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_C._Morlino

In addition to his graduation from the Maryland Jesuit seminary, Morlino completed an undergraduate degree of Philosophy at Fordham University. He also studied at the University of Notre Dame (Master of Philosophy), Weston School of Theology (Master of Divinity), and the Gregorian University (Doctor of Moral Theology).

As a priest, Morlino taught philosophy at several colleges and universities, including Boston College, the University of Notre Dame, and Loyola College. In 1981, he was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, where he served as the administrator of several parishes, and also in within the diocesan structure.

On July 6, 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed him the ninth Bishop of Helena, where he served for almost four years until 2003, when John Paul II again appointed him the fourth Bishop of Madison.

Women priests? Political correctness is an improper way to evaluate the Church. Where is it written that anybody, man or woman is entitled to be a priest? Every Call to Orders is a Call from God so the argument about women as priests is really between an individual and God.
How does one know one has received a Call? The individual who experiences it has to demonstrate it in their lives. But the Church, too, must discern the authenticity of the Call. Have some women felt they have received an authentic Call? I suspect so. Will the Church someday conclude that a woman has received an authentic Call? I don't know.
Please, let us always remember that the Church is a Divine institution. It was not something that Peter & Paul cooked up, and it has not been maintained along the way just because men and women have upheld it. In fact, one of my favorite saints is Catherine of Siena for what she said to a pope.
One last thought, on a secular level: let us say that a high official for Toyota came out at the L.A. Auto Show and spoke of the good things of Subaru? Should that person keep their job?

Morlino preaches Politics

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/305013

Bishop Morlino's political positioning
An editorial — 9/16/2008 6:29 pm

Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino has every right -- and, many serious commentators on religion and politics would suggest, every responsibility -- to express his views on whether Catholics who are seeking public office are remaining true to their faith as they operate in the public sphere.

So it would be silly, indeed, to object to Morlino's griping about Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden's stance on abortion.

Like many Catholic politicians, Democrats and Republicans, Biden does not seek to write church doctrine into the laws of the land. Rather, he expresses his personal and religious concerns with regard to abortion but argues that others ought to be able to come to their own conclusions about this procedure. "This is between a person's God, if they believe in God, their doctor and themselves," says Biden.

Bishop Morlino disagrees. He objects to the approach taken by Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a number of other Democratic leaders who are practicing Catholics. The bishop argues that Biden, Pelosi and others who believe that women have a right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy have failed in their responsibility to reason to a conclusion that abortion is wrong.

"Senator Biden has an obligation to know that, and he doesn't know it," says Morlino. "It's not pretty."

In fact, the intersection of faith, reason and policy is often lacking in prettiness.

Blunt statements against one politician or politicians of one party open the critic to charges of hypocrisy or partisanship. And there have been grumbles about the fact that, while Bishop Morlino is quick to call out Catholic politicians who deviate from church views regarding abortion, he has been slow to complain about Catholic politicians, such as state Sen. Alan Lasee, R-DePere, who are at odds with the church's anti-death penalty teachings.

Of even more concern, however, is the failure of the bishop to be more outspoken on questions of war and peace. The Catholic hierarchy, internationally and in the U.S., has distinguished itself over the past seven years by challenging the Bush administration's doctrine of pre-emptive war. Indeed, few issues have brought the current and previous popes and the U.S. bishops into the news in recent years so frequently and so righteously as the objection of the church to wars of whim rather than necessity.

Yet Bishop Morlino has not objected to the steady support by a number of Catholic politicians, including U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, to pre-emptive war-making.

The bishop does, indeed, have a right to express his views and those of the church with regard to the stances and statements of Catholic politicians regarding abortion.

But he would be taken a lot more seriously if he embraced the consistent ethic of life and morality that would also require equally blunt assessments of the stance and statements of Catholic politicians regarding the death penalty, pre-emptive war, poverty and a host of other issues about which the Catholic church's positions are just as clear as they are on the issue of abortion.

Conflict Resolution

Rather than wash all this dirty linen in public, the folks in Wisconsin ought to address their grievances to the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican ambassador)

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States,

Mailing Address: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W, Washington, DC, USA

Telephone: (202)333-7121
Fax: 337-4036

Peace,

We live in a church where any lay worker can be fired at will. This is totally unjust. The church talks about rights for workers but then turns around and is unjust with its own workers. Would Jesus have fired someone for talking about God in many and inclusive ways? Jesus himself spoke about God through parables and in many ways. The Church today needs to be able to do the same and, definitely, nobody should be fired for writing a thesis about something that Jesus himself did.

What I find most frustrating about those who are cheerleading for Ms. Kolpack's dismissal and the unfair way in which Bishop Morlino chose to fire her is that none of you have read her thesis (obviously, correct me if I'm wrong), none of you participated in the meeting between her and the bishop, and we have no firm explanation from the bishop's office as to what the meting consisted of. I can understand your desire to have someone who is faithful to church teaching working in your parish, but none of you have any evidence besides hearsay (and, it seems as the comments go on, exaggerations a la the game "Telephone") as to why Ms. Kolpack was fired. I'm also appalled by the tone so many are taking - mocking her 30-some years of work IN and FOR the church, and her education which is equal to that of every priest in the US. Why? Because she may (or may not even, again, have you read the document in question?) have some different ideas than you regarding non-infallible and non-dogmatic teachings?

1. You are a Catholic ONLY if you believe the teachings of the Church. There is no such thing as a "dissenting" Catholic. You may obviously call yourself a Catholic, but then, you can call yourself a turtle, but it doesn't make you one.

2. She is not entitled to that job. It is not hers. The job belongs to the diocese, and the diocese alone.

3. The horse is already out of the gate. Discipline has entirely dissipated from the Roman Catholic church, and now that churches are full of Episcopalian-wannabes who call themselves Catholics, and are under the mistaken notion that the church is a democracy, it cannot be imposed.

4. Good riddance.