What is it about Scranton
…and its Roman Catholic Bishops?
From the Citizens Voice: Scranton bishop tells forum his letter is ‘only relevant document’ for diocese.
Local and national Catholics reacted Tuesday to statements by Bishop Joseph F. Martino apparently discounting teachings of the national body of bishops during a political forum at a Honesdale Roman Catholic Church this weekend.
Martino arrived unannounced in the midst of a panel discussion on faith issues and the presidential campaign at St. John’s Catholic Church on Sunday. According to people who attended the event, the bishop chastised the group for holding the forum and particularly took issue with the discussion and distribution of excerpts from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position on voting issues. The document defines abortion and euthanasia, as well as racism, torture and genocide, as among the most important issues for Catholic voters to consider.
—No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese,— he was quoted as saying in the Wayne County Independent, a Honesdale-based newspaper. —The USCCB doesn’t speak for me.—
Thomas Shepstone, a local businessman and Catholic who spoke about his opposition to abortion rights during the event, recalled Tuesday that Martino also told the audience that he voted against the U.S. Bishops’ statement and described it as a consensus document —written to mean all things to all people.—
According to participants, Martino expressed dismay that the panelists did not discuss the pastoral letter he directed all priests in the Diocese to read in place of their homilies on Oct. 4 and 5. In that letter, he called on Catholic voters to consider abortion above all other issues, except those he defined as having equal moral weight, like euthanasia and embryonic stem-cell research.
—The only relevant document … is my letter,— he said at the forum, according to the Independent. —There is one teacher in this diocese, and these points are not debatable.—
According to the Independent, the bishop also said he no longer supports the Democratic Party.
A diocesan spokesman on Tuesday confirmed the bishop’s comments as reported in the Independent…
And, this one’s the kicker:
Tagle said the bishop criticized the resident pastor, the Rev. Martin Boylan, for holding the forum and —seemed to justify his presence there by stating that he owned the building.—
I think Bishop Martino is channeling Bishops O’Hara and Hoban.
I found this article through the blog Another Monkey in The Bishop is not the Church. Obviously The writer’s understanding of the Bishop’s role is confused, and I can see why. Where the Bishop is, there is the Church, but of course confusion ensues when the Bishop concerns himself with politics and property ownership over the spiritual well being of his flock. His role is to teach. Teach is not spelled B U L L Y. If he taught his flock in love and channeled their energies into making over the earth, rather than one election, he would have far better success.
Perhaps the bishop needs a refresher on prudence:
Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; “the prudent man looks where he is going.” “Keep sane and sober for your prayers.” Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle. It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid. — The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1806
This CNS story on a homily by Archbishop Quinn from four long years ago is also instructive.
Thank you for posting the Bp Martino article and your excellent evaluation of the article . . . . . Since 1897 Scranton continues to be in the news . . . . .
That was not an accurate representation of what Bishop Martino said. He didn’t sayt that USCCB document was notrelevant to THIS election. In which case, he is correct since there is only one pro-death candidate. The document was developed to assist voters when they are trying to decide between two pro-death candidates. That is irrelevant in this election. The bishop was correct.
Also, whether or not you liked that way the bishop delivered the news that it was his property, he was correct. It is his property and he had every right to be there. He made that fact known after he was politely asked to leave. He politely responded.
Glad I could help.
Mike,
Thank you for visiting.
For more information on Mr. McCain’s pro-abortion stand and his support of embryonic stem cell research you can view my post on the subject here. Note that most of the information comes from a Roman Catholic source.
A fully formed conscience cannot react to the ramblings of political fan-boys or others who seek to throw a smoke screen around their candidates’ positions. Both of the major party candidates fail on their support of life from conception to a natural death. It is sad and sinful, but typical of the pandering politicians engage in. As Christians we must look past the pandering to the reality.
On the property issue, obviously our Church has an entirely different view of who owns that property – i.e., it is the people who have built the church and who support each and every week.
It is not that “I didn’t like” the bishop’s heavy handed assertion of ownership, it is rather that the bishop was just wrong. Roman Catholic bishops in the United States are simply wrong on that issue (among others). This is likely the sentiment among many Roman Catholics, they just don’t know what to do about it (hint, join or start a PNCC parish).