Pope's rep: U.S. bishops shouldn't preach ideology

[UrbScotty]

The Vatican ambassador to the U.S., addressing American bishops at their first national meeting since Pope Francis was elected, said Monday they should not “follow a particular ideology” and should make Roman Catholics feel more welcome in church.

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano noted the challenges from broader society to Christian teaching. He cautioned that the bishops’ witness to faith would be undermined if they failed to live simply. Francis, in office for eight months, has captured attention for eschewing some of the pomp of the papacy, including his decision to live in the Vatican hotel and his use of an economy car.

“There has to be a noticeable lifestyle characterized by simplicity and holiness of life. This is a sure way to bring our people to an awareness of the truth of our message,” said Vigano, the apostolic nuncio based in Washington.

“The Holy Father wants bishops in tune with their people,” Vigano said, noting that he visited the pope in June. “He made a special point of saying that he wants pastoral bishops, not bishops who profess or follow a particular ideology.”

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131111/RELIGION/311110094#ixzz2kN3r7uEE

[Dawson Leery]

1. kick

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

2. As I said in the other thread on this,

It won't be easy, since apparently both John Paul II and Benedict wanted ideological bishops. Certainly, under the last Pope, activist nuns were slapped down by the Vatican for not pushing the ideological stances the Vatican wanted. From a 2012 Huffington Post story,

The Vatican announced in April that a team of bishops would take control of the LCWR in order to make the nuns hew more closely and publicly to orthodox teachings on sexuality and theology.

[ColesCountyDem]

3. I've not seen any national statistics on attendance, but locally...

... attendance is WAY up, according to my cousin Mike, who was recently ordained as a Deacon in the Belleville IL Diocese. He says that EVERY Sunday, he sees both 'old faces' who had lapsed, or been 'turned off' by JP2, and brand-new faces who now see the Roman Catholic church as a place where they will be welcomed, loved and ministered to.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Kick and Rec

[rbrnmw]

5. kick

I love our Pope I pray he lives to be a 110 he so refreshing my mother who died in July wouldbhave loved this Pope He was elected the day my father died we were watching it after the funeral home came and took him. we were all a wreck but I remember seeing his kind face and it gave me comfort.

[rustbeltvoice]

6. the quality of the bishops

“The Holy Father wants bishops in tune with their people,” Vigano said, noting that he visited the pope in June. “He made a special point of saying that he wants pastoral bishops, not bishops who profess or follow a particular ideology.”


Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano is the papal nuncio [the ambassador] to the United States. This statement he makes is wonderful news. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is our Francis. As the eastern Church says frequently, "May God grant him many blessed years". Bergoglio was second in voting in the previous conclave. We can only imagine how things would be different, if he had more votes then.

I am not John Allen, nor David Gibson, nor a professional journalist; but as a national delegation, the United States may very well have the worst bishops on earth. Timothy Dolan, currently in New York City, is an attention seeking windbag. Robert Finn of Kansas City was convicted of failing to report suspected child abuse. Finn was extreme in using his office to inveigh for the Republican Party, and he is not the only one. Cardinal Raymond Burke, formerly of St. Louis, now in Rome was extreme in his support of the Republican Party, and he dresses in the highest, and most expensive of regalia. Not only have we ideological bishops, they have been anti-pastoral. They were the bad shepherds that Ezekiel and Jeremiah prophesied.

Now, in Cleveland Ohio, there is the protégé of Boston's disgraced Bernard Law. After the people of Boston suffered Richard Lennon, he has came to Ohio to wreak havoc. I wonder why such a man has become a priest. I have used so many metaphors describing him. He is a tyrant, he is like Hobbes' Leviathan, or the pharoa of old. He has the focus of purpose of Captain Ahab, as Gregory Peck said in the movie, "I don't give reasons. I give orders!"...

Rome knows he is a disaster. He has been privately asked by three envoys from Rome to retire. Rome has over ruled eleven of his parish evictions, in language that is quite blunt for the polite political language the church uses. A special apostolic visitation came to investigate him.

I have written numerous essays on what he has done to the People of God in Cleveland, Lorain, Akron and the rest of his domain. Type in the name, Lennon, in the search this blog box of a voice from the rustbelt and read some of the entries.

A change in bishop selection is most necessary. It is great news, that Francis has removed the Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, known to the press as the "Bishop of Bling". If the pope removes one such character, he gives notice to all the others.

[lachrymosa]

7. Archbishop Dolan

Timothy Dolan, currently in New York City, is an attention seeking windbag.

Why do you say this?

I think he's great.

[rustbeltvoice]

8. concerning our brother

Hell-o Lachrymosa,

Concerning our brother in Christ, Timothy Dolan:

The entire Catholic world noticed this grandstanding buffoon in Rome. It is general custom, and proper prudence to be reticent before and during a conclave to select the leader of the Universal Church. Our brother Timothy courted the press, and attempted to influence the press, and therefore the public. Besides being gauche, it was unprecedented (i think). One does not publicly (at least) campaign for the papacy. And it was ridiculous, it may play to an ignorant, and jingoistic US public, but it was impossible. The rest of the world would not accept a candidate from the US. Just as when Joe Pepitone was playing for the New York Yankees — weak bench, and the Yankees are not much popular outside of home.

Recently, it was announced that Dolan is initiating a second round of parish extinctions in New York City, see: click. Now, i have had experience with this. Parishes have been closed to gather the economic value of their patrimony. US bishops act too, too often as corporate executives with vulture capitalist tendencies. But the viler reason is the destruction of ethnic/nationality parishes, in order to create a homogenous, and bland American church. This violates the will of Jesus, Himself, "For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". This is the basis of a parish. A parish is created to be perpetual.

Dolan enjoys being glib before the camera. He has too much in common with common Republican party apparatchiki, and too little with Francis. Please, do not consider this an open invitation for debate; i just answered (and somewhat reluctantly) your query. There is much to question about Timothy Dolan.