Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of the Diocese of Lincoln (Nebraska) will turn 75 on September 6, at which time Canon Law requires him to submit his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI.
With that milestone approaching the Lincoln Journal Star has published a profile piece on the Bishop.
According to the story,
At times, Bruskewitz’s reign over the 136 churches in the 23,844 square miles of the Lincoln Diocese across southern Nebraska has been controversial. But it’s always clear and direct.
His detractors paint a portrait of a devout but stubborn man with unyielding orthodoxy and ultra-conservative views of God’s word and expectations of the Catholic Church.
His supporters extol those very same traits as his virtues.
Bishop Bruskewitz’ understanding of his duty with respect to Church teaching could not be clearer.
In the midst of political debates over abortion, birth control, homosexuality and immigration, the bishop has never wavered in his interpretation or opinion on traditional church teachings. And when it comes to issues of morality, Bruskewitz is clear – there is no wiggle room.
“I think the truth must be proclaimed and not relativized,” he said.
Some issues leave room for negotiation. But matters of truth have only two options: true or false, Bruskewitz said.
“I don’t think that it’s being arrogant. I think it is being kind and charitable to speak the truth, and that is an important part of what a bishop has to do,” he said.
“And just as we would not beat a child who mistakenly concludes 2 + 2 = 7, we must correct people’s errors and point out the correct answer.
“I hope to catechize people and instruct people in the best way we can,” he said. “I am certainly not a know-it-all. And I try to convey to people God’s revelation and teaching of the church, insofar of its possession of revelation of God.”
As for the distinction of having what some consider the most conservative diocese in the country, Bruskewitz said the Catholic Church is inherently conservative.
“Its duty is to conserve and preserve unmutilated, undiluted, unchanged the doctrine of Christ that has come down to us through the centuries, and not to vary or change what has been bestowed upon us,” Bruskewitz said, quoting the words of Pope Paul VI.
“I think a certain measure of ecclesiastical church order and discipline are important to have an orderly worship of God and an orderly affirmant of what God wants for us,” Bruskewitz said.
“And, I believe that it is necessary to exercise the responsibilities that are given to a bishop. If I don’t exercise those responsibilities, someone else will – someone who is not authorized to do so.
“So that is why I – we – have this reputation. But I don’t think it’s anything other than what I see my duty to be and what a bishop’s duty to be.”
Full story here.
The same newspaper has also published a collection of statistical data related to the Bishop. These stats include …
Born: Sept. 6, 1935
Ordained: July 17, 1960
Consecrated bishop: May 13, 1992 …
Diocesan accomplishments:
Added four parishes: North American Martyrs and Cristo Rey in Lincoln, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in North Platte, and Saint Katharine Drexel Church in Franklin.
Built four Catholic Schools: North American Martyrs School, Lincoln; St. Vincent de Paul School, Seward; All Saints School, Holdrege; St. Michael’s School in Cheney will open in fall 2011.
Re-instituted daily Mass for Catholic school students.
Ordained 67 priests in the Lincoln Diocese and 27 priests for other religious orders.
Under his leadership, three diocesan priests are now bishops. Several priests work in the Vatican. Three are military chaplains who will serve in Iraq by year’s end.
Opened St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward in 1998. The college-level seminary trains priests to serve in the Lincoln Diocese.
Brought Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary to Denton in 1999. The English-speaking seminary of the Priestly Order of Saint Peter, seminarians from all over the world are trained in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
Helped complete the English translation of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a question-and-answer summary of the Catholic religious instruction.
All this in a period of 18 years in a diocese of approximately 95,000 Catholics!
Full stats here.
Tags: News and Media, Orthodoxy at Work
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This man is a SAINT. What a contrast to what we see in our diocese. I would like to see a side by side statistical table that compares the diocese of Rochester with the diocese of Lincoln. I hope and pray that our next bishop will be like Bishop Bruskewitz. I wonder if Bishop Clark’s aware of how well the diocese of Lincoln is doing. He probably thinks his diocese is doing well.
The U.S. needs a hundred bishops like Bruskewitz. I hope we get one the next time around.
exactly!
I don’t think his resignation will be accpeted for a while 😉
Let’s pray hard that his resignation is delayed, or one of his auxiliary bishops is promoted instead. I have been disappointed in some of the recent Vatican appointments of bishops.