Print out your calendar for the month of Mary – do it right now before you forget.
http://www.mprp-roc.org/mprp04-12May.html
| Defending Truth and Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church |
| Defending Truth and Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church |
Print out your calendar for the month of Mary – do it right now before you forget.
http://www.mprp-roc.org/mprp04-12May.html
Thank you, Ben.
Please pray for the priests who Bishop Clark forced into retirement. I hope and pray that our new bishop will call back all of our retired priests. Imagine a bishop saying to a priest: “welcome home”.
Pray for the holy young men who wanted to become priests in our diocese, but were turned away by Bishop Clark because they didn’t believe that catholic women should be allowed to become priests and homosexuality.
Pray for the priests that have been terrorized by Bishop Clark’s use of a sexual misconduct allegation to actually retaliate against the priest, for a mere difference of opinion.
I have said it before and I will say it again, it may take Bishop Clark years, but he will eventually settle the score with anybody that crosses him. It will be a new day for the priests in the Diocese of Rochester to see Bishop Clark fade into the background.
Does anybody know exactly when the bishop will leave?
Hopefully after his 74 days are up. What a loooong 74 days it will be too.
Jim M. here: ptor, I don’t think that Bishop Clark will actually leave until sometime next year. As I mentioned on a prior post, he has to submit his resignation to Rome in July, then it has to be accepted, and then the ball will start rolling on his leaving…appointing his replacement, etc. A priest who knows the bishop very well told me this recently.
Hi Ptor.
Bishop Clark is required by Canon Law to submit his resignation to the Vatican upon reaching his 75th birthday. After this happens, the Vatican begins a search for a potential successor. When a decision is made and approved by the Holy Father, this information will be sent to the United States through the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington D.C. It is uncertain how long this whole process will take. Generally, the time from when a bishop submits his resignation to a successor being named is 10 to 12 months following the outgoing bishop’s 75th birthday. The Vatican is free to accept a bishop’s resignation anytime after it has been received, so it is possible though unlikely that Bishop Clark’s resignation could be accepted before a replacement is named. In this scenario, the local see would be vacant until a new bishop is selected. Usually, acceptance of the resignation and appointment of a new bishop go hand in hand.
Interesting fact: 25 priests have been removed by the Diocese of Rochester over allegations of sexual abuse since 2002. This figure does not include several priests who were removed prior to that year.
Doesn’t that number seem a little high?
Jim M.: Well, It looks as though the custodians of the Cleansing Fire Website, should reset the countdown picture of Bishop Clark’s retirement to about 439 days!
Jim,
We are fully aware of the fact that the Bishop’s resignation will not be accepted on 15 July. We are counting down to the time when he is forced to submit it: no one can be certain when it will be accepted.
Furthermore, we believe that it is better for it to be accepted along with the appointment of a new Bishop, rather than having an intermediary “apostolic administrator” period. Presumably, Fr. Hart would be named administrator. This would be even worse than the present situation.
I personally believe that it will take between 6 months and 1 year, hopefully on the shorter end of that–that is to say, I expect that our new Bishop will be in Rochester by Easter. That said, since +Vigano became the US Nuncio, the rate at which Bishops are replaced has slowed almost to a halt. Part of that is likely due to familiarizing himself with the job/information/contacts, part due to the US ad limina visit, and part due to the fact that +Vigano openly does not want to be here or have this job.
As efficient as +Sambi was, his appointees were rarely as strong as one might like. +Montalvo and +Cacciavillan were often better. We have no idea what sort of men +Vigano likes, so that remains to be seen. It is entirely possible, due to +Clark’s contentious relationship with the Holy Father that the resignation will be accepted promptly, and entirely possible, due to the growing backlog of appointments that it may take a while.
8 currently serving past 75(+Bruskewitz, +Niederauer, +Trautman, +Kmiec, +Ramirez, +Brown, +George, +Vlazny)
3 more to reach 75 before +Clark (+Pfieffer, +Hurley, +Kinney)
6 sede vacante (Denver, Indianapolis, Steubenville, Tyler (TX), El Paso, Bridgeport)
http://www.catholiccourier.com/news/local-news/review-board-oversees-abuse-investigations/
Thank you, Ben, for posting this “pray for priests” calendar.
I am sad that this potentially good, uplifting thread was hijacked right away for a discussion of the bishop’s retirement (it might be good to post FAQs about the bishop’s retirement so these questions don’t continue to be asked). If we used the time we’ve spent posting and reading about the bishop’s retirement in prayer for priests, the intent of Ben’s post, imagine the good we could be accomplishing!
Let’s pray for our priests, shall we? Let’s pray for more good and holy priests. And for our four seminarians being ordained transitional deacons next month. And let’s pray for Bishop Clark on his designated day (this Saturday) and every day, shall we?
Gentlemen,
I just logged back on and saw all this activity relating to my question. Thank you for the informative responses. I do not think the post was hijacked. Rather, the Bishop is one the reasons we need to pray for Priests in this Diocese. He is a cause of their prayer needs. These things are not separate but interrelated. We need to pray for him, and he is always included multiple times on that calendar.
The MPRP now has a page relating to voting. Our actions or non-actions in the elections affects all of us including the Priests. Please consider reading some of those links. Thank you.
Some of you folks are unbelievable. In this day and age, with how the sex scandal has hurt the ministry and reputation of our church – and you question the Bishop’s action for relieving priests of their duties relative to this issue? Really? I applaud him for taking quick and decisive action versus other Bishops who either ignored the issue altogether, or dragged their feet, to the detriment of the entire church. Anyone notice that Rochester has not had the sex scandal problems blow up their face like some other Dioceses?
Your charges of some personal vendetta by the Bishop are totally unfounded, and as far as I can tell, baseless. How sad that a thread with such good and holy intentions has deteriorated into into a bunch of busybody rumors and unsupported inuendo’s. Mrs. Gladys Kravitz would be proud (I’m showing my age with that comment…)
If anyone read the article posted by Dr. K, it is obvious that there are a number of independent law officials and lay people on the investigative committee and the process for any action taking action seems quite robust.
This is a VERY uncharitable thread. Sad.
BigE, google each of these names: Joseph Brodnick, Thomas Burr, Thomas Corbett, William Lum, Foster Rogers, and David Simon.
Clark was as bad as any bishop in the U.S. when it came to the sex abuse scandal. This notion that he has somehow been better than most other bishops is a myth started by his ardent supporters. Why wasn’t a big deal made over his lack of action compared to other bishops? Simple: Politics. Clark is not going to have the NCR place a noose around his neck like Bp. Finn.
Also: http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/081117
@Dr. K
Then what exactly is the implication of your comment about the 25 priests being removed in Rochester? That it was done too hastily? Or was done without cause because of some imagined vendetta on yours or others part?
Either way, it was an irresponsible comment and allegation.
BigE – It is my opinion that the DoR has been too quick in recent years to suspend priests for something the priest often can’t defend himself against, such as an allegation of abuse from 30-40 years ago. How can the priest gather witnesses for a defense? Who will remember details about where they were and when after so long a period of time? It has become he said/she said where the priest is essentially damned the second an investigation begins. As long as the accuser can come up with a believable story and not deviate from it during the course of an investigation, the priest will be removed.
It is irresponsible of you, BigE, to accuse me of imagining vendettas. You should have asked what I meant before assigning meaning yourself.
By the way, are you going to respond to the 11:28 comment or simply ignore it? It is a fact that Bp. Clark has shuffled abusive priests around just like those bishops who received national attention.
BigE:
“In 1993, on the heels of a sexual abuse scandal in Louisiana, the Rochester diocese adopted what was viewed by many Roman Catholics nationwide as a tough, progressive policy on handling sexual abuse allegations.” (Jay Tokasz, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 3d, 2002)http://www.nyclergyabuse.com/documents/Rochester/Foster%20Rogers-2.pdf
Since 1993, neighboring Syracuse and Rochester Catholic dioceses have handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests differently. A recent revision makes Rochester’s policy significantly more harsh than the Syracuse policy. http://www.nyclergyabuse.com/documents/Rochester/David%20Simon-7.pdf
@ Dr. K
If you weren’t imagining a vendetta, why did you copy this comment to your post about the removal of 25 priests? –> “Pray for the priests that have been terrorized by Bishop Clark’s use of a sexual misconduct allegation to actually retaliate against the priest, for a mere difference of opinion.”?
Since sexual abuse came up, it was an opportunity to reveal that a large number of priests have been accused and removed during his tenure. Most people are probably unaware of this.
So, are you prepared to respond to the 11:28 comment yet, BigE?
What do you have to say, BigE, about Bishop Clark shuffling around priests, moving abusers to chancery jobs, and ignoring a history of allegation against a Cleveland priest welcomed into the DoR?
Do you still stand by this:
If so, why?
The above events took place after the 1993 policy, and after Bishop Clark remarked that pedophile priests are “afflicted but not sinful.”
I believe there is more than one strategy to target/remove/punish/intimidate priests, especially. We won’t ever know the full scope of it, but there is plenty of evidence. I’m not going to use names for the moment, but one priest sexually accused in recent times has been completely exonerated and the diocese appears to have done NOTHING to restore his good name.
Another has implied things were “found” on his computer, things which he swore were not his. Who found them? Why diocesan employees, who may have been the only other ones with access to his computer. Priests, who can afford to, buy their own laptops and NEVER hand it over for service or updating to anyone from the diocese (only to someone they trust and pay themselves to service it). They are the safest. Computers can come back from untrustworthy service and the user might never find what has been added several layers down in the operating system. It can sit there like a time bomb until someone needs to be brought into line. And individuals should get their own private email addresses so nothing is monitored or tampered with through the diocesan center.
For 10 years I have been hearing of poor computer systems reliability under the diocesan control, of unpredictable crashes, messages lost, messages blocked, “accidental” release of large email lists, computer service employees “in meetings” and unavailable, delayed repairs, erroneous postings on the diocesan website, and a patchwork quilt of chewing gum and baling wire to make it all work. And I’ve heard the complaints and excuses from so many different people, so many different parishes, that I’ve stopped wondering if it is an excuse not to answer an email. Yet, around CMA time, computer assistance is always pointed to as a diocesan value, a benefit of chipping in with donations. Unless much unseen is going on for upgrade, the next bishop is in for a sad surprise.
Other things which can be held over the heads of those forced into line are poor assignments, nitpicking, threats to retirement and/or health coverage, and some have added refusal of ordination if the candidate’s Credo doesn’t include a verbal bow to the so-called “right” of women to ordination, and to the diocesan-wide gay activism agenda. Another means of “control” is giving verbal approval for something, and then denying approval was ever given. It can offer yet another opportunity to “manage” someone into line, even when his own conscience or the needs of his parishioners point the other way.
When you cut through it all, aren’t we seeing the effects of bullying from the top? If not, why does it look that way? Why are otherwise good priests, who speak the truth in private, so afraid to speak on the difficult issues from the pulpit? To me, it seems naive to think otherwise.
@Dr.K
1) I’ve responded to the 11:28 comment (D&C and Syracuse quotes). Perhaps it would be clearer if I stated, “in response to the sex abuse scandal that broke in 2002, I applaud him (Bishop Clark) for taking quick and decisive action…” Sound better?
2) You still haven’t explained why you included the Bishop Clark terrorizing quote if your only purpose was to highlight the number of priests removed since 2002.
3) Speaking of which, relative to other dioceses, how do you know 25 is a “large” amount? Why does it “seem high”?
Yes, it does. Citing a Bp Clark policy from 1993, which he himself violated up until 2002, was not a good explanation for why he has allegedly done well handling sexual abuse.
That was the quote which mentioned sexual abuse in the DoR.
It seems high because we have so few priests in this diocese.
@Dr. K
My apologies for misinterpreting the intent your post.
I don’t believe a dead man can stand trial. The case was likely thrown out.
Since this started out as a thread to remind us of the Monthey Prayer Requests for Priests, I think it’s only fitting to add a request for prayers for the 7 young men who graduated from Becket Hall today and will all be starting seminary in the fall.
Thanks be to God for these holy & faithful young men!!
And for all the men who have ansewered His call! 🙂
Amen to that, Persis!
Personnel Changes at the Cathedral
Fr. Edison will complete his three year internship here
at the Cathedral this June. He has recently been notified
by the Bishop of his new assignment as Parochial Vicar at
the Church of the Assumption in Fairport. Fr. John
Loncle, our former associate here at the Cathedral and
now the Parochial Vicar at Assumption has been named
pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Spencerport.
Father Pius Pathmarajah, presently Parochial Vicar at St.
John the Evangelist Parish in Greece, has been appointed
by Bishop Clark to assist here at the Cathedral beginning
at the end of June when these new appointments will take
effect. We will be scheduling a farewell for Fr. Edison
and a welcome event for Fr. Pius soon.
He needs our prayers going into Assumption.