Last updated 6/18/09



Monday, March 2, 2009

Bishop Martino continues to lay down the law

Senator Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania is not to receive Holy Communion, according to the bishop. Senator Casey claims to be pro-life, but his voting record doesn't back him up.
You can read his letter to the senator and more about this story at Te Deum Laudamus.

I'm giving the bishops another +1 for his fortitude in defense of the unborn.

5 comments:

Katherine said...

Bishop Martino is the Pro-life's movement's worst enemy. He makes us look like a bunch of loonies.

Deny Casey communion? And this after Martino's record of busting the Catholic teachers union, closing ethnic parishes, insulting the faith of Irish Americans, and a host of other actions?


Martino has pretty much has lost all respect among his own faithful, conservative, liberal and moderate.

Blue Shoe said...

"Martino has pretty much has lost all respect among his own faithful, conservative, liberal and moderate."

I think there are many who would disagree, including me (obviously).

Do you think it's beyond a bishop's authority to do such things? If anything, it is a bishop's role to not only defend the Eucharist and his congregation, but to call out Catholics who are publicly disgracing our faith and cooperating with evil.

Katherine said...

by "his own faithful" I meant the Roman Catholics of the diocese of Scranton.

It is often said that differences in opinion between what are often called progressive and conservative Catholics are due less to the answers they hold than the questions they ask. You ask about the bishop's authority. That is not the question I would ask and I think it is best left to canonists to determine. He may well be within his authority and the lay faithful of Scranton are also within their legitimate authority in the actions they are taking including the lawsuits against the bishop, etc.

However, I am not convince that bishop and lay faithful each using their legitimate authorities is the best way to resolve differences.

The question progressive Catholics would ask is if the bishop is acting in a pastoral and charitable way?

I do not believe he met this test by busting the long standing Catholic teachers union.

Nor by closing ethnic parishes without meaningful consultation with the lay faithful.

No with many of the priest personnel practices that have upset the reverend clergy of the diocese.

Nor do I think it is appropriate when several Irish-American heritage organizations sponsor a parade down the city streets on the Irish National holiday that he should threaten not to allow them to attend Holy Mass prior to the parade, as has been their custom, unless he can dictate who is allowed to march on the streets of Scranton. And to do this in a public forum without any evidence that their would be a person objectionable to him is even more beyond the bounds of charity.

Personally, I support the proposal of some on the Parade committee to hold an ecumencial service at the Presbyterian Church next year prior to the parade, invoking God's favor for peace inter-community unity in North Ireland.

Lastly, his public comments against Senator Casey are beyond the pale of decency. Senator Casey is a most honorable man and bishop disgraces himself, the Church and the pro-life movement by his statements.

Gobbler said...

Katherine,

We weren't talking about any of those other things you mentioned besides the senator Casey issue. I'm not sure about the validity of all those other things you stated, and I'm not just going to take your word for it. Sorry. Senator Casey has been looking the other way when it comes to abortion, so no he is not honorable in my book.

Martino is not an enemy of the pro-life movement, he and his like are the back-bone. If you think abortion is murder, then there really is not much in terms of negotiation room. If you find these tactics uncharitable, then perhaps you and I are working with different definitions of charity.

Katherine said...

We weren't talking about any of those other things you mentioned besides the senator Casey issue. ...Martino is not an enemy of the pro-life movement, he and his like are the back-bone. ... If you find these tactics uncharitable...

I do have a real problem using the sacraments as a "tactic" (as you say) in a legislative initiative.

I would prefer it if the bishop operated from principles rather than tactics.

Nevertheless, he has pretty much alienated many of the faithful in his diocese, making many of his acts counterproductive.