Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The duties of a bishop

A couple of weeks ago Bishop Joseph Martino of the Diocese of Scranton publicly lambasted the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University for inviting a nationally recognized proponent of same sex marriage to speak at its annual diner.  Since then Bishop Martino has taken quite a bit of flak.

Now the Bishop is answering his critics.  Key points in his response follow.

As Catholics, we believe there is an objective, moral Truth – given to us by Jesus Christ. This Truth is timeless, and it cannot be altered by the shifting tides of popular culture. If our faith and our actions are not rooted in this Truth, we risk contributing to the "dictatorship of relativism" cited by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in a homily given just prior to his election as Pope Benedict XVI. He said:

"To have a clear faith, according to the creed of the Church, is often labeled as fundamentalism. While relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried about with every wind of 'doctrine,' seems to be the attitude that is fashionable. A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the 'I' and its whims as the ultimate measure."

As the Bishop, it is not only my right, but my obligation to ensure that authentic Catholic teaching is being provided in all Catholic institutions in this Diocese, and that viewpoints in opposition to this teaching are not being presented as acceptable alternatives ...

I also offer this postscript to those who criticize me for taking public stances that may not be popular or "politically correct," or may not agree with their own personal notions of what "progressive" Catholic doctrine should be. My job as a Bishop is to promulgate the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church to all the faithful. I will continue to do so. (emphasis added)

Here is a man who understands what it means to be a bishop.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Mike Shea said...

Amen, brother. Amen.

Nerina said...

Dr. K,

Does replacing our Bishop count as a high post in the Church? Please? Oh, if only we had a Bishop Martino.

Mike Shea said...

Nerina,

Our scarcity of priests (and very few seminarians in the pipeline to replace the few we have), coupled with the generally abysmal state of catechesis among the laity, makes DOR more mission territory than a "high post."

I think it would be a great post for someone wanting to lay up huge amounts of treasure in heaven.

Anonymous said...
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