Appointment inspires hope in beset diocese

[Sonny1954]

University officials and other spokespersons Catholic spokespersons in the sprawling Scranton, PA diocese are apparently pleased with the selection of Bishop Joseph Bambera as their new Bishop. The hope rises from the expectation that Bishop Bambera is a pastor, not an autocrat who believes in dialogue, not giving dictation.

Thank you, Lord.

ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/appointment-inspires-hope-beset-diocese

 

[mattwcu]

As a member of his diocese, I’ll be praying for him. But rather than dialoging with the universities I would rather him stamp out the dissent and heresy that exists in them.

:knight1:

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

As a member of his diocese, I’ll be praying for him. But rather than dialoging with the universities I would rather him stamp out the dissent and heresy that exists in them.

:knight1:

Unless the universities are owned by the diocese, the bishop has limited power to stamp out anything. He’ll get much further by dialog and persuasion. Besides, what’s that line about honey and flies?

 

[Lujack]

As a member of his diocese, I’ll be praying for him. But rather than dialoging with the universities I would rather him stamp out the dissent and heresy that exists in them.

:knight1:

I imagine convincing somebody of the correct position and getting them to agree with you and work with you is a lot better than stamping them out, and turning them into a passive observer at best and an active opponent at worst.

 

[mattwcu]

Unfortunately, the honey isn’t working so well.

 

[thinker]

A man is known by the friends he keeps. A corollary is that he is better known by the enemies he makes. The National Catholic Register is no friend of the Church. If the National Catholic Register reports that someone: “earned a national reputation as an uncompromising conservative churchman and staunch antiabortionist who picked often bitter public fights” then you can be assured that they have tried to defend Catholic orthodoxy in the face of dissent. Of course NCR will defend their attacks as just criticism for being “unpastoral.”

We should all pray for the diocese, for Bishop-elect Bambera and for Bishop Martino. To do less would be unChristian.

 

[Joe_5859]

I think too often we underestimate the value of having a bishop that people like. A bishop has legitimate authority over his flock, but it doesn’t do much good to wield that authority in a heavy-handed fashion. If a bishop has his priests behind him, it makes things much easier.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Unfortunately, the honey isn’t working so well.

I guess you’re right. The guy was named as the next bishop a week ago. He won’t even be ordained a bishop until April. But clearly it’s already time to write him off and say his style isn’t working.

 

[mattwcu]

The National Catholic Register is no friend of the Church.

I assume you mean the ultra-lefty National Catholic REPORTER.

I agree with comments here that if a Bishop has the support of his priests things go better. But we shouldn’t hope for a happy-go-lucky Bishop if he won’t stand up when he must.

 

[mattwcu]

I guess you’re right. The guy was named as the next bishop a week ago. He won’t even be ordained a bishop until April. But clearly it’s already time to write him off and say his style isn’t working.

Please don’t put words into my mouth. :tsktsk: I have no idea what his style is, and I trust nothing the NCReporter says. I was commenting on fruitless dialog. We haven’t seen his work yet and from what I hear the priests really like him. So we should be hopeful, cautious, and prayerful.

 

[thinker]

I assume you mean the ultra-lefty National Catholic REPORTER.

I do. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Ender]

University officials … in the sprawling Scranton, PA diocese are apparently pleased with the selection of Bishop Joseph Bambera as their new Bishop.

So, the university officials are pleased. I’m not sure that’s an endorsement I’d necessarily want a bishop to have.

Ender