Archbishop Timothy Dolan Speaks

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An interview with newly elected USCCB Prez Timothy Dolan:

ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-timothy-dolan-speaks/

Here’s Dolan’s assessment of the current situation in the Church:
“It’s not like — thanks be to God — we’re in crisis. Things are going well.”

Did I hear you say there are no problems? Let me count the ways…
no vocations, radical feminist nuns, 31 Catholic schools closing in your archdiocese, CCHD money scam, their support of abortion, etc., Catholic workers underpaid to the point of poverty, Bad Liturgy left uncorrected, disrespect for the Eucharist, lack of belief in the Eucharist, “pro gay marriage Catholic groups”, Gay Jesuit agenda, disloyalty to the Pope, clerical rebellion, bankrupt dioceses due to scandal payouts, generations lost from the True Faith, etc. etc. Right on, Dolan. All is well. Sleep tight.
 
During the bishops stint in Milwaukee I worked for a parish there. I had the opportunity to meet him several times. He is a good man, quite likable, personable and spiritual. Unfortunately he is a horrible administrator. He avoids conflict at all costs. After 2 years as bishop of Milwaukee the priests were quite upset that he had basically left the same people put in place by Bishop Weakland to remain in their positions, so it was business as usual. We all know Bishop Weakland left things in a mess. The parish I worked in was having some serious leadership problems which should have had Dolan’s attention. He refused to meet with parish representatives to help the parish get back on level ground. People and staff, of which I was one, left the parish. Dolan is good with the public persona but that’s about it.
 
cspb56 said:
During the bishops stint in Milwaukee I worked for a parish there. I had the opportunity to meet him several times. He is a good man, quite likable, personable and spiritual. Unfortunately he is a horrible administrator. He avoids conflict at all costs. After 2 years as bishop of Milwaukee the priests were quite upset that he had basically left the same people put in place by Bishop Weakland to remain in their positions, so it was business as usual. We all know Bishop Weakland left things in a mess. The parish I worked in was having some serious leadership problems which should have had Dolan’s attention. He refused to meet with parish representatives to help the parish get back on level ground. People and staff, of which I was one, left the parish. Dolan is good with the public persona but that’s about it.
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Thank you so much for this report. I am sorry to hear about your parish’s pain, but I am so glad you are ready to speak the truth. I guess you can relate to when Dolan says “i’ll continue with what’s already been put in place.”
 
I think it was a great move. Give him time. Though from my pov, I have never understood why a President needs to exist. We have a Pope.
 
irishpatrick said:
I have never understood why a President needs to exist. We have a Pope.
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That’s exactly the point, Patrick. The Pope has said that this is not an official group of the Church; it’s not part of the hierarchy. So they have created their own committee, elected their own president, in an attempt to give themselves a power that is not rightfully theirs.
 
Truism said:
That’s exactly the point, Patrick. The Pope has said that this is not an official group of the Church; it’s not part of the hierarchy. So they have created their own committee, elected their own president, in an attempt to give themselves a power that is not rightfully theirs.
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I agree, though I would like to see where the Pope said the group is not official.
 
Here are some quotes from The Ratzinger Report, as found in the linked article.

We must not forget that the episcopal conferences have no theological basis, they do not belong to the structure of the Church, as willed by Christ, that cannot be eliminated; they have only a practical, concrete function. (The Ratzinger Report, 59-61)

Because it is a matter of safeguarding the very nature of the Catholic Church, which is based on an episcopal structure and not on a kind of federation of national churches. The national level is not an ecclesial dimension. It must once again become clear that in each diocese there is only one shepherd and teacher of the faith in communion with the other pastors and teachers and with the Vicar of Christ. (The Ratzinger Report, 59-61)

…the competence of each diocesan bishop remains intact, nor is a conference or its president able to act in the name of all the bishops unless each and every bishop has given consent (canon 455, ß4). Clearly, the conference cannot, on its own authority, substitute for the persons of the bishops, who are, according to Canon 753, “authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the faithful entrusted to their care; the Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission of mind to the authentic magisterium of their bishops.” In his interview, Cardinal Ratzinger confirmed: “No episcopal conference, as such, has a teaching mission: its documents have no weight of their own save that of the consent given to them by the individual bishops.”
socon.ca/or_bust/?p=10121

There is another more recent quote the Pope has given regarding Bishops’ conferences. I will post it when I find it.
 
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 15, 2010 (Zenit.org).- A bishops’ conference is a useful tool, but should never substitute the role of the bishop or act as an intermediary between a bishop and the Roman Pontiff, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope clarified this Monday when he addressed the bishops of the central west region of Brazil, in Rome for their five-yearly “ad limina” visit. This is the last group of Brazilian prelates to make the visit; because of the size of the Catholic community in Brazil, the bishops are divided in regions. The various groups have been making their “ad limina” visits over the last 14 months.

The Holy Father explained to the prelates that episcopal conferences were created as a “concrete application of the collegial affection of the bishops in hierarchical communion with the Successor of Peter.”

Its mission, he said, is “to be an instrument of affective and effective communion among all the members, and of efficient collaboration with the pastor of each particular Church in the threefold function of teaching, sanctifying and governing the sheep of his flock.”

Likewise, it is “one of the forms, found under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which makes possible the joint and harmonious exercise of some pastoral functions for the good of the faithful and of all the citizens of a specific territory,” the Pontiff continued.

However, he alerted, though it must promote “the union of efforts and intentions of the bishops, becoming an instrument for them to share their toil,” it must “avoid placing itself as a parallel or substitute of the ministry of each of the bishops,” or “constitute itself as an intermediary between the bishop and the See of Peter.”

Benedict XVI said it is important to remember that the advisers and structures of the episcopal conference exist for “the service of the bishops, not to substitute them.”

It is a manifestation of the “pastoral solicitude of the bishops,” he said, “whose primary concern must be the salvation of souls.”

Communion

The Holy Father affirmed that the essential mission of every episcopal conference is helping the bishops have greater communication and communion in tasks that affect them all.

“In the faithful exercise of the doctrinal function that corresponds to you, when you come together in your assemblies, dear bishops, you must above all study the most effective means to have the universal magisterium reach opportunely the people entrusted to you,” he said.

Some topics today call for a joint action from the bishops, the Holy Father suggested, pointing specifically to issues such as the promotion and protection of faith and morals, the translation of liturgical books, the promotion and formation of vocations, the elaboration of subsidies for catechesis, the tasks related to ecumenism, and the relationship with civil authorities.

Other topics to be addressed jointly are “the defense of human life, from conception to natural death, the sanctity of the family and of marriage between man and woman, the right of parents to educate their children, religious liberty, the other human rights, peace and social justice,” he continued.

The Pope told the Brazilian bishops that today’s secularized society demands of Christians a “renewed testimony of life.”

In this way, he said, “the proclamation of the Gospel is received for what it is: The Good News of the salvific action of God who comes to meet man.”

zenit.org/article-30974?l=english
 
irishpatrick said:
It seems we do not need a President. Correct?
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More than correct. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church is Christ, the Pope (his Vicar on Earth), the Cardinals and the Bishops - each individually responsible to remain faithful to the teachings of the Church, to defend the Faith, and to have complete obedience to the Pope. The entire concept of a Conference of Bishops has no place in the legitimate hierarchy of the Church. It is not an official body; it bears no weight and therefore there is no need for obedience to it. It does in fact give the Bishops the pretense of a power they do not have and a usurping of authority from the Pope. I will link the following articles. In essence, it shows that in their conferences, they will vote upon a direct contradiction of Vatican teaching. They substitute obedience to the Pope with setting themselves up as a group with the ultimate say. This leads to a schism. Also, to quote Cardinal Elect Raymond Burke “where there are problems of chastity, there are problems of obedience.”

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/7055?eng=y

catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=1243
 
I am a great admirer of Archbishop Dolan and I am confident he will do a wonderful job as president. The vice president, Archbishop Kurtz, will do an equally wonderful job - he has always been great at reinforcing the Church teaching on marriage. God bless both of them!
 
Might I add that this is not just a problem within the U.S. These Bishops conferences exist in other countries as well. One can see how the Bishops of each country can get together, form their own laws, and create a national Church. This has never had a place in our Church. I’m glad the Pope has spoken about this.

We are supposed to be one Church united under the Pope. (Notice also, how these conferences bypass the Cardinals as well.)

As an example, the Pope and soon-to-be-Cardinal Burke have made it clear that Canon 915 is to be obeyed and is not open to interpretation - and yet we have Cardinal George (Pres. of the USCCB), Cardinal McCarrick, and Archbishop Dolan “re-interpreting” this Canon and saying that it is up to each own’s conscience, etc.
 
Truism said:
An interview with newly elected USCCB Prez Timothy Dolan:

ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-timothy-dolan-speaks/

Here’s Dolan’s assessment of the current situation in the Church:
“It’s not like — thanks be to God — we’re in crisis. Things are going well.”

Did I hear you say there are no problems? Let me count the ways…
no vocations, radical feminist nuns, 31 Catholic schools closing in your archdiocese, CCHD money scam, their support of abortion, etc., Catholic workers underpaid to the point of poverty, Bad Liturgy left uncorrected, disrespect for the Eucharist, lack of belief in the Eucharist, “pro gay marriage Catholic groups”, Gay Jesuit agenda, disloyalty to the Pope, clerical rebellion, bankrupt dioceses due to scandal payouts, generations lost from the True Faith, etc. etc. Right on, Dolan. All is well. Sleep tight.
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When has the Catholic Church ever *not *been in crisis?
 
lil_flower_luv said:
I am a great admirer of Archbishop Dolan and I am confident he will do a wonderful job as president. The vice president, Archbishop Kurtz, will do an equally wonderful job - he has always been great at reinforcing the Church teaching on marriage. God bless both of them!
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On what facts are you basing your opinion of Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Kurtz?
 
Get with the program, people. He has his work cut out for him.
PRAY FOR HIM!

And, please, out of respect for the Archbishop, refer to him using the proper title. God bless.
 
Truism said:
On what facts are you basing your opinion of Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Kurtz?
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Oh, whoops, nevermind. They’ve never done or said anything that will help our cause. Sorry! :rolleyes:

Edit: On a kinder more charitable note, I would like to cordially ask why you and others have only spoken so negatively about the Archbishop’s election and the conferences themselves. I wouldn’t have added anything to your thread if I hadn’t noticed the “cup half empty” comments. :eek: Would you have rather they elected Bishop Kicanas?
 
Truism said:
Just what I expected. Anytime I ask this question, I can never get any actual facts.
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Let’s start with the Archbishop’s outspokenness for the pro-life cause and the new vice president’s work on protecting the family. Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said on behalf of both the Archbishop’s win, "They have been unequivocal in their defense of the unborn, which for our ministry is the primary focus. They have welcomed and encouraged the work of Priests for Life, and for that we are grateful.”

lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/nov/10111601.html

Any more sources to go with that?
 
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