Bishop Robert Carlson - Sioux Falls

[MBS1]

I am from the diocese of Saginaw, Mi., which had notoriously been very liberal under former Bishop Ken Untener (who passed away earlier this year). Liturical abuse was rampant under him, and continues to be a even though he is gone. Bishop Robert J. Carlson from Sioux Falls, S.D. has just been named the new Bishop here in the Saginaw diocese. Does anyone know anything about him? Liberal, orthodox, etc. I for one would love to see someone come in and put a stop to nuns giving the homily, to standing during the consecration of the host, and many other things. Is there hope? Thank you for any information you can relay.
MBS1

 

[Shiann]

Bishop Carlson was bishop of my diocese, as I am from the Sioux Falls area. In fact, I was Confirmed by him:thumbsup: a number of years ago.

I found him to be a good man, and great bishop. He did dispense a meatless Friday during Lent because of the fact it fell on St. Patrick’s Day… (Gotta have your corned beef, and bubble and sqeak!)

Some people were up in arms about that.

I don’t remember hearing any liturgical abuses that he tolerated, but I do know of one church in our diocese that doesn’t have kneelers etc. But I don’t know of ANY where a NUN gives the homily!

My personal impression is that he is a good Man of God. I will ask around though, and get more feedback on him.

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

MBS1:

I am from the diocese of Saginaw, Mi., which had notoriously been very liberal under former Bishop Ken Untener (who passed away earlier this year). Liturical abuse was rampant under him, and continues to be a even though he is gone. Bishop Robert J. Carlson from Sioux Falls, S.D. has just been named the new Bishop here in the Saginaw diocese. Does anyone know anything about him? Liberal, orthodox, etc. I for one would love to see someone come in and put a stop to nuns giving the homily, to standing during the consecration of the host, and many other things. Is there hope? Thank you for any information you can relay.
MBS1

Many posters will know more than I, but I just noticed this thread, and want to tell you that I am SURE you will be much better off!! He grew up a few blocks from where I live, and came out of the St. Paul/ Mpls. Archdiocese (of recent notoriety, I know!), and seems to have a good record. Most recently, reports were that he made some effort to bring (now ex-)Senator Daschle around. He wasn’t as forceful as some about scandalous “Catholic” politicians, but wasn’t totally complacent either.

I’d be happier about Bishop Carlson, than I am about Bishop Gregory newly sent to Atlanta, an archdioces that was doing very well!

I’ll be eager to hear other posters on this!

God bless,

Anna

 

[John_Higgins]

Here’s Bishop Carlson’s first pastoral letter to the Diocese of Sioux Falls. You can catch his tone here (Courtesy of the Sioux Falls Diocesan website):

Do Whatever He Tells You

Pastoral Letter from the Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, D.D.

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

“I give thanks to my God every time I think of you which is constantly, in every prayer I utter – rejoicing, as I plead on your behalf, at the way you have all continually helped promote the Gospel from the very first day.” (Philippians 1: 3)

My own sentiments echo those expressed above by the Apostle to the Gentiles in his moving letter to the Christian community of Philippi. I cannot help but thank the Almighty God for allowing me to serve you as your Shepherd. Ever since I became the seventh Bishop of Sioux Falls on March 21, 1995, succeeding our beloved friend, Bishop Paul Vincent Dudley, I have reflected often on the myriad ways in which you have assisted me in building up the Body of Christ in this local Church situated on the prairies of South Dakota.

In this my first pastoral letter to you, I wish to convey my heartfelt love to you in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ “who gave Himself as a ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:6) It is most fitting that as we begin the month of May, we should turn our thoughts to that woman from whom the Messiah and Lord was born . . . that young Jewish handmaiden whose fiat still resonates whenever disciples of Christ lovingly yield to His will rather than to stubbornly cling to their own. …

Mary has always been for the followers of Jesus the most perfect example of Christian discipleship… No better counsel could be given us than that offered by our Heavenly Mother to her dearest children: “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)

This Marian month of May presents the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese of Sioux Falls with a unique privilege and a corresponding challenge: to grow in profound likeness to Christ by striving to live by the crucial advice uttered by Mary at Cana. …I propose the following opportunities to honor Our Blessed Mother during May:

1. The Recitation of the Rosary, which Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II calls his “favorite prayer.” The family rosary is a beautiful expression of devotion to Mary in the context of the home, which is the “domestic church” or the church present in each family. How many vocations to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and to the consecrated life have been nourished by the family Rosary!

1. The Prayerful Study of the Section Found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church pertaining to the “Hail, Mary,” which is a treasure trove of spiritual gems explaining the prayer which we often pray. Although a brief treatment (#2676-2678), this section is packed with material for Marian meditation.

1. The Preaching About Mary by our Priests, using especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Chapter VIII of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), a classic text which is readable by all and is considered unsurpassed by many theologians in “summing up” Our Blessed Lady’s role in the Church. Priests should devote at least one Sunday homily during May, and daily homilies when appropriate, to proclaim the marvels which God has wrought through Mary.

1. The Emphasis on Our Blessed Mother in parish Religious Education Classes, seeking to inculcate within our children a deep, abiding love and devotion for the Mother of Jesus.

1. The Discussing of Mary by parents with their Children, affording the “little ones” with their parents’ salutary example and knowledge of the importance of the Madonna. When parents speak about Mary, children are apt to grow up with a more fervent love for Christ’s Mother.

1. The Various Parish Activities, designed to highlight Mary and her singular relationship to the Lord Jesus. The “Living Rosary” and Mary Crownings are ideal to teach the authentic place of Mary in the Church…

As Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II has entrusted the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so I now entrust the Diocese of Sioux Falls to the Pure Heart of Mary, asking that this May will witness a rekindling of filial love for her who continually adhered to the Master’s inscrutable plan.

“We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our prayers in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin, and teach us always to do whatever He tells us!”

Given in Sioux Falls, on May 1, the Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker, Spouse of Mary the Worker, Spouse of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church and our Diocese, in the Year of Our Lord 1995.

Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
Bishop Robert Carlson

Seems good to me. But don’t expect anyone coming into a new assignment to instantly play Liturgy Cop. Also, he was an auxiliary in St. Paul-Minneapolis, take that for what you will.

John

 

[midlandchemic]

Greetings to my favorite Bible study leader

I think you’ll like Carlson, particularly after reading the article on him in today’s Midland Daily News. It makes it pretty clear that he’s not here to make friends necessarily, and that he’s not bowing to public pressure.

The most interesting thing is that he’s part of the Charismatic movement, but also consider by many to be “a puppet of the Republican Right”. There’s going to be some major culture shock in the Saginaw valley.

Just as interesting is that they moved in an existing, experienced bishop rather than elevating a new bishop to fill the late Bishop Untener’s shoes. Maybe, just maybe, it’s indicative of the need to get someone in here who’s a proven entity and who’s not going to further strip our parishes. BTW, what do you think the odds are of us getting the crucifixes back in our parishes? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they let St. Mary’s be the first to put Jesus back on the altar and lead us not into further temptation?

And yes, Carlson is the bishop who stood up to Tom Daschle and excommunicated him.

 

[John_Higgins]

midlandchemic:

And yes, Carlson is the bishop who stood up to Tom Daschle and excommunicated him.

As I recall at the time, Bishop Carlson did nothing of the kind. And even if he did, he did not release it to the press. Let me research, and I’ll post it.

Here it is:

Bishop denies rift with Senate leader
Chicago Tribune
April 25, 2003

Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Carlson said he “would never break off dialogue or a pastoral relationship with anyone,” after an article implied a breach had developed between the prelate and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle over abortion.

The bishop responded to a report in the conservative Weekly Standard magazine that the Sioux Falls diocese wrote Daschle, requesting that the Democratic senator omit references to his Catholic faith from his congressional biography and campaign documents.

Daschle issued this statement: “I have had the benefit of Bishop Carlson’s guidance on many public and private issues, and that relationship will continue.”

“I have been a Catholic all my life and I will remain one,” he said.

Carlson said he and Daschle have had several discussions about abortion and that he encouraged Daschle to reconsider his support of abortion rights.

Copyright 2003, Chicago Tribune

There was and has been no mention in any press organ about excommunication.

John

 

[midlandchemic]

“There was and has been no mention in any press organ about excommunication.”

Yes, there actually was quite a bit. Though they stopped short of the using the formal term “ex-communication”, they noted that correspondence between Carlson and Daschle included a mandate that the senator stop referring to himself as a Catholic, remove all references to his “former affiliation” with the Catholic Church from his biography and other materials, and that he not present himself to any priest, deacon or extraordinary minister of the Eucharist for Communion.

The actual terms of their communiques were not publicized, but it’s very clear that Daschle fell under an edict and wasn’t a Catholic in good-standing any longer. Of course the bishop continued to have discussions with Daschle…Daschle wanted to get back into the good graces of the Church. But in the meantime, his hands were more than slapped.

 

[MBS1]

Don’t you just love the internet. Thank you all for the information. I’ve learned more here than I could have hoped for from the news reports. There is hope!!
MBS1

 

[Shiann]

Here are a couple articles about this. There was no term of excommunication bandied about, but there was a bit of a shake up:

The Weekly Standard-Tom Daschle’s Duty to Be Morally Coherent

The Weekly Standard- Sen. Daschle’s Letter, an Update

Here is a transcript of a homily that the Bishop gave in April on abortion.

sdakotagop.com/newsdetail.asp?iNewsID=241

 

[River_Glorious]

This is terrific news! I’ve been reading some of Bishop Carlson’s writings on the Sioux Falls Diocese website. sfcatholic.org/communication/bulletin/2004archive.html

If you go to the August issue and then click on The Bishop Writes in the upper right hand column you can read about his teaching on abortion. I think his writings in other issues also show his obedience to the Pope.

I’ll be praying for him and our diocese and look forward to attending a parish in my own diocese again.

 

[midlandchemic]

I love this quote, pulled from today’s Midland Daily News…

In a pastoral letter published on the Sioux Falls diocesan website, Carlson speaks of the role of the bishop in contemporary society.

In part it states:** “Indifferent to human popularity, the Bishop must boldly preach the Cross for the sake of the souls entrusted to him. The unity of truth and love can never be compromised under the pretext of retaining believers or of maintaining the harmony and good disposition of church-going members. In essence, the Bishop must be committed to freeing the faithful from every form of superficiality and to feeding his flock with the lasting substance of sound doctrine.” **

 

[chicago]

Bishop Carlson is a very devout and orthodox man. He’s a had a long positive relationship with EWTN. He’s also headed up the bishops’ committee on vocations and been quite involved with that concern. I recall when he made reference to the assistance he received in writing a new plan from the late Quigley rector who I knew from my time there, Fr. John Klien.

Bishop Carlson is quite balanced, IMO. He’ll probably be percieved initially as too far right by many in that diocese. But I don’t think that he will necessarily act too quickly and unilaterily such that he will only polarize and be uneffecive. Rather, I suppose that he will teach and reach out to people pastorally, while making determined efforts at building up and instructing the good faith and inculcating an understanding of those principles which underlie proper practice such that things can eventually come around.

 

[midlandchemic]

“Bishop Carlson is a very devout and orthodox man”

MBS, is it getting warm in here already? Can’t wait for Fr. Schaibel to meet the new bishop.

I wonder how this bishop feels about the “recipe” for the hosts that’s been passed among the parish…you know, the one with honey, baking powder, etc.

Think he’ll find use for the old kneelers?

Any chance St. Mary’s Cathedral will start to look like a Catholic parish?

But the question on the tip of everyone’s tongues…since Untener sold the bishop’s residence, I wonder where this bishop is going to live. Something tells me he’s not going to find the patient room at St. Mary’s hospital to be quite so cozy.

 

[Dilandau]

I am also from the Saginaw Diocese. I was really nervous about who the new Bishop would be, news here seems to be easing the stress a bit. I am afraid we won’t see much change however. The diocese is in really bad shape, sometimes I can’t stand going to my home parish (Caro, Mi.). This last Christmas Vigil our priest in his homily was talking about how nice a thought it was to him that in Christ’s Second Coming He would come as a baby like the first time he came. What happened to him coming in glory?!!? /sigh

I pray that the Bishop can make some very over-due changes. The greatest need is a Bishop who can inspire young men to become priest’s for this dying diocese.

 

[MrS]

Maybe he will be strong enough to ignore the “example” of his adjoinig diocese… Lansing with Bishop Mengeling, and Detroit with Cardinal Maida… both need to stand up and profess the Truth in ALL things at ALL times.

 

[chicago]

Dilandau:

I pray that the Bishop can make some very over-due changes. The greatest need is a Bishop who can inspire young men to become priest’s for this dying diocese.

I’m thinking that this is where his greatest contirbution will be. It takes a long time to turn around a big ship. But if Bishop Carlson can encourage and promote young, vibrant vocations in Saginaw, his legacy will last for decades to come, even if it takes that long to fix the mess which remains behind.

 

[MBS1]

Per MidlandChemic:
“Any chance St. Mary’s Cathedral will start to look like a Catholic parish?”

For now, I’d settle for a crucifix in my own church. We haven’t had one in forever. Just a image of the risen Christ. (Doesn’t Paul say he preaches Christ crucified?) I also would like to see the receipe for the communion bread change. Every orthodox source I have asked says the priest cannot consecrate a host if it is made of invalid material, ie - honey, baking powder, etc. It’s been a long time since I have been able to know what to believe when the bread is presented - “The body of Christ” . Frankly, I don’t really know. I pray for forgiveness if I’m wrong and always take the wine. I think a lot of people in our diocese will be in for some eye-opening theology. Do you think they’ll still let “Call to Action” have regular meetings at our Church?
MBS1

 

[Fortiterinre]

I knew Bishop Carlson when he was first appointed to Sioux Falls, and I think you will like him a great deal. He is VERY serious about promoting vocations, and Sioux Falls has done well in this regard under his leadership. Some people may not like his informality or his charismatic and youth group ideas, but I think in general you will be pleased. He is both smart and humble.

 

[MBS1]

Sorry, it is Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) that meets at our church, not Call to Action as I said. I had a brain cramp for a while.
MBS1

 

[midlandchemic]

MBS1:

Sorry, it is Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) that meets at our church, not Call to Action as I said. I had a brain cramp for a while.
MBS1

I don’t knock Fr. Pete. But you have to admit that he has one of the easier assignments in the diocese. Being the most conservative area in the diocese, it’s also amazing that they still see the need to be liberals.

I got an email from a priest friend of mine in North Dakota this morning. He was delighted at the shuffling. Apparently the alternative was suppressing the diocese altogether and splitting us up along the old lines. He shares my one concern, though, which is that this bishop has been battling cancer and it’s unusual that they would move someone around under those circumstances, particularly since we just lost a bishop to cancer.

Anyone ever think it odd that Cardinal Hickey came out of this diocese?