Remembering a disgraced bishop,

[dnjd]

Is it proper for the priest to “remember” during the Eucharistic Prayer an ex bishop who was asked to resign after admitting to improper relations with young women. This is done at the same place during the Eucharistic Prayer that a retired bishop would be “remembered” along with the Pope and the current bishop.

 

[JMJ_Theresa]

dnjd:

Is it proper for the priest to “remember” during the Eucharistic Prayer an ex bishop who was asked to resign after admitting to improper relations with young women. This is done at the same place during the Eucharistic Prayer that a retired bishop would be “remembered” along with the Pope and the current bishop.

I don’t know the rules. But, I’ve noticed that priests are very concerned with the souls of fallen priests. They must take very seriously the responsibility of priesthood. Knowing that the punishment will be very harsh on one trusted with so much, they seem to have great compassion in praying for them. I would like a priest who knows the power of the Mass would be sincere in remembering in prayer a Bishop such as this.

 

[gelsbern]

Do we cease praying for someone who has sinned?

 

[CARose]

I have to agree with JMJ here. Remember, even a disgraced Bishop continues to be an Ordained Man. And as such (for once ordained, always ordained) his soul is in grave danger for having created scandal in the Church. We all need to pray for the repentance of all lost souls and even more so for priests who have lost their way! It is only through our prayers that any priests have a shot a doing their duty in the first place.

Perhaps if we would all remember to pray for our priests, we’d have better priests to begin with!

CARose

 

[Orogeny]

Not much to add except I agree with both CARose and JMJ Theresa. I don’t think we can pray too much for our clergy.

Peace

Tim

 

[Illini]

I always thought only the Pope and local ordinary (not even auxiliaries) are mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayers. Thus, whether a retired bishop left his position in disgrace or as the holiest man the diocese has ever seen is irrelevant.

 I agree, though, that all persons, including fallen priests and bishops, need our prayers.

-Illini

 

[Brain]

my auxillary told me (but he may have a vested interest) that it is at least pope and ordinary, and one is free to add auxilliaries if there are 2 or less, I assume one would pray for a retired bishop the same way and in place of the auxiliaries.
And i do know that when one of our 2 auxilliaries says mass, he says pope, bishop, his auxilliary (1), and your unworthy servant

 

[Crumpy]

This brings up the whole issue of public sins or sins that become public.

There are many things that we are supposed to forgive. If we can’t pray for a disgraced bishop then we should ask ourselves some hard questions.

The point is, that mentioning someone by name is an honor of sorts. And, that is probably what bugs us about it.

After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to His disciples a number of times. What bothers me is this: Did Jesus appear to Pilate? Did Jesus forgive Pilate? Of course, He said so, on the cross.

 

[whatevergirl]

Jesus asked us to pray for even our enemies. So, I think, ‘yes,’ we should pray for the fallen priest.

How can we say we’re truly Catholic, and then cherry pick who we are going to pray for? Sounds hypocritical to me.

 

[frommi]

A retired Bishop who retired from that diocese could be prayed for…

“For N. our Pope, N. and N. our bishops”…

If he was reassigned, then he is not attached to that diocese and should not be prayed for

 

[Libero]

I think it is okay - Cardinal O’Connor (I think - Or maybe Cardinal Winning?) has said it about Bishop Roddy Wright.

The church maintains that the Episcopal Ordination is sacred.

 

[muledog]

frommi:

A retired Bishop who retired from that diocese could be prayed for…

“For N. our Pope, N. and N. our bishops”…

If he was reassigned, then he is not attached to that diocese and should not be prayed for

A retired bishop is not “our bishop”, and shouldn’t be listed in the commemorations, just as former popes would not be listed here, either.
GIRM:

The priest continues the Eucharistic Prayer in accordance with the rubrics that are set forth in each of the Prayers.

If the celebrant is a Bishop, in the Prayers, after the words Papa nostro N. (N., our Pope), he adds, et me, indigno famulo tuo (and me, your unworthy servant). If, however, the Bishop is celebrating outside his own diocese, after the words Papa nostro N. (N., our Pope), he adds, et me indigno famulo tuo, et fratre meo N., Episcopo huius Ecclesiae N. (me, your unworthy servant, and my brother N., the Bishop of this Church of N.).

The diocesan Bishop or anyone equivalent to him in law must be mentioned by means of this formula: una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N. et Episcopo (or Vicario, Prelato, Praefecto, Abbate) (together with your servant N., our Pope, and N., our Bishop [or Vicar, Prelate, Prefect, Abbot]).

It is permitted to mention Coadjutor and Auxiliary Bishops in the Eucharistic Prayer, but not other Bishops who happen to be present. When several are to be named, this is done with the collective formula et Episcopo nostro N. eiusque Episcopis adiutoribus (N., our Bishop and his assistant Bishops).