No letter would have accomplished that, if the pastor was well lived by his parish.
Please enlighten me then. I fail to see anything offensive in what I said, at least not warranting anger - and truthfully that wasn’t my intention. Then, it’s an open forum, that’s part of dialogue, the sheer amount of different views and opinions. Lastly, I didn’t flag any of your post - that’s not me.
Well, based solely on your user name, I am speculating it is in the Diocese of El Paso. If I am wrong, please disregard. While I do not know your Bishop personally ( I met him a couple if times), he was a well known priest and pastor in our diocese for his whole career prior to going to El Paso. He had a very good reputation and was well respected by all. You can be assured of his good judgement.
Your assumptions based on lack of facts are what’s offensive. It derails the intention of the post which was simply my objection to the bishops wording in the letter.El_PAso:
Please enlighten me then. I fail to see anything offensive in what I said, at least not warranting anger - and truthfully that wasn’t my intention. Then, it’s an open forum, that’s part of dialogue, the sheer amount of different views and opinions. Lastly, I didn’t flag any of your post - that’s not me.
I pray your doubt is well founded and ends up true, but you do not know that some other scandal is not involved, and the Bishop could be protecting the priest’s name to the greatest extent truthfully possible.
People are free to engage each other in conversation. That’s actually a very Christian thing to do. Conductive with Joy and happiness. I consider some posters to be actual friends. And doesn’t mean, in any way, that I’d join efforts with anyone in an unfair way towards unjust ends.
I’ve never figured out why my topics don’t get any attention, aside that resulting from friendship I’ve garnered.
The flagging system is also a form of opinion -fwiw- so it’s importance is relative to a degree, although it’s unpleasant to get flagged.
There’s no telling who flagged. Sometimes its better, others worse. I’ve gotten this sense that the most participant members don’t actually flag. (because at one point everyone got flagged and we learned from that.)
Well it wasn’t meant to be offensive and neither was it inconsiderate. I’ll apologize if I must.
And what if the Bishop wrote such a first draft as you have proposed and the priest concerned read it and said “Your Grace, I don’t want the nature of my issues, except that they are not of a criminal nature and that your decision has been taken in consultation with everyone who needs to be consulted, mentioned at all, please respect my privacy and delete those sections”.adgloriam:
Your assumptions based on lack of facts are what’s offensive. It derails the intention of the post which was simply my objection to the bishops wording in the letter.El_PAso:
Please enlighten me then. I fail to see anything offensive in what I said, at least not warranting anger - and truthfully that wasn’t my intention. Then, it’s an open forum, that’s part of dialogue, the sheer amount of different views and opinions. Lastly, I didn’t flag any of your post - that’s not me.
You and others came up with what you thought was going through my head and ran with it.
BTW this is how I would have worded it. First draft took 5 minutes if that!:
"Dear Parish it is with sadness in my heart I inform you Fr. X will be moving on from your parish. As you know several weeks ago I suggested Fr. X have a medical evaluation. Based on results I have determined it is best for Fr. to take some time off and address his personal and medical issues. There have been no complaints and Fr. has served the parish faithfully and leaves it in very good hands to continue its steady growth.”
“No criminal investigation” Why leave it at that? Why not a laundry list of potential “criminal” acts that would warrant an investigation? Also there a number of scenarios where wrong was done that do not involve “criminal investigations” yet. It’s almost like bishop is covering bases in case something comes out… Which I doubt will…
From what I know and recall of Fr. X he was/is a good priest and deserves a better send off and even hinting of wrong doing does him and his ministry a great disservice.
Finally what I think is the reason is burn out. Fr. was FULL TIME and then some! No other priest at large parish and always there. Daily Mass, youth groups , KofC etc… I think he got spread thin and needs an extended time out.
But go on and assume what you want and have fun supposing what I’m thinking…
Given the scandals wrongdoing would likely be suspected regardless. I see the bishop is refuting it. I agree the method may not be effective but can’t think of what would be. It would not be appropriate for him to specify the condition, and the priest may not want it to be generally known.
NONSENSE!El_PAso:
Given the scandals wrongdoing would likely be suspected regardless. I see the bishop is refuting it. I agree the method may not be effective but can’t think of what would be. It would not be appropriate for him to specify the condition, and the priest may not want it to be generally known.
Usually not suddenly, at least in my experience. Maybe it’s different where you are.
It’s different everywhere…Some dioceses have less priests than parishes and many parishes don’t have a legit pastor.El_PAso:
Usually not suddenly, at least in my experience. Maybe it’s different where you are.
WHAT does this have to do with the original premise of my objections to the bishops choice of words?
Likewise!
When priests move, there is a process.
Wrong again!El_PAso:
When priests move, there is a process.
A priest is moved suddenly, people in this world are going to think the absolute worst and they are going to spread rumors. The good Bishop wanted to shut down any gossip.