St. Paul's Letter to Bishop Boland of Savannah - Do Your Actions Show Love?

There's a wonderful quote from St. Paul. "Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?" Paul addressed that question to his flock in Corinth. (1 Corinthians 4:21) Earlier in the letter he spoke about the necessary requirements for ministers. They should be servants who teach the mysteries of God. Paul especially expects them to be trustworthy. And what does that mean in the context of being a servant imitating Christ? Paul provides the answer in 1 Corinthians 13 when he describes love.

Which brings me to Bishop Boland's continued unloving treatment of the Kumpel family which is a scandal to the Church, his own diocese, and the people of Valdosta. Read Robert's description of his youngest child's baptism and his second oldest child's First Communion. They traveled across the country for the sacraments because Robert was banned from his own parish. (If you are unfamiliar with the Kumpels' story you can read the two previous posts here and here.)

Look at the photos of these darling little lambs of Christ and ask how a good shepherd would treat them and their parents. The sacraments should have taken place in the Kumpels "home" parish of St. John's. But they could not. The church doors in Valdosta are legally barred against the children's own father BY THE BISHOP. He hides behind his lawyers, but the continued persecution comes directly from his hands. He can lift the ban. He chooses not to.

And so I ask Bishop Boland, "Do your actions show the love of Christ?" Do they pass muster according to St. Paul's words?

Love is patient. Has the bishop shown patience?
No, Robert and his family are the ones who have waited patiently for two years to see this unjust ban lifted.

Love is kind. Has the bishop shown any kindness toward the Kumpel family?
No, it could hardly be more unkind than to divide a family and withhold from them the "daily bread" of receiving the Eucharisth every day at Mass.

Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish.
Bishop Boland has never met the Kumpels yet he sent word that they may NEVER contact him except through his lawyer. His actions smack of the most rank snobbish clericalism.

Love is never rude, it is not self seeking, it is not prone to anger.
One of the hallmarks of anger is its capacity to hold a grudge. The bishop's actions not only indicate a grudge, but they imitate the Jehovah's Witnesses practice of shunning which is cruel and uncharitable.

Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.
Like many bishops who shuffled around predatory priests, Bishop Boland did not like hearing the truth about Fr. John O'Brien's imprudent behavior with the Office Director. Instead of dealing with it, he joined in shooting the messenger.

There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
There is little evidence of forbearance on the part of the bishop; but a great deal on the part of the Kumpel family. They have lived with insults, rudeness, shunning, hostility...and yet they continue to desire to make a home at St. John's. People who were less committed Catholics would likely have been driven out of the Church over this. Sad to say, Bishop Boland's behavior is not like the Good Shepherd in today's Gospel, but like the hireling who abandons the sheep.

The Good Shepherd uses his rod to strike the wolf. Unhappily, Bishop Boland has used his shepherd's staff to strike the Kumpels, his own sheep. When you attack the father, you attack the family. There is no evidence of love in Bishop Boland's actions. Please pray for him.