What Ever Happened to Bishop Joseph Martino?

Do you ever wonder what happened to Bishop Joseph Martino, the bishop of Scranton, who retired suddenly for "insomnia and fatigue" (although, pro-lifers believe he was forced out)? He's the bishop who appeared at a meeting of liberal Catholics promoting the USCCB letter on "faithful citizenship" with an interpretation that voting for pro-abortion politicians was okay. The bishop made it clear the only letter that carried weight in his diocese was his own pastoral letter.  Les Femmes supported the bishop in his strong pro-life advocacy which included upholding canon law 915 and forbidding pro-abortion politicians from speaking in his diocese from Catholic podiums. We still mourn his disappearance from the Catholic scene while scandalous bishops like Roger Mahony and Matthew Clark continue on the scene.

I received an email today from Bishop Martino today via the Cardinal Newman Society supporting their work. Here it is and I'm glad to see the bishop resurfacing. May God bless him and make him a strong voice for the truth in his too early retirment.

_______________________________

Most Rev. Joseph Martino
Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Scranton
December 7, 2010
Second Week of Advent

My dear friend in Christ,
I write to you today with great pastoral concern for the young people in Catholic education, and on behalf of my friends at The Cardinal Newman Society.
Did you know that nearly 1-in-8 Catholics will leave the Faith while attending a Catholic college?
On many of our Catholic campuses, there is a crisis that imperils the souls of tens of thousands of the Church's sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews.

This Advent season, I am asking you to join The Cardinal Newman Society, which has tirelessly worked to end this crisis for more than 17 years.
Today's Gospel reads: "If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray?... [I]t is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
My friend, Scripture here reminds us of why we must be vigilant in protecting the faith of every son and daughter.

We also must fight for a return to the flock of those colleges that are, perhaps unwittingly, teaching false theology and condoning promiscuous student life.
This is the work of The Cardinal Newman Society.

And it is why I hope that you will join me in supporting their work during this Advent season.

Because while 1-in-8 Catholic students at Catholic colleges abandon the Faith, we have disturbing clues as to why it happens. A recent Cardinal Newman Society survey found that:

27% of students at Catholic colleges view pornography.

59% say their friends regularly use drugs.

Nearly 1-in-5 know a student who had or paid for an abortion.

61% disagree with the Church's infallible teaching on the male priesthood.

60% think that abortion should be legal (and even 50% of those who attend Mass weekly!).
60% think that premarital sex with someone you care about is not a sin.

78% disagree that using a condom is a serious sin.

58% support "gay marriage".

If we cannot do better than that at a Catholic college, what will happen to our culture?

This is a terrible crisis and we all need to do our part. The future of the Church and our nation is at risk, as are the souls of our young Catholic men and women.
I am so very thankful that The Cardinal Newman Society remains steadfast in its commitment to our Faith.
I support their mission to prod wayward Catholic colleges to embrace the richness that is genuine Catholic education. It is a cause that is near to the hearts of Pope Benedict and his venerable predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
Please stand with them in this important fight. I know from experience how difficult it can be to stand alone, crying in the wilderness for fidelity.

I have had a close relationship with The Cardinal Newman Society and am grateful that they are on the job:

alerting the faithful to scandal on Catholic campuses,

working with college leaders to improve policies and programs,
helping Catholic families in their search for good colleges,

promoting Eucharistic Adoration on campuses,

helping colleges defend their religious liberty from secularism,

and much more!

They seek to renew Catholic colleges campus by campus, until the graduates of these colleges are strong in their faith and lead the New Evangelization.

Already The Cardinal Newman Society works with a small but exciting group of faithful Catholic colleges, that embrace their Catholic identity and each year turn out a small army of well educated and faithful students prepared to evangelize the world.
We all need to do our part to renew our Catholic colleges -- and they are truly "ours," since they rightly belong to the universal Church.
One way you can help is to encourage your family and friends to send their children to the strong, faithful Catholic colleges recommended in the Society's Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College (which is in print and on the Internet).
Another way is to become a member of The Cardinal Newman Society, standing in solidarity with our Holy Father and Catholic families across the nation for authentic Catholic higher education.
My friend, please also remember to pray that we may continue to fight the good fight... and only with God before us!
May God bless you this Advent -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Sincerely yours in the Risen Christ,

+ Joseph Martino
P.S. Please join with me in prayer, and become a member of The Cardinal Newman Society today. It is an easy and effective way to stand for strong Catholic identity.
You can donate here or send a check to:

The Cardinal Newman Society
9415 West Street
Manassas, VA 20110