A Bishop Who's a Real Shepherd. How refreshing!
Chris Ferrara at The Remnant, a warrior for the faith, raised the question of why bishops should be praised for just doing their duty. It's a valid point, but one that can be answered fairly easily by looking at the bench of English bishops during Henry VIII's reign. When a culture is collapsing into immorality, it takes real courage to stand up and speak the truth.
Bishop Paprocki isn't just facing a storm of criticism from a liberal world seduced by the tempter. He's getting both barrels from the liberal element in the Church. And from most of his brother bishops he's getting what one usually gets from cowards -- silence.
In law silence implies consent. If someone witnesses a murder and says nothing, even if he's just holding the murderers' coats like St. Paul, his consent is implied. And he is complicit in the evil act. Many clergy today are silent about the many evils we face. They rarely preach about root sins like contraception presumably from fear of the backlash. As a priest friend says, "Some care more about the Almighty Dollar than about Almighty God" -- not to mention wanting to be liked.
But Bishop Paprocki is not one of those. He is a real shepherd who obviously cares about the flock. He speaks clearly and unequivocally to his flock, regardless of personal consequences. And he's getting slammed for it. Let's all ask the intercession of St. John Fisher, a martyr for marriage, to strengthen this bold bishop.
Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, pray for him.
St. John Fisher, intercede for him.
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