It's hard to believe what Bishop Michael Martin is doing in Charlotte. Under Bishop Jugis the diocese thrived. Under this new bishop, the wreckovation is in process bigtime. The four pastors at the parishes where the TLM is being eliminated begged him not to do it. They pointed out there was no disunity in their parishes. The bishop didn't bother to visit any of the four parishes; he simply stomped on the flock with hobnailed boots. As of yesterday, the bishop has delayed his orders because of a significant backlash not only in his diocese, but across the country. The planned date of implementation is now October 2nd. [Source]
"It's an ideology move," as Dr. Kwasniewski points out. The bishop admitted in a four-page letter that most of the faithful are in full Communion with the Church. In his letter he said many people may leave or stop giving and he simply doesn't care. It's the price that has to be paid to eliminate the TLM.
It's pretty clear that Bishop Martin has little respect for his priests or his people. He's operating like the Democrats who consider anyone who disagrees with their draconian proposals deplorable. What happened to "synodality" and "unity?" Apparently those words are not in the bishop's lexicon.
We need to pray for Bishop Martin and the poor people of Charlotte. The future is murky at present. He reminds me of Bishop Bransfield and his disastrous reign in the Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston. I hope I'm wrong.
Here's just one possible prayer for Bishop Marin to be boosted with fasting.
A Prayer for Effective Pastoral Care
Heavenly Father, bless our bishops and priests with the ability to provide effective pastoral care. Equip them to offer support, counsel, and guidance to those in need. May they be instruments of Your love and compassion, reaching out to comfort and uplift their congregations. Grant them the skills and sensitivity to address the diverse needs of those they serve with empathy and understanding.
It is my opinion that Bishop Martin was restrained not by the protests of his flock but rather a note from Pope Leo passed on to him through the Nuncio, Cardinal Pierre. I don’t see Bishop Martin as the type who would be restrained by suffering voices in protest. I do see him restrained by structural political forces that carry personal
ReplyDeleteconsequences.
Pope Leo has not yet expressed clear and convincing evidence of the direction he will take his Papacy, as Shepherd of our Mother, the universal Church. It is my opinion that he is taking control of all necessary means of authority behind the scenes prior to public action. Restraining this Bishop Martin until October, to me, indicates that significant changes to ecclesial direction are forthcoming … as soon as the “Captain” has assumed - in every way necessary - command of his Ship. To be continued. Help is on the way.
Just my opinion. We will see, while remaining respectful and loyal. The prayer is a good one. We will place that on our “fridge” as part of our morning routine.
It's gratifyihg to see direct language used about the bishop and the situation. It's understood that speaking about the church in any way requires a certain level of verbal restraint and decorum, however, it could also be argued that these are unusual times and that politeness and meekness no longer fit the situation. In fact, it could easily be argued the laity have been actively gaslighted and manipulated by a church culture imposing docility under the guise of "holy obedience" and submission, which has enabled abuse in many directions. It us clear with men like Bp. Martin we are seeing a man who is going to steamroll over the laity and the faith to fit his vision. He is unburdened by any real concerns about either. Aside from wondering how such a man made it to bishop, we need question wherher old ways of speaking about such men and situations ought to become more practical and direct. The old way isn't working. What do these men care about, always the same, bad PR and money. We need to use both more effectively.
ReplyDeleteThey “steamrolled” Christ right to the Cross.
DeleteObedience to, and respect for lawful pastoral authority, rightly ordered are supreme Catholic virtues.
The bishop is about 500 years too late. The protestants already made those changes.
ReplyDeleteThe defining feature of Protestantism is theological democracy, the end of divinely derived authority within hierarchy.
DeleteRegardless of their content, that was the true impact of Luther’s 95 thesis nailed to the door of Wittenberg Church - rejection of Apostolic authority to shepherd and rule, replaced by whoever pounds the “hammer”.
Heavenly Father, bless our bishops and priests with the ability to provide effective pastoral care. Equip them to offer support, counsel, and guidance to those in need. May they be instruments of Your love and compassion, reaching out to comfort and uplift their congregations. Grant them the skills and sensitivity to address the diverse needs of those they serve with empathy and understanding.
ReplyDeleteThis could have been written by Francis or his side kick Fr. James Martin.
LOL! Well, perhaps, but "counsel" is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and pastoral care is one of the duties of the clergy. I got the prayer from Catholic Online I think. Here's another you might like better:
DeleteO God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the eternal High Priest for the glory of Thy Majesty and the salvation of mankind; grant that they whom He hath chosen to be His ministers and the stewards of His mysteries, may be found faithful in the fulfillment of the ministry which they have received. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
I prefer that one myself. Plenty more at https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1754
In reference to Pastoral care, I just finished a book by the husband of an alcoholic whose damaged wife, marriage, children were saved by a holy Priest who refused to give up in his complicated, sensitive mission to this devastated soul and crumbling family.
DeleteSo, yes - “support, counsel, guidance, love, compassion, sensitivity” - all of them were on display in this personal testimony shared by the husband and his now former alcoholic wife mostly about the Priest who wouldn’t give up until the souls God brought to him were saved. The book is called “The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family”.
Sometimes, we just have no idea the suffering people are enduring behind the masks. This particular Priest embodied heroic spiritual virtues during the Covid lockdowns - saved these suffering souls even while being severely restricted in his ability to act out his vocation … but he found a way. We rarely see such things. I am grateful.
It is good to pray for our Bishops and Priests.
For ourselves, the Litany of Humility is very good.
https://www.sanctatrinitas.org/Litany_of_Humility.html