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.

Bishop Martino, Our (Super) Hero

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Bishop Martino warning pro-abortion Catholic politicians to defend truth, justice, and the American way -- well, Catholic truth and justice anyway; the American way these days is unfortunately X-rated.

The good bishop of Scranton increasingly is the hero of pro-life Catholics who have been calling for Church authorities to enforce Canon Law 915 (denying Communion to obstinate sinners). The purpose of 915 is threefold: to preserve the Eucharist from sacrilege, to limit scandal, and to be a medicine to those with sick souls who don't have the integrity to stop receiving Communion on their own.

Bishop Martino's directive is clear: "Those whose unworthiness to receive Holy Communion is known publicly to the Church must be refused Holy Communion in order to prevent sacrilege and to prevent the Catholic in question from committing further grave sin through unworthy reception." While the document didn't name anyone specifically there's no doubt of at least one intended politician. The same day the chancery released the directive on Communion (which is an instruction to ministers of Holy Communion), Bishop Martino sent a second letter of warning to Pennsyvania Governor Bob Casey. Bishop Martino's intention could not be more clear. The question is will Casey obey? Pro-abortion politicians generally believe they are above the law, both Church and state. But for once a pro-abortion Catholic politician is facing an adversary who's a man of steel.

Thank you, Bishop Martino, from the bottom of our hearts. We pray for you and for the obstinate public sinners you correct. May your strong medicine bring them to their senses and back to the Communion rail with repentant hearts.

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What a difference a REAL SHEPHERD makes!

Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino warned the orgnanizers of the St. Patrick's Day Parade that the Cathedral will be closed to them if they honor pro-abortion politicians. So they won't. In 2008 Hillary Clinton participated in the parade with huge campaign signs. Let's hope the bishop's ban includes scandalous pro-abortion politicians marching or appearing in any official way in the parade.

Les Femmes applauds the bishop's actions. It's high time we have shepherds who speak with the voice of authority instead of sounding like smarmy politicians and CEOs selling soap.

Thank you, Bishop Martino. You have our prayers and our full support!