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Now that "counting the bishops" has become a factor in determining the direction of the Church, it will be necessary to count those who do not speak. Or, at least, it is important to consider the meaning in the silence of those bishops. The 2008 election did produce one episode that suggests what the silence means for some bishops....

....In other words, there were bishops in the 2008 election who purposely did not speak out, and who did not agree with those who did. Their silence implied consent to the way Catholic teaching was being construed by Obama supporters like Doug Kmiec and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. What does this tell us about the silence of the remaining bishops on the upcoming commencement at Notre Dame?

I don’t see Archbishop Gregory on the list...does anyone know where he stands on this issue?

If the church is so vehemently against Obama’s visit, why don’t those 68 bishops get the Pope to attend the alternate service. That will send the message loud and clear.

My bishop, who is very outspoken on life issues, never speaks on these “political” issues. I think everyone knows where he stands but I wish he would add his voice to the other bishops speaking out against these politicians.

Yet another fruit of the “spirit of Vatican II.”

“The bishop replied testily, “Well, there are many of us who are not speaking out,” then turned and walked away. “

COWARD! Babies, innocent babies, are being killed. And you can't even say it is a bad thing?!

But how many simply disagree with those bishops and think Notre Dame is doing the right thing by honoring President Obama? Is this the meaning of their silence?

Those of us with 'silent' bishops can surmise their positions be it through their statements on issues important to them or through their voice in the diocesan newspapers. Here in Albany NY, there has been NO commentary on Notre Dame in the diocesan newspaper. If anything, the paper reflected support for the "new" president immediately following his election.

The countdown to this bishop's mandatory retirement is just under 5 years.

Basically there are 84 (I believe that's the right number) bishops who've said, publically that the Obama invitation was bad.

There is one (Lynch) whose statement was ambiguous, but could be understood to approve the invitation.

The count of bishops who have unambiguously said, in public, that the Obama invitation is a good thing currently stands at zero.

That list has not expanded to 71 Bishops. I agree that it is not enough.

If the bishop of your area is not on the list I will post in the next post, please contact them. Here is the contact information.

Bishops listed by Diocese

Bishops by Name

Bishops listed by state

This is an old link.

The bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

Current count: 68 bishops

Bishop Joseph V. Adamec - Altoona-Johnstown, PA
Statement: http://www.ajdiocese.org/documents//April_8__2009_-_Notre_Dame_University.pdf
LSN http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050718.html

Bishop James Conley the auxiliary bishop of Denver,

Bishop John Gaydos of the diocese of Jefferson City

Bishop Sam Jacobs of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana

For a list of contact information regarding the Notre Dame scandal, go to: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032706.html

” What does this tell us about the silence of the remaining bishops on the upcoming commencement at Notre Dame? Certainly there are those who agree with the 68 who have gone on the record against his selection. Perhaps they think the issue has been sufficiently flogged, especially with the public statement by USCCB President Francis Cardinal George.

But how many simply disagree with those bishops and think Notre Dame is doing the right thing by honoring President Obama? Is this the meaning of their silence? Do the majority of U.S. bishops agree with Notre Dame? If so, that may well be one of the reasons Notre Dame’s officials felt free to issue the invitation in the first place.”

There is also the possibility that the majority of Latin Rite bishops in America take the Ecumenical Council proclaimed canon against bishops meddling in the affairs of other bishops’ dioceses more seriously than those few who will violate any canon to advance a political agenda.

I note that the illustrious Bishop Skylstad of the Diocese of Spokane, WA (and former President of the USCCB) is conspicuous by his absence from the list...

I have not seen my Archbishop, Favalora of Miami on the list either and wrote him to ask he sign the Cardinal Newman Petition. I received a reply that Archbishop Favalora has had numerous problems with Notre Dame in the past. When the University bestowed the Laetare Medal to Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1995, Archbishop Favalora recalled a priest on graduate studies there at the time.

I was told that sending a letter to Notre Dame where his position is well know, Favalora preferred to educate and speak out to his local Catholic Community via Peace Radio and an upcoming issue of The Florida Catholic.

I can only assume the diocese did not want to answer my specific request for the Bishop to sign the Cardinal Newman Society Petition or they did not know about it.