Posted on 04/29/2012 12:40:51 PM PDT by marshmallow
Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino has moved to quell a backlash against a group of conservative priests in Platteville by warning parishioners they risk formal church censure unless they stop spreading "rumors and gossip."
The action by Morlino, which two Catholic scholars called highly unusual, appears to include the possibility of offenders being prohibited from taking part in church sacraments such as communion, confession and burial.
The warning came in a five-page letter Wednesday from Morlino to St. Marys Catholic Church in Platteville. The congregation has been roiled by opposition to the traditionalist priests, who began serving the parish in June 2010.
Within months, church donations fell by more than half, and about 40 percent of the churchs 1,200 members signed a petition seeking the priests ouster. The churchs 77-year-old school is set to close June 1, a loss many parishioners tie directly to the collapse of donations.
The letter, in which Morlino raises the prospect of invoking the churchs Code of Canon Law against dissenters, has stunned many parishioners.
"Theres almost shock and awe," said Myron Tranel, a member of the churchs finance council. "But mostly, theres a lot of disappointment that the bishop has decided to deal with it this way."
Others applaud the bishops move, saying decisive action was needed because criticism had gotten out of hand.
"This is a warning shot across the bow you either want to be a Catholic or you dont," said Gregory Merrick, a member of the churchs pastoral council.
Diocesan spokesman Brent King said Morlinos main message is that this should be a time of "prayer, serious introspection and forgiveness." The specific texts from the churchs code of law were included precisely so that they may never be needed, King said.
"The bishops caution that this cannot continue should......
(Excerpt) Read more at host.madison.com ...
**The congregation for its part it missing a big opportunity to learn patience and humility.**
Sitto!
If you have a problem, take someone with you and go talk to that person — don’t go around them to the bishop!
Oops....Ditto!
It would depend on a number of factors; was the excommunication latae sententiae or ferendae sententiae, is the penitent near death, etc.
What does “Sitto” mean?
No one is taking her 'parish community" away. If there is negativity and anger, it's likely coming from some of her own friends who don't like the changes the priests made.
As far as the school is concerned, it sounds as though the people in the Parish got their behinds on their shoulders about the way the new priests are saying Mass, and they are punishing the kids in the Parish by not supporting the Parish school.
And as for the man who says he's not saying anything 'untrue' about the priests, one can speak the truth, but do it in such a nasty way as to create suspicion about another person, or cause others to have a negative opinion about that person, thereby harming someone's reputation. That's CALUMNY, and it is as sinful as lying about someone.
Are you far from Cashton?: http://www.institute-christ-king.org/cashton/
Yes, I don’t want to identify the location but it’s not too far from a parish which use to have the new “approved”latin mass said in the LaCrosse diocease.
good, let ‘em have it.
What a great letter. I am quite certain that if I check I will find out the parish has a rather outspoken gay group.
Which cleric has faculties to remit the excommunication depends on the offense. Some offenses are reserved to the bishop, some are reserved to the bishop but he has delegated those faculties to his priests, some are reserved to the Pope.
Sounds like the priests did act in haste. My guess is that previous pastors were methodists in disguise and allowed a lot of departures from form. Changes should be introduce gradually. Back in the 70s, liberal priests would come in and make changes wholesale. It could be that the parishioners grew up with the parish being the way it was and restoration to the canonical forms seemed a shock.
Yeah ...
Sorta like how girl altar boys, ugly buildings, ugly music, ugly alterations to the Liturgy, disobedience, and outright heresy have been "gently explained" and "sold" to orthodox faithful Catholics over the last 40 years.
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