Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy

CBS58 ^ | August 30, 2003

[NYer]

Madison Bishop Robert Morlino calls the current push by a group of Milwaukee priests to make celibacy optional an example of American pragmatism that has no place in the Catholic faith.

"It is part of the American fix-it mentality that the removal of the obligation of celibacy will make the priesthood more marketable and perhaps from certain points of view it might," Morlino writes in a column to be published Thursday in the Diocese of Madison's weekly newspaper. "But it also is a step back from total reliance on Jesus Christ in this matter, Jesus Christ alone gives the grace of celibacy."

Morlino was installed as Madison's new bishop Aug. 1. The issue of mandatory celibacy for priests was openly challenged two weeks ago for the first time in a quarter century by a group of 163 priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The priests submitted a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urging that married men be eligible for the diocesan priesthood as a way to ease the shortage of priests. Representatives of priest associations in Chicago, southern Illinois, Boston, New York and Pittsburgh said last week they plan to take action to support the Milwaukee priests.

The Madison diocese has 99 priests to serve 135 parishes in 11 counties, down from 127 priests in 1997, said spokesman Bill Brophy. The diocese projects the number of priests will dip to 34 by 2025, Brophy said. The current challenge to the rule of celibacy, considered a church law rather than divine law, has been taken up by independent associations of priests organized in many major dioceses. The Madison Diocese has no such group, Brophy said. The Rev. Gary Wankerl, pastor of St. Olaf Parish in DeForest, said the rule of celibacy is supported by priests in the Madison diocese. He said the diocese's new deacon program will allow the church to continue to serve parishioners with fewer priests.

Deacons, who may be married, can perform baptism, funeral and weddings services where no Mass is included. "Hopefully this is something that will assist us in bringing the sacraments to people so there is no shortage," Wankerl said.

[NYer]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Rev. Robert Morlino was installed as the Diocese of Madison's new bishop Friday.

About 700 people attended the ceremony at St. Raphael Cathedral in downtown Madison, including 41 bishops and 148 priests, diocesan spokesman Bill Brophy said.

Morlino, 56, served four years as Roman Catholic bishop of the Helena, Mont., Diocese.

Pope John Paul II appointed him to replace William H. Bullock in Madison. Bullock resigned last year when he turned 75, as required by church law.

Morlino, a native of Scranton, Pa., serves as chairman of two committees in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. One deals with matters surrounding permanent deacons' ministry. The other helps bishops respond to moral and theological questions about health care situations in their dioceses.

He was one of eight American bishops last year to sign a call for a plenary council to discuss the church's sexual abuse crisis. He said he will focus on recruiting new priests in Madison.

Morlino is the diocese's fourth bishop in 57 years.

The Madison diocese covers 11 counties in south central Wisconsin, which has more than 257,000 Catholics.

The Helena diocese has about 67,000 Catholics.

[NYer]

The issue of mandatory celibacy for priests was openly challenged two weeks ago for the first time in a quarter century by a group of 163 priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

I take it the question of 'mandatory' celibacy surfaces from time to time. We, and the priest petitioners, already know the pope's unbudging stance on this policy. Why are they rattling their sabres? What do they hope to achieve?

[EODGUY]

Just as an aside, Bishop Morlino is our new Bishop. I am proud he has addressed this issue publically, but not as proud as I was when he left noon Mass at the Cathedral in downtown Madison on the feast of the Queenship of Mary to walk next door to lead approximately 250 people in praying the Rosary on the sidewalk across from a Madison hospital where abortions are performed.

At Mass, he emphasized that all involved in abortion must be included in our prayers if we are to end this atrocity against God's most innocent creatures.

He appears to "walk to walk" and lead from the front....qualities I have always admired and have tried to emulate in my life.

God bless,

EODGUY

[Notwithstanding]

Indeed, NYer, "mandatory" and "imposing" are such odd words to use in this context.

Its sort of like "imposing" "mandatory" fidelity for persons in Catholic marriages.

Marriage and Ordination are voluntary sacraments that the Church offers to those having certain prerequisites. Nothing mandatory or imposing about them.

[ninenot]

What do they hope to achieve?

This is a continuation of the Regime of Rembert.

You recall that a week after their 'celibacy' letter came out, another letter was issued calling for a "priests' Union."

There are more than a few radicals within the priesthood in Milwaukee, trained and ordained under the watch of Rembert Weakland, OSB.

Without a tiresome recitation of Rembert's "accomplishments," you need mostly to know that Weakland was directly and indirectly opposed to most ANY initiative or directive from Rome over the past 15 years. He met regularly w/Card. Martini SJ; he was a very close associate of Bugsy Bugnini; and his personal problem, a 'grave disorder,' was manifest in his anti-nomianism, outright disobedience, and subtle distortions of the truth, not to mention his vicious destruction 9r attempted destruction of anyone who got in his way, locally and nationally.

In effect, seminarians and priests of this Archdiocese (as well as many of the Faithful) were led to believe that Milwaukee was the "leader" and Rome was the "follower," (although Milwaukee often followed Chicago, Buffalo, and Albany.)

The letters and organizing efforts now in play simply represent a continuation, except now the Archbishop is not a co-conspirator (the Bishop, Sklba, is still happy to continue on the road away from Rome.)

They expect exactly what they've been led to expect these past 20 years: independence from the Roman Catholic Church's discipline, doctrine, and dogma.

[american colleen]

I think it is pretty ironic that other "priest's forums" have joined in with the Milwaukee priests. First off, those other "priest's forums" are the ones who usually back the dissenting groups right off and fight for "transparancy" and openness in the hierarchy - but good luck finding out which priests belong to those groups.

Second, it sickens me that this stuff is now done via the media... these "priest groups" seem to have a direct pipeline to all the newspapers and release these statements or letters to the media at the same time they give it to the bishop - the letter written asking Cardinal Law to step down was released to media before the Cardinal ever saw it himself.

Shades of the way Humanae Vitae was treated by the theologians... they made their statements (and took out a full page ad in the NYTimes) denouncing it.

[american colleen]

...and his personal problem, a 'grave disorder,' was manifest in his anti-nomianism, outright disobedience, and subtle distortions of the truth, not to mention his vicious destruction 9r attempted destruction of anyone who got in his way, locally and nationally.

Interesting to wonder if at one time Weakland was a holy priest dedicated to helping others throught that narrow gate? In other words, did he enter religious life looking at that "grave disorder" as a cross or as a "gift?"

[RobbyS]

did he enter religious life looking at that "grave disorder" as a cross or as a "gift?"

Interesting point. I suspect the former unable to deal with his weakness,and work out his salvation in fear and trembling, he rejected the authority of the Church but kept it to himself.

[RobbyS]

Rome has been following the strategy of letting liberal bishops "age out,"and replacing them with more reliable men. The problem with this, as I see it, is that the new men are often not up to the challenge when they realize how deep the rebellion is. The pattern has been: Rome says; the bishops try to enforce only to meet resistenters and then try to strike a deal with the dissenters. That certainly seem to have been what Law did. As Morlino says, says: pragmatism won't do.

[RobbyS]

For those traditionalists who think that things were hunky dory in the 1950s, the Humanae Vitae ad shows that that an underground movement for "reform" had long been building, since the 1930s if not since the 1830s.

[ninenot]

A local radio commentator has opined that "Self-justification is the SECOND strongest human drive."

I think he's right. Most of what we see happening to the Church is the result of self-justification, worked out on a very large canvas.

Rome uses the term 'disorder' for a reason. Perhaps the Milwaukee Cathedral is the poster-child--but the disorder present in the current "renovation" is appalling and blatant.

E Michael Jones and I concur: the 'disorder' is manifested in art, music, and ultimately in teaching, although all three are interconnected.

Synthesis, synthesis, syntheses: any attack on Goodness, Truth, Beauty, is an attack on all three at once. Similarly, one cannot habitually break "just one" commandment. Others follow.

[secret garden]

You're lucky to have a bishop like him. Ours is not as assertive and seems to be looking forward to retirement. During the furor following the ECUSA convention, he was reluctant to stick his neck out and publicly condemn their actions. Perhaps he is working diligently behind the scenes. I hope he attends the meetings in Plano this October and becomes inspired to action.

[Desdemona]

A local radio commentator has opined that "Self-justification is the SECOND strongest human drive."

Very true. If justification takes too many twists and turns to get to the desired answer, the desired answer is wrong.

[Salvation]

A bump for Bishop Murlino.

[Salvation]

**He was one of eight American bishops last year to sign a call for a plenary council to discuss the church's sexual abuse crisis. He said he will focus on recruiting new priests in Madison.**

This is wonderful news for the Diocese of Madison!

[Salvation]

**but not as proud as I was when he left noon Mass at the Cathedral in downtown Madison on the feast of the Queenship of Mary to walk next door to lead approximately 250 people in praying the Rosary on the sidewalk across from a Madison hospital where abortions are performed.**

Encouraging words. Those prayers work!

[Salvation]

**They expect exactly what they've been led to expect these past 20 years: independence from the Roman Catholic Church's discipline, doctrine, and dogma.**

This may be what seminarians will be expecting, but it does not sound like what they will be getting. More housecleaning needed?

[St.Chuck]

He appears to "walk to walk" and lead from the front....The pope is on a roll. He has elevated some good men to more important dioceses of late. Hope the trend continues.

[sinkspur]

The Madison diocese has 99 priests to serve 135 parishes in 11 counties, down from 127 priests in 1997, said spokesman Bill Brophy. The diocese projects the number of priests will dip to 34 by 2025, Brophy said.

Thirty-four priests to serve 135 parishes (and that assumes no growth of Catholics in the diocese)?

When lay Catholics in the United States have to settle for a Communion service instead of the Mass two out of four Sundays, they'll begin to vote for a solution to the priest shortage with their checkbooks.

[NYer]

he left noon Mass at the Cathedral in downtown Madison on the feast of the Queenship of Mary to walk next door to lead approximately 250 people in praying the Rosary on the sidewalk across from a Madison hospital where abortions are performed.

Now this is good news indeed!!! A bishop who acts on what he preaches!

Perhaps this is a bit naive on my part to suggest, but do you see a trend developing over the past few months? The retiring bishops (or those who have stepped down) are being replaced with conservative bishops who are not afraid to stand up for the teachings of the catholic church. Dolan, O'Malley and now Morlino. They spark hope in our hearts.

Let's keep Bishop Morlino in our prayers. May he continue to shine as an example for other bishops to follow.

[NYer]

They expect exactly what they've been led to expect these past 20 years: independence from the Roman Catholic Church's discipline, doctrine, and dogma.

Then they should take it and go! Go to the American Catholic Church where priests may marry. Why must they continue to insist, along with the feminists, that the church adjust its doctrine to suit their peevish whims!

[ninenot]

Sinky, "projections" have a way of changing. Early on, you projected to your wife that you would be rich and famous.

[Loyalist]

Priests and religious have been turning over more and more of their roles to the laity for the past forty years, and the laity have been only too happy to take them on.

They're getting what they've wanted all these years; a lay-run, democratic church, where the priesthood of all believers comes before the priesthood of mere presiders.

They should be rejoicing, not complaining.

[ninenot]

See my post from Avery Dulles essay, in the 120's on this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/973297/posts

[ninenot]

No question. Housecleaning should be accompanied by a lawfully-empowered firing squad. That way we'll get to the "projected minimum" of priests a whole lot more quickly.

BTW, I hope you don't think that Morino's statement "just happened." Dolan IS the metropolitan for Madison...

[saradippity]

"projections" have a way of changing

Yes,they do. A few years ago when the diocesan "dog and pony show" was on the trail presenting the priestless parish lament,our bishop turned down two priests from the FSSP and sent two wonderful order priests back to their Order.There has been a contrived priest shortage for some time now. Let's hope these new Bishops can get through the bureaucratic nightmare at the top of the USCCB and save the Church in the U.S..

Just an aside,but this was the very same bishop,who was responsible for "Always Our Children" and who recently resigned due to his involvement in a fatal "hit and run".

The very same bishop who protected a priest,who was in a pornographic movie and let one of the scenes be filmed on the altar. Two of the protected priest's churches were burned and had to be completely redone.He also lived with his male friend,who either bit the ear or was bitten on the ear by another priest who caught the boyfriend rifling his dresser drawer. When we marched in protest about the assignment of this priest to a certain parish,we were admonished by the bishop via newspaper,for spreading vicious gossip and mean spiritedness about this fine priest.

Two weeks ago we learned that this shining example of a Phoenix priest had been sent to Jemez Springs for treatment in 1989 for sexually abusing a teen-age boy.

I could go on and on,but I'll just conclude with the fact that I am sure that there are some very evil men at the top of the USCCB,and I am not talking about Gregory,I think they thought he would go along with them. I just keep praying that one of them will experience a sudden conversion and confess and implicate the others by name.

[RobbyS]

If Catholics can drive twenty miles to a mall, they can drive 20 miles to go to mass.

[sinkspur]

If Catholics can drive twenty miles to a mall, they can drive 20 miles to go to mass.

They may drive the 20 miles, but they'd likely not be at all happy that their local church is shuttered because the Church won't do anything to address the priest shortage.

That displeasure has a variety of ways of expressing itself.

[RobbyS]

Maybe they should ask how much the new clerical regime is going to cost?

[sinkspur]

Maybe they should ask how much the new clerical regime is going to cost?

I'll guarantee one thing they will ask: Why should we pay to support a Church that will not provide a priest to us every Sunday?

[RobbyS]

Well, they can always go to the Baptist churches.

[sinkspur]

Well, they can always go to the Baptist churches.

So you'd tell Catholics who withold contributions because they used to have a resident priest, but now they don't, to go to a Protestant Church?

I'd tell, and I would encourage, Catholics to put their donations in escrow if they are forced to settle for communion services on Sundays.

Lay Catholics will not long tolerate a pat on the head on an issue like the availability of priests.

[RobbyS]

What if you take the arguments of the other side seriously, which is that many bishops don't want the traditional priesthood, perhaps because they do longer hold to the traditional Catholic faith in the Eucharist. If they think it is only a symbol, then why not say, as Flannery said, "to hell with it?" So, if it is only a symbol, and many so-called Catholics were say that, then why not go to the Baptist churches?

[sinkspur]

What if you take the arguments of the other side seriously, which is that many bishops don't want the traditional priesthood, perhaps because they do longer hold to the traditional Catholic faith in the Eucharist.

Because the arguments of the other side don't deserve to be taken seriously. There's no proof that American bishops are trying to destroy the priesthood. Just conjecture, based on prejudice.

[RobbyS]

And what you say is not conjecture? I do not doubt the legitimacy of the mass, but like my old hero Jacques Maritain, I have always wondered why Rome did not simply translate the old mass , which developed over a period of one thousand years,into the national tongue. Surely you know that only a few Catholics wanted any radical changes in the liturgy, and that for everyone who was pleased, there was someone else who was disconcerted by the changes.

Do you know what the changes reminded me of: the switchover into the New Math in the public schools during the 1960s. It was nothing more than the old theory of aggregates and modern geometry applied to create a logical consistency into the math curriculum. That it did. But it went over the heads of many high school teachers and you can imagine how it was received by elementary teachers. Well, it was a complete failure and the worst thing is that after it was done away with, the math curriculum that replaced it was much worse than the pre-new math one. The reformers had exorcised the old rote math but now worse devils entered in in its place.

[american colleen]

I could go on and on,but I'll just conclude with the fact that I am sure that there are some very evil men at the top of the USCCB,and I am not talking about Gregory,I think they thought he would go along with them. I just keep praying that one of them will experience a sudden conversion and confess and implicate the others by name.

Why are some (most?) bishops afraid of the FSSP? There was an FSSP priest ordained here in Boston last year and he celebrated his first Mass in our only Indult parish... then he shipped off elsewhere - maybe to Bruskewicz's diocese if I recall correctly. I thought it was a crying shame that he wasn't given his own parish, especially since here in Ma, we are pretty densely packed with parishes. I bet there are probably 20 parishes within a 20 mile radius of my house.

Anyhow, to your point on the USCCB. I seems that Truth has been sacrificed to a false unity, doesn't it?

[american colleen]

Because the arguments of the other side don't deserve to be taken seriously. There's no proof that American bishops are trying to destroy the priesthood. Just conjecture, based on prejudice.

Then why the reticence to welcome FSSP priests instead of assigning womyn to lead a parish? Seems like this is becoming fairly common in a lot of places.

[sinkspur]

Then why the reticence to welcome FSSP priests instead of assigning womyn to lead a parish? Seems like this is becoming fairly common in a lot of places.

A bishop is not going to put a priest who refuses to celebrate the Novus Ordo in a Novus Ordo parish.

[american colleen]

Do FSSP priests really refuse to celebrate the NO?

Let's assume that they do. Take my area... why couldn't one parish among the @20 within a 20 mile radius of my house be given over to the FSSP?

Is is really better for a "priestless" parish to be led by a pastoral associate (all women usually) or is it better to use a real live male priest, even if he is FSSP?

[saradippity]

The problem with "progressives" is they are very rigid,unbending,non-creative and slow. You can see it over and over again as the "progressive" bishops worry and fret and stew and dither about how to implement directives from the Vatican. And then,never seem to be able to do it.They need to fire the bureaucrats that surround them and hire a few Catholic,women Freepers.

With regards the FSSP priest,certainly there was a rectory in the vicinity that had a spare room,then he could have offered the Tridentine Mass at two parishis of the twenty each Sunday.maybe even rotating through the entire number of churches in the area. He could have also been used by one or several of the parishes to help with sick call and to teach some good,adult catechism classes. Yes,if any one is watching we have a lot of bishops who want the Church to implode,about 25 I think.

[EODGUY]

I'll keep you posted on the activities of our new Bishop and pray that yours becomes inspired by the Holy Spirit to take substantive action.

God bless,

EODGUY

[EODGUY]

Our two local newspapers, both of which are liberal, find it easy to ignore small groups of people who assemble to pray outside this hospital on a regular basis.

Perhaps the presense of our Bishop will not only encourage more people to participate, but also force the media to acknowledge the compassion that is being shown for all those touched by the atrocity of abortion.....including those who perform them.

[EODGUY]

I pray this trend never ends!

[EODGUY]

I don't think you are being naive at all. The horrendous scandal within our Church today would never have occurred had we had Bishops who were strong enough to buck the growing tide and refused to allow relativist catholcism within the ranks of the priesthood. I pray the installation of conservative Bishops is by design.

[Antoninus]

**He was one of eight American bishops last year to sign a call for a plenary council to discuss the church's sexual abuse crisis. He said he will focus on recruiting new priests in Madison.**

Excellent news indeed! Once again, we see Rome promoting a man with a track record of faithfulness. The crowning glory would be "Fabian Cardinal Bruskewitz of Los Angeles."

[Antoninus]

When lay Catholics in the United States have to settle for a Communion service instead of the Mass two out of four Sundays, they'll begin to vote for a solution to the priest shortage with their checkbooks.

Yeah, but it won't be the solution you're hoping for. If the US can't recruit good men to be celibate priests like the rest of the world, we'll become a mission country.

I'd much prefer Fr. Nugwegwe from Kenya than Fr. Sinkspur, his wife and grandkids.

[sinkspur]

I'd much prefer Fr. Nugwegwe from Kenya than Fr. Sinkspur, his wife and grandkids.

We had a Fr. Nugwegwe in Dallas, and he was sent back to his home country after he started soliciting money for "African Missions" that went into his pocket.

[Antoninus]

Because the arguments of the other side don't deserve to be taken seriously. There's no proof that American bishops are trying to destroy the priesthood. Just conjecture, based on prejudice.

Yeah, this coming from the guy who condemned Goodbye Good Men by Michael Rose before he even read it. There is evidence. You chose to ignore and disregard it because it is devastating to your pet issue.

The proof is in the numbers. The conservative dioceses are producing seminarians and priests. The liberal dioceses are struggling badly. "By their fruits shall ye know them."

We're not stupid here.

[Antoninus]

We had a Fr. Nugwegwe in Dallas, and he was sent back to his home country after he started soliciting money for "African Missions" that went into his pocket.

So.... clearly by that logic all African priests are hustlers and crooks, I guess. Good point. I guess those darn blacks aren't evolved enough to make adequate clerics, eh? Is that what you're saying?

[sinkspur]

I guess those darn blacks aren't evolved enough to make adequate clerics, eh? Is that what you're saying

This one black cleric soured the well enough that Dallas is taking a break from African priests.

You'll have to ask Bishop Grahmann for his reasons.