Bishop: All Priests Must Play Recorded Homily on Life and Family or Suffer "Serious Consequences"

Life Site News ^ | 11.02.06 | John-Henry Westen

[Coleus]

MADISON, WI, November 2, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Robert C. Morlino is a man of courage.  The 59-year-old who has been a bishop for seven years, serving the last three in the diocese of Madison, has taken steps to ensure that his teaching on voting in favour of life and family get transmitted to the faithful.  After hearing reports of "isolated cases" of priests refusing to convey, or even publicly contradicting, the bishops' messages on these important topics, he went to the extraordinary step of ordering all of the priests in his diocese to play a recorded message of his own at weekend Masses on November 4-5 in the place of the homily.

In an October 25 letter marked "personal and confidential", Bishop Morlino apologized for having to resort to such a method of operations.  He explained, "I apologize in advance for this second paragraph that I must write, and I would very much prefer otherwise. My office has received reports that in isolated cases, priests have refused to cooperate with my requests in terms of preaching in defense of marriage and have even expressed disagreement with my clear wishes in this matter."  To demonstrate the gravity of the matter, Bishop Morlino warned of "serious consequences" for priests who would contradict the vital teachings of the church in these matters.  "I must make it very clear that any verbal or non-verbal expression of disagreement with this teaching on the part of the priest will have to be considered by myself as an act of disobedience, which could have serious consequences," he said.

The Bishop assured the priests that his message was "non-partisan" and laid out clearly that all priests in the diocese are expected to give "a simple introductory statement that the bishop has required this message to be played during the homily time at all Masses of obligation on November the 4th or the 5th."  The bishop added, "If you can express some support for the message that I offer that would be appreciated but not expected."  The 14-minute recorded message from the bishop addresses three issues two of which are coming up for a vote in Wisconsin on November 7 - the marriage amendment, the death penalty and embryonic stem cell research.  On both homosexual 'marriage' question and embryo research the bishop exposes the "baloney" being used to garner support for the practices which are contrary not only to Church teaching but also to reason.  On the death penalty the bishop explains that it is not necessary in the US for protection of citizens, and thus serves only to increase the climate of violence.

The move, according to the newspaper which received copies of the letter presumably from at least one disgruntled priest, has some of the priests in the diocese "furious at what they see as a threat."  Rather than cower from the public exposure of his letter to his priests which was intended to be "personal and confidential", Bishop Morlino used its publication as a teachable moment.  The Bishop published the full letter to priests on his website, "so that the full truth regarding the content of the letter can be known."  The letter indicates that the Bishop is very thankful for the holiness of many of his priests.  "Make no mistake that I am far more impressed by that holiness, goodness, and inspiration (among the priests), than I am troubled by the difficulties that we may encounter with each other along the way."  Accompanying the reprint of the letter on the Bishop's website is an audio link to his full homily.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the score stands at three-nothing for the Bishop.  Not only will his message to the faithful get conveyed at all Sunday Masses this weekend, the general public has been alerted to the Bishops concerns from the front page (above the fold) in the Wisconsin State Journal, and a second article in the paper has Bishop Morlino defending his actions.  With all the controversy surrounding the upcoming broadcast of his remarks, the pews will likely be filled this weekend in Catholic Churches in Madison.

See Bishop Morlino's full letter:
Hear the full audio message of Bishop Morlino here:
Bishop Relates "Dictatorship of Relativism" at U.S. National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Wisconsin Bishop Says Attack on Marriage Teaching an "Intimidation" Attempt

[livius]

Wow! Is that good news! I used to be so disgusted in New York when the priests would refuse to read Cardinal O'Connor's Pro-Life Sunday letter. And I know many priests don't read things sent out by our bishop here in Florida, either - he's very pro-life and pro-marriage, but many of the priests in our diocese are not (such as the pastor of the Cathedral, who was talking about how God made "some of us gay and some of us straight," and we're all hunky-dory). I'm glad to see a bishop with courage, one who takes his teaching role seriously.

[mockingbyrd]

Appears that these priests have the same understanding of confidential that some in the State Department do.

I'm loving this bishop!

[cpforlife.org]

I've often thought that something like this should be done because of all the obstinate libtards.

[Aquinasfan]

Good bishop!

[Running On Empty]

Marking

[Dumb_Ox]

A substitute priest at my Denver-area church was to read a letter from Archbishop Chaput on some marriage and gay rights initiatives on the ballot. He made some slightly snarky remarks against the church getting involved in politics, but at least he read the letter.

Those who complain about the bishops' lack of instruction should keep in mind the opposition they might face from their own clergy.

[trisham]

Catholic bump.

[veritas2002]

I sent a copy of this communique to all the members of the chancery in my diocese - and even to my bishop. I would recommend that everyone else do the same. It's time that the bishops hear that there are many Catholics who want the truth to be told from the pulpits and that priests who won't do it, ought to be shuttled aside.

[narses]

+

If you want on (or off) this Catholic and Pro-Life ping list, let me know!

[little jeremiah]

Later homosexual agenda pingout.

Good for the Bishop!

[Maeve]

They should excommunicate dissenting priests. It is simple as that.

[rogator]

"They should excommunicate dissenting priests. It is simple as that."

No excommunications, unless of course they do something really extreme like say a Latin Mass.

[Maeve]

... the calling of 'evil' good and 'good' evil.

[kstewskis]

Is this your Bishop?

He sounds great!

[Dan Lacey]

Bravo!

[Salvation]

Didn't hear it. Hmmmm.

[Salvation]

Did this happen at your church?

If not, I would suggest you print off the letter and take it to your priest.

I intend to. I priest talked about supporting the parental notification bill here in Oregon, so I am wondering if that suffices.

Action Ping!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

May his example inspire other bishops and the priests later on who will become bishops.

Pastoring is serious business.