[Brian Kopp DPM]

Bishop-elect Bartchak is a highly regarded canon lawyer, considered one of the best in North America, and is known by Cardinal Burke quite well. Cardinal Burke is playing a pivotal role in vetting candidates for bishop in his role at the Congregation for Bishops. If Fr. Bartchak were heterodox, Cardinal Burke would not have approved his elevation to bishop.

Furthermore, years ago, when pro-abort PA Gov Tom Ridge spoke here in our diocese at a fund raiser for the Foundation for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Diocese of Erie followed up several months later with a decree banning Ridge from speaking on any diocesan properties or events. As judicial vicar for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Bartchak would have written that decree. That decree is probably the only thing that kept Ridge from being named as a VP running mate for presidential candidates like McCain.

Finally, Fr. Bartchak has excellent pro-life credentials and served as chaplain for Project Rachel in Erie. He is known to be 100% orthodox on moral theology issues.

He has served in spiritual direction for Erie seminarians for quite some time, and the young orthodox candidates in seminary for Erie diocese are very saddened to see him go.

We don't know where he stands on liturgical issues, but from all indications so far he is orthodox and strongly pro-life. There are no indications whatsoever that he is of the mold of Bishop Trautman.

We are very hopeful here in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown about this appointment.

[0beron]

Thanks Doc.

[surroundedbyblue]

Thanks, Dr. I am cautiously optimistic, as is my mother who is a parishoner at St Benedict’s. I do believe the new bishop will be saying Mass there soon (or maybe St John’s in JOhnstown - I get the two mixed up as I have family at both). Anyway, I will most likely be in town for the Easter weekend & I hope to see him.

[LadyDoc]

thank God Adamec is gone. I know of quite a few Catholics who left the church because he defended abusers...and to make it worse, even when he was in the midst of a lawsuit, I heard about how they pressured a family not to report a boy’s abuse by a “visiting priest”.

Yet folks all are pious, and often have madonnas in their front yard (I didn’t but the coalminer next door did).

Then there was the newspaper of the diocese that always made fun of this custom. So it seems the bishop’s office is also full of liberals....

Even some of those teaching in the Catholic schools taught liberalism and feminism. But that’s another story....

[Salvation]

Great information and great hope for Altoona Johnstown Diocese.

[Chesterbelloc]

Cardinal Burke is playing a pivotal role in vetting candidates for bishop in his role at the Congregation for Bishops.

That is good to hear. We've been waiting a few months now to find out who our new bishop will be.