The following comes from a March 27 story on the Catholic News Agency website.
See March 3, March 13, and March 25 stories on Bishop Vasa’s statements.
Bishop Vasa of Santa Rosa, has said that he will allow several months for education and instruction before moving forward with a Catholic identity policy for diocesan school teachers.
“The Pastors and I agree that a longer implementation period is in order,” Bishop Vasa said in a March 19 letter to the diocese.
“It is now clear to me that there are a number of significant misunderstandings about what the Church teaches, as well as why, and this presents an opportunity to teach.”
The bishop had previously introduced a contract addendum, entitled “Bearing Witness,” which all educators within the diocese were to sign, acknowledging that they are “ministerial agent[s]” and are “called by God to a life of holiness.” The statement of faith encourages teachers to keep God in their “thoughts, words and deeds.”
It further requires that teachers reject the “modern errors” that “gravely offend human dignity,” including contraception, abortion, same-sex “marriage” and euthanasia. Teachers would be expected to attend Mass regularly and not to “teach, advocate, model or in any way encourage beliefs or behaviors contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.”
Originally, teachers would have been required to sign the additional pledge on all contracts for the 2013-2014 school year, a change that would have affected 11 schools and nearly 200 teachers.
Reports indicated that some parents and teachers resisted the requirement, arguing that it was too harsh.
“I’m a Catholic, but to have the bishop do this is not the type of Catholicism my faith teaches me,” said parent Lori Edgar to the PressDemocrat, a Santa Rosa news outlet.
Bishop Vasa responded to the various critiques by explaining that he “had failed to properly communicate” with principals and pastors in the diocese before issuing the requirement, and will now delay the pledge of faith until the spring of 2015, at which time it will be implemented in some form.
The PressDemocrat reported that the Bishop’s decision to delay the implementation of the policy was a sign of the bishop had “relented” and that he was softening his position.
In his letter to the diocese, however, the bishop stood by his decision, calling the additional time an opportunity to instruct teachers on the requirements of the faith.
Bishop Vasa said that “this desire to strengthen our Catholic schools is just too important not to do well” and that the additional months of preparation and instruction will help this project.
“We agree that we need to engage our Teachers and give them the necessary faith instruction which they need to more fully understand and appreciate the teachings of the Church, including those issues about which there is such sharp contrast between the mores of society and the clear and consistent teachings of the Church.”
“This,” Bishop Vasa said, “is too important a goal to try to accomplish in one year by way of a couple of meetings and a mandate.”
For original posting, click here.
I don’t know how it is in this particular diocese, but I am familiar with one that requires all new teachers to attend a week or two in-service before school starts on teaching the Faith, though there are many who either don’t know or agree with it. This might be a point to start with and to continue through the school year with other teacher/school/diocesan in-services. Required readings in Catholicism might be looked at, as well.
There is, of course, potential problems with any course of instruction concerning Catholicism and this is what must be specifically dealt with and specifically itemized.
Great move by Bishop Vasa. Also, to note is the hip shot foolishness of the PressDemocrat displaying extremely brittle mentalities, sorely in need of repair and improvement. The secular world tends often to ultra extreme over react and utterly misinterpret real Catholicism, for example: “The PressDemocrat reported that the Bishop’s decision to delay the implementation of the policy was a sign of the bishop had “relented” and that he was softening his position.” Jesus tells us about the pharisees who look for signs or, say, can’t see the forest for the trees.
Very true and you could say the same about certain publications that claim to be “Catholic”.
Rodney, 1) In 1968 Bishop Helmsing officially condemned the ‘National Catholic REPORTER’ which included: “ ….an official condemnation of the National Catholic Reporter. Furthermore, I send this communication to my brother bishops, and make known to the priests, religious and laity of the nation my views on the poisonous character of this publication. ”
(The 1968 Condemnation has never been lifted by any of their Diocese Bishops.)
2) In 2013, Bishop Finn of the same Diocese has just issued a statement that includes: “ From my perspective, NCR’s positions against authentic Church teaching and leadership have not changed trajectory in the intervening decades.”
Both Bishops have told the ‘Reporter’ NOT to use the name “CATHOLIC” int their title per Code of Canon Law. “Can. 216 Since they participate in the mission of the Church, all the Christian faithful have the right to promote or sustain apostolic action even by their own undertakings, according to their own state and condition. Nevertheless, no undertaking is to claim the name Catholic without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority.”
It is FRAUDULENT, scandalous, and disobedient for the “NC Reporter” to use the name “Catholic” in their title. They purposely spread heresy and schism, scandal, and confusion.
No Catholic should give the ‘Reporter’ interviews, or read their trash, or encourage others to read it.
For the PUBLIC/published statement of Bishop Finn in 2013 about the ‘N C Reporter” on the net see:
“BISHOP’S ROLE in FOSTERING the MISSION of the CATHOLIC MEDIA” published by the ‘Catholic Key’ (St. Louis Diocesan newspaper).
Mike, it is only logical that Bishop Finn would be critical of the National Catholic Reporter as this newspaper has been critical of him. Bishop Finn was in trouble with the law for his role in covering up for a priest that harmed young girls. This is very rare as higher ups in the Church have generally been sheltered and the law has looked the other way when they have been involved in such things. But now the law is getting tougher on those that abuse children and those that cover it up.
Mark, that is a lie. Bishop Finn had talked to the police as to whether he should report the fact that a priest had pictures of children on his computer. He was told that it wasn’t serious enough to be a police matter. Bishop Finn is being harassed and continually attacked by the Kanasas City Star, as is is ex-Attorney Gen. Phil Kline. This city is a hot bed of scandal and lies. Home to ex Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, anyone speaking out against corruption and outright criminal activities or carrying out true Christian values is mocked and attacked.
Not surprising that PA supports and defends the heretics at the national catholic distorter….
PA all is irrelevant on what you said about Bishop Finn…it still doesn’t take away from the fact that the National Catholic Reporter is as what MIKE has informed us about…..bad is still bad and you should stay away from such articles from that Reporter! Not unless you are lead by bad will….
Dana I don’t think PA cares, he still continued to report his side of the story on Bishop Finn further down this thread. I wonder if he is really interested in knowing the truth or is he trying to discredit him because Bishop Finn went against the National Catholic Reporter? Only God knows what is stems from ones heart especially from one who advocates homosexual lifestyles and acceptance. I’m highly ignorant about Bishop Finn, so without all the details with facts, I refuse to listen to anything bad written about him here on these posts.
Good for you, Abeca. I’ve been following the case early on because of all the other scandals going on in Kansas City (not to be confused with the state of Kansas, which is pro-life ) It is really scary when the press, local law enforcement, etc. all try and convict you before you’ve reached trial and this was what happened to Bishop Finn. Do you think he would have gotten off so lightly if he’d really done something like Card.Mahony, for example? There’s all sorts of problems there that Bishop Finn has been trying to address and he’s stirred up a hornet’s nest. AP and other ‘main stream’ press always quote the Nat’l Catholic Reporter as a fair and reputable news source to attack him. It’s disgusting. You’ll never know the truth from AP. Read The Catholic Key, Nat’l Cath..Register. And read what Bishop Finn says himself. This is probably why more of our Bishops don’t speak out…they’re viciously attacked by the press like a pack of snarling dogs in a feeding frenzy
Dana perhaps….but it’s interesting that some Bishops have caused scandal and the faithful speak out but why aren’t they listening. If what you say is true….then why do they not speak up and are fearful of the secular and the media but not fearful to let down Christ’s flock….hmmmm
It is indeed refreshing to see a Catholic bishop standing up for the faith. Bless Bishop Vasa! He has an uphill climb. Our “Catholic” schools need a thorough housecleaning from top to bottom. If teachers object to following the precepts laid out by the bishop they should find a job elsewhere. If our schools refuse to adhere to the moral teachings of the church they should stop calling themselves “Catholic”. I hope the other prelates follow Bishop Vasa’s example and end the scandalous liberalism that prevails in “Catholic” parochial and secondary schools.
You are correct. From faulty catechisms to young teachers who were never taught the REAL Catholic Faith, this is an area that the bishops as a whole must address. There is no point to sending children to Catholic schools where tuition is now so exorbitant, only to realize (as we did) that what our children learned depended upon which religion teacher they had each year. One daughter came home and told us that God is a WOMAN, a SHE. She did not last in that high school, in the end. Two others had good holy priests who taught the truth. Alas, those priest were sent packing years ago. Again, the bishops have been derelict in their duty for decades in seeing to it that Catholic schools teach the Truth. The best plan is to home-school your children, if possible, even at great sacrifice. The reward will be eternal!
It is unfortunate that “Educators” still need education in the Faith – left over from the lack of teaching by the previous Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
All Diocese Bishops, all Priests, all Nuns, and every one of us must encourage all literate persons to read the following:
1) A Catholic BIBLE;
2) “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition”.
If we love our Neighbor as instructed by Christ, we will want him and her to get to Heaven.
ALL Diocese employees (not just teachers) must be required to publically adhere to all the teachings of the Church included in the CCC, lest they commit the mortal sins of SCANDAL, HERESY, and/or SCHISM.
Mike,
I hope and pray you are not including the late Bishop Mark Hurley in your above statement. I know for a fact that he was very upset and concerned about what Ziemman had done to the Diocese of Santa Rosa. We had many a conversation about how he felt about what happened after he retired.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Well, Bishop Ziemman was no saint either, but I suppose it is not right to speak ill of the dead.
There could also be some contractual issues that forclose on immediate measures.
Mark from PA, — two wrongs never make a right.
There is no such thing as a perfect human being on earth today. Are you implying that the Pope, all Bishops, all Priests, etc., should stop teaching the truth because they have sinned at some time in their lives? Are you implying that clergy can not be sorry for their sins?
The ‘National Catholic REPORTER’ is heretical, schismatic and fraudulent.
“In the last months I have been deluged with emails and other correspondence from Catholics concerned about the editorial stances of the Reporter: officially condemning Church teaching on the ordination of women, insistent undermining of Church teaching on artificial contraception and sexual morality in general, lionizing dissident theologies while rejecting established Magisterial teaching, and a litany of other issues.” – Bishop Finn
I can promise you that this is true. I myself sent an email to Bishop Finn. The NC Reporter pretends to be Catholic and causes grave confusion – which is a hindrance to evangelization.
No Catholic should read the REPORTER, or give them interviews (unless and until they remove the name “Catholic” from their title which they use to dupe people). Or we would be aiding and abetting their evil.
MIKE thank you for the information…I didn’t know this…good to know. I don’t think I ran into any of their articles but good to know. God bless you.
“I’m a Catholic, but to have the bishop do this is not the type of Catholicism my faith teaches me,” said parent Lori Edgar.
=====
“And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil'” (Gen. 3:4-5)
If Bishop Vasa waits for Teachers “to more fully understand and appreciate the teachings of the Church,” he will be waiting till Hell freezes over!
I don’t think that Bishop Vasa will allow them to continue to teach false teachings when it is reported to him. He has just put them on notice of that fact.
Pray for him, I am sure that Bishop Mark Hurley is doing so from Eternity.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I don’t know what curriculum the schools are using in Bishop Vasa’s diocese, but it would make sense to have material offering high scholarship coupled with a Catholic understanding that teachers must follow no matter what their own private views are…otherwise, why bother having Catholic schools? If they’re teaching distorted views of science and biology, for example, what does it matter if the teacher is Catholic or not?
It IS important to teach those instructors and do it right but not at the risk and expense of harming children. Let those who still want to be taught receive their contractual pay while receiving proper instruction and then they can be reinstated as active teachers if they choose to be faithful Catholic teachers. Meanwhile bring in faithful teachers. Please do not ask where the money will come from when many choices are made such as our diocese purchasing a great white elephant that requires the wasteful spending of $160,000 dollars a year just to polish glass windows before guarding children and polishing up the protective armour of school children so they too can know and defend the Magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church. Jesus asked St. Francis to rebuild His Church, not increase the budget with wasteful purchases that show more allegiance to a shiny windows than allegiance to God. Cut the wasteful spending in Santa Rosa and use that money to pay out any contracts if necessary.
Juergensen, Thank you for your post! Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s clear instructions. Adam and Eve did NOT argue and then persuade God to rethink His first instruction and then allow Adam and Eve a two year reprieve to get His first instructions right. Pope Francis said to turn hate into love. What is a Father’s Love? It would be very wrong to say that God showed hatred for Adam and Eve when he told them to leave the Garden after disobeying His Command or initial request. God did not stop loving Adam and Eve and their descendants when he immediately disciplined Adam and Eve. Consequences are often the initial circumstances that lead a broad road traveler right back to the narrow road. Today everyone thinks and acts as if consequences are a bad or evil thing to experience. They are not. Consequences are tied into God’s generous gift of free will .
Consequences teach and consequences instruct. Those who fail to research or remember the consequences of Catholic Church history which includes Bible history are doomed to repeat the receiving of those same consequences.
“I’m a Catholic, but to have the bishop do this is not the type of Catholicism my faith teaches me,” said parent Lori Edgar. That statement has nothing to do with the humility of not understanding clear teachings. The “my faith” has everything to do with the deadly sin of pride. You are right Juergensen, look at the example of Eve convincing Adam that “her faith” was superior to God’s instruction. Bad teachers are convincing students that “their faith” is superior to God. We see this attitude regularly on CCD. Yesterday I was arranging a platter of fruit that I had just purchased two days ago. Disguised in that beautiful appearing platter was just one hidden rotten fruit that had spoiled and leaked out all of it rotten contents to the rest of the newly purchased fruits. Should I have left the slowly leaking rotten pieces of fruit for TWO MORE YEARS in hopes of a recovery when talking about guarding the innocent souls of God’s precious children? We know that we would immediately remove the rotted fruit from the fruit platter yet God’s children are not guarded with as much value as a platter of fruit is guarded.
A smaller Church but a holier Church! Mercy is important and Bishop Vasa did initially show mercy in asking for teachers to sign an agreement and this mercy was not even good enough. Can you imagine the administrators of a hospital telling a brain surgeon who has endangered or cost lives for not following proper medical instructions that they are going to allow the incompetent and negligent brain surgeon two more years to get it right with the patients. If the problem is a contractual problem the hospital can pay out the contract of the brain surgeon unless there is a clause that negates this contract for not following well recognized medical procedures. This expensive lesson would ensure the future hirers to make sure that teachers are faithful by including clauses that say the will be terminated if found otherwise. A hospital should never allow an incompetent brain surgeon two more years of practice to “get it right” and our bishops should not allow the expensive costly risk of losing just one child’s priceless soul. A soul is far more important to God than $$. These are children that are being scandalized daily by exposure to some of the most outlandish heretical ideas. Why have our bishops lost their trust that God will provide?
When my “convert” father was asked how he raised such a large family that listened to and followed his instructions he always responded. My philosophy is simple. ” I have to do this right with my own example. Either I run the show or the children will run me and themselves into ruin.” The consequence of that leadership? I KNEW that my father truly loved all of his children. The fruit of that love? Not one child has left the Catholic faith to embrace a new error or make up their own Catholic faith as some do on this website or practice another religion.
Taken from the USCCB Website “COURAGE UNDER PERSECUTION”
Matthew Chapter 10
26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.*
27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, *BE AFRAID OF THE ONE WHO CAN DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN GEHENNA.*
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 * Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.
Also taken from the USCCB website Matthew Chapter 5
TEACHING ABOUT OATHS
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all;* not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
* LET YOUR ‘YES’ MEAN ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO’ MEAN ‘NO.’ Anything more is from the evil one.
I find a great difference between the items on the list of Matthew 10, quoted by Catherine, and the various and sundry man made laws one typically reads or hears. The first stimulates great joy, and the other confusion. For example, how many can “see” the difference between Gospel material like this and Vatican II Speek?
Excellent post, Catherine! If people would just follow those simple precepts it would all work. Your father sounds alot like mine…true masculine leadership as the head of his family. In my little post I was thinking of when I had been teaching a first grade SS class and the material was so secular as to be irreligious…there was little mention of God or the Bible . I told stories of the Bible so the children wouldn’t waste their time completely, but I was deeply concerned how many teachers stick to the mediocre and unCatholic lessons. My point being that no matter how Catholic I was, if I had just used the lesson books provided those little ones would have learned about the environment and the importance of picking up litter,etc. and nothing about our Lord or His story…and yet I felt I was wrong to do that because I wasn’t sticking to the curriculum.
Dana,
I can surely relate to that story. I was asked to teach a summer program at a local parish. I always remember my mother telling us that little children are like little ink blotters that will absorb all of their surroundings.
Some years ago at another parish I was asked to give a little talk to second graders on the Blessed Mother. These children were also being prepared to make their First Confessions and receive their First Holy Communion. I brought little plants from a local nursery. Some plants were beautiful and healthy because they had been well taken care of. I also brought some of the exact same plants that had been forgotten or neglected and starting to show signs of wilting. Some plants had weeds growing and the weeds were overtaking the beauty of the plant. I used the garden to represent how they can take care of their souls with the sacraments. After the talk was finished a seven year old little boy rose his hand and when I called on him he waved his hand for me to come back to his desk. I went back to his desk and he wanted to whisper something in my ear. I leaned over and this seven year old boy whispered, “The Holy Spirit is in the room.” Dana, look at the early age that this little boy’s parents started to care for his soul.
This is the same little class where the priest who gave these children their First Holy Communion asked the children the meaning of word Transubstantiation. One little girl raised her hand and she gave the priest the right answer. The priest then asked the little girl if she could spell the word Transubstantiation and the little girl spelled the word correctly. This tells us what little children are capable of learning and knowing if the little gardens of their souls are tended to properly.
Your story gave me chills, Catherine. And that was a neat visual for teaching them about taking care of their ‘spiritual gardens’. I agree that children are so much more capable of learning than our schools and churches seem to demand of them. Look at the old McGuffey readers! I remember reading Mother Goose to my son when he was less than six months, and he would bang the page of his favorite poem and wanted to hear it again and again. What a criminal waste of beautiful souls and good minds to let them be raised with no guidance, no stories, no effort to light the fire of their imaginations and most especially their love for God. The ACLU, the welfare system, the courts, all conspire to keep these little ones from loving and seeking truth and beauty. They often grow to be bitter and violent for they were robbed of their dignity that only God endows. I’ll bet you were a great teacher. Do you still work with children?
All one has to do is look at the department of religious education which oversees the formation of catechists and should be watching what is being taught. Where is the Bishop when it comes to removing heretical directors of religious education or asking that person to publicly stop teaching heresy and to sign an oath of fidelity to the Magisterium? Scandal starts closer to the Bishop’s office within the Chancellery than it does with the lay Catholic teachers.
So true!
Another thing to look at is where they went to school. For instance, LMU doesn’t require its teachers to sign a mandatum, so guess what you get? Also, those who run these departments can be close to their former schools, book companies and other providers of materials and services.
How some personnel got their jobs and how long they’ve stayed may also be “interesting.”
Bishop Vasa for Pope!
Of course that would be a pipe dream realizing that we had a conclave of Mahonys controlling the ballot.
All of what is unfolding before us was foretold at La Salette.
Mark from PA –
Since you try to be so informative we would appreciate your updating us with the truth concerning Bishop Finn.
Baron, DETRACTION is a mortal sin. Please do not tempt Mark or others to do so.
CCC: “2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:
– of RASH JUDGEMENT who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
– of DETRACTION who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
– of CALUMNY who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them. “
PETE, it is not detraction, but assistance in helping PA bring to light his true reputation.
PETE, the catechisms come and go, and are not infrequently changed. Could you support your CCC instruction with dogma?
Skai – Yes.
Catechisms of the Catholic Church do not come and go.
In the 2000 year history of the Church, there have only been two (2) Catechisms of the Catholic Church.
The first was “The Catechism of the Council of Trent” – the Roman Catechism (1566 AD).
The second is the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
(Accurately promulgated in the USA in March 2000. See copyright page; and can be viewed in entirety on the Vatican web site.)
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II. (CCC pg 5)
” “….the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
For more info on the CCC with links to official sources, on the internet please go to: “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”.
For those who are interested, attached to the Year of Faith (Porta Fidei) by Pope Benedict – he promotes the reading of the CCC; and the Vatican has attached an indulgence with specifics.
Again, please see: “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”, with links to official Church web sites for documentation.
PETE I was hoping that you would understand Skai. He is not discrediting the CCC no, I know it seems that way but he is trying to get us to think because as much as we should encourage people to read their CCC with their scripture, but we can’t deny the fact that the current CCC is not the first edition, I recall the first edition contained many errors and it would have appeared lukewarm and even on moral ones such as homosexuality. I think that the English language has contributed to that because of the leniency of their meaning, its desensitizing. Well I guess it shouldn’t matter, I’m sure it’s probably irrelevant…we should still plant the seed and begin somewhere and the CCC does contain the teachings of the faith but it does not cover the wholeness and we need to first understand holy scripture, which is inspired by the Holy Ghost, and discover more in detail, if one can be up to the challenge, the many beautiful wonders of our faith is still yet to be discovered. I do understand that the CCC , under the hands of a person in good will, can encourage them to explore the faith even more in depth….Skai that is what Pete is trying to encourage…the teachings of the church, through the CCC and I’m sure he too encourages scripture readings which are also noted in the CCC. God bless. But like a good friend who read the whole CCC, she expressed that it could use some improvements……she is a very good knowledgeable Catholic…
Baron, from a newspaper article, “A Roman Catholic bishop was found guilty on September 6 of failing to report suspected child abuse, becoming the first American bishop to become convicted of shielding a pedophile priest. Bishop Finn was sentenced to 2 years of court supervised probation.” “The Kansas City case served as a wake up call to Catholics that abuse prevention policies cannot be effective if bishops do not follow them.” In the past other bishops have covered for abusing priests but Bishop Finn is the first bishop to be called to account for this. Bishop Finn expressed his regret. Some people felt that Bishop Finn got off easy and should have served jail time. Others felt that as a high level churchman that he should have been exempt from prosecution.
Mark, There’s excellent coverage of the case in the Nat’l Catholic Register. Also, you should really make an effort to find out about what led to Bishop Finn’s being charged. You’re not presenting the whole truth whatsoever. And read about what’s happened to Phil Kline. What is your news source? You say ‘a newspaper article’ . I always refer to LifeSiteNews rather than the biased garbage from the so-called main stream news. Anyone that believes what they read in the NYT or other bigoted media is gullible. Bishop Finn is a wonderful, faithful Bishop. You choose the Nat’ Catholic Reporter as your news source which is reprehensible and anti-Catholic. You certainly are showing your true colors, at least. As Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool Mom.” (well, Capt. Penny , an early children’s tv star , always ended it with Mom…I know, I know, it’s “you can’t fool all of the people all of the time and you sure don’t fool me!)
Well, I could have phrased that more kindly. Sorry Mark…it’s just you seem to be getting more leftish lately? I’ll try to be more tactful!
(smiles sweetly, a twinkle in my eye, wink wink)
lately? You sure put it nicely….it’s usually the case since the beginning….sometimes you don’t need him to show you who he is all the time to really know what is really deeply rooted in his heart.
Dana do you think bishops should be immune from prosecution in US courts?
PA you keep asking the wrong questions….
Mark from PA,
You are not naïve, you know darn well how corrupt our judiciary and the MSM has become. Bishop Finn may have been unjustly convicted of shielding an abusive priest. He may just be guilty of wrong judgment in that case for which he has apologized. Unless you know all of the facts, and I doubt that you do, you should refrain from making such definitive statements.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
That’s very true, Kenneth (and Abeca) Do either of you know about the ‘Independent’ Catholic Church there in KC that doesn’t have to answer to the Bishop? Somehow they’ve been granted a strange immunity years ago, and they’re totally out of any obedience to Church teaching, etc. and is very similar to the Nat’Cath.’Distorter’. Bishop Finn has his hands full!
Mr. Fisher, in the past you have made comments criticizing some of our bishops. I quoted a newspaper article after being asked a question. And yes, you are correct, Bishop Finn did apologize. Perhaps now maybe you feel more kindly towards your former Bishop Tod Brown. I suppose our bishops are not perfect but most try to do the best they can I would hope.
Mr. Fisher, now that Bishop Vann is your bishop in Orange, does your parish accept him as their bishop? Will he be allowed to preside over confirmations in your parish?
Bishop Vasa I wish you were my Bishop.
Bishop Soto Perhaps you could take this play and put it in your playbook. Many teachers and people that WORK in the Sacramento Diocese FAIL to follow basic Catholic Teaching.
The Diocese of Sacramento is Riddled with FAKE Catholics that work for the Diocese or are teachers. It is very sad.
Sacramento isn’t the only place, I know that LA and Orange have the same problems. This leads me to the obvious, where isn’t there a problem?
If the Bishop follows through, the delay in implementation will be a minor matter. After 50 years of wrecking, I’m happy that a call for repairs has at least been made.
I wish this policy extended to some Universities that attract students by stating they are Catholic Universities!