If he’s from California, he’s probably in Rome reporting to the pope on ‘every aspect’ of his diocese

If you live in California and are wondering where you bishop is today, he’s probably in Rome giving a report to the pope.

From April 15 through April 22, all the bishops of California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah are scheduled to be at the Vatican for their ad limina with Pope Benedict XVI.

“Every five years, the bishops of Catholic dioceses throughout the world travel to the Vatican to give a comprehensive report to the pope on virtually all aspects of the dioceses, and answer questions across the board about their operations,” explains the archdiocesan newspaper Catholic San Francisco.

Here’s more from the April 3 story in Catholic San Francisco, most of which applies equally to all the dioceses of California:

“A written report, one that took the archdiocese three to four months to compile, was sent to Rome nearly six months ago, as required, in advance of the scheduled meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.

“The visit is formally known, in Latin, as ‘ad limina apostolorum,’ or ‘to the thresholds of the apostles’ Peter and Paul, who were martyred in Rome. The visit is spelled out in the Code of Canon Law, and the written report ‘really consists of every aspect of the running of an archdiocese, from its fiscal health to its current status – who the church locally serves,’ said Msgr. James Tarantino, the vicar for administration and moderator of the curia at the archdiocese.

“‘It is a comprehensive look at the full breadth of everything that takes place within a diocese or an archdiocese over the course of that five-year period,’ he said.

“There is a template of questions that are answered, including whether the diocese is growing, whether the diocese is fiscally healthy and ‘what is happening in all the various components that make up the diocese,’ said Msgr. Tarantino, who helped direct the writing of the report.

“There are also questions about the ecumenical relationships dioceses have, he added.

“The ad limina visits, said Msgr. Tarantino, present ‘a way for the Holy Father to basically have an understanding and to be supportive as to what is happening in the various locales of the church throughout the world.’”

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 12:05 AM By Bob
If mine is there, what are the chances they’ll keep him there, fire him or retire him?

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 1:00 AM By Dan
I am in no position to know, but do these visits accomplish anything, or is everything sugar-coated and the rot in the diocese unattended?

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 3:51 AM By Anne
I wonder if Bishop Brom will mention the events at USD – It is really too bad that he cannot tell the Holy Father that there is great devotion to Our Lady on the USD campus, or that there is Eucharistic Devotion occurring. Sadly, he will have to say that instead of saying the rosary in Mother Rosalie’s building, the students are enjoying discussions of the joys of cross-dressing – led by a faculty member who supports same sex marriage.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 6:22 AM By Joan of El Cajon
We should let His Holiness know about the drag show that was held at USD last week.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 6:25 AM By Catherine
“If he’s from California, he’s probably in Rome reporting to the Pope on every aspect.” “Every aspect?” Yes, let us certainly hope and pray so! After all, it is a good and wholesome desire to not want the entire state of California to fall off into the deep ocean.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 7:03 AM By Tm
Ohhhhh, they have so much to talk about. I hope a few people in Rome encourage +Gomez to fully implement Redemptionis Sacramentum.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 8:54 AM By Larry
Let us hope that His Holiness asks some direct questions of the/those bishops and Archbishop(s) who may have prominent dissidents in their jurisdictions.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 9:33 AM By MD
Dan, from all we see from Pope Benedict XVI, I imagine he is prayerfully instructing our shepherds well as he has been doing thus far in his pontificate. Anne, Bishop Brom may not disclose all that is taking place, but the coadjutor Bishop, Bishop Flores may be another story. Let’s take some time today to pray for our Bishops as we should every day. God Love You.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 9:49 AM By Ron
Many attempts have been made to inform Rome of the abuses in the San Francisco and San Jose diocese. It continually falls on deaf ears. I don’t expect this meeting to accomplish anything.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 9:54 AM By k
I have heard that each bishop gets to meet with the Pope individually for 15 minutes.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 11:41 AM By Angelo
In the past, Bishops from the US on their Ad Limina visits always reported to Rome that everything was fine and dandy. They seemed to report only what they wished things were like in their own liberal views. Bl. John Paul ll on at least two occasions that I remember, mentioned what the Bishops of the US said to him vs what was really going on. Pope Benedict XVl is a holy, humble, solid as a rock, Pope. I hope he gives our Bishops a lashing the way he did the Austrian Bishops on their Ad Limina vist.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 11:46 AM By mrpkguy
Too bad the Bishops aren’t completely honest in their reports and relate the real condition of their dioceses as to how the faithful are being scandalized by the so called “Catholic” institutions under their jurisdiction.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 2:25 PM By Elizabeth
Come Holy Spirit Come and enlighten the Bishops and the Holy Father!!!

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 3:30 PM By JLS
What is supposed to happen if the bishops squeel to the Pope? It’s the bishops who are the problem. Does the Pope have a holy bishops pool, from which he can send in a replacement for almost every bishop?

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 4:54 PM By Amy
It would be interesting to know if the condition of our so-called Catholic Colleges and Universities in the Archdiocese of S.F. as well as the rest of California are included in the report to our Holy Father. You would think that if they were – the Holy Father would shut them down without hesitation. From what we read in Cal Catholic, they are getting to the point of no redemption and would be better off shut down than to continue to teaching the heresy and scandal they are presently doing. The harm they are doing is irreperable.

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012 9:29 PM By Peggy
Do the SF bishops report on Holy Redeemer church? The Forward in Faith series? My faith is that Card. Burke is cognizant of the real problems in the archdiocese and grilling the bishops on that.