Bishop Martino (Scranton: schools, closing, law)

[ki0eh]

So, why is he out?

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

So, why is he out?

Health problems brought on by stress. Felt the diocese needed a healthy bishop who could take the stress that goes with the job these days.

[retrovintage]

My professor said Martino's downfall was he didn't have a PR guy to talk to the press and that caused his demise in the area. Of course I beg to differ.

Martino did more harm then good IMHO with the way he handled MANY situations.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by retrovintage

My professor said Martino's downfall was he didn't have a PR guy to talk to the press and that caused his demise in the area. Of course I beg to differ.

Martino did more harm then good IMHO with the way he handled MANY situations.

Your professor is wrong. The bishop does have a press office to deal with the press. Let's not forget that Bishop Martino was sent here with a directive from above (not God, but the church) to consolidate the parishes and the schools.

[retrovintage]

I was actually being sarcastic with the comment my Professor made and still shake my head as to why he said it.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

So, why is he out?

Because the Catholics-in-name-only of the Scranton diocese pouted and stomped their feet because they were so offended by CATHOLIC doctrine. Wow...a Catholic bishop teaching straight from the Catechism...what an outrage!

Makes me wonder why so many of these people consider themselves Catholic? As an adult convert to the Church who went through instruction in the Church's beliefs as an adult rather than a kid who was born into it and forced to go to CCD, confirmation, etc, I realized how little many of the "cradle Catholics" of this area know or appreciate about their Church and its teachings. Too many of them worship at the altar of the democratic party rather than God.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

Let's not forget that Bishop Martino was sent here with a directive from above (not God, but the church) to consolidate the parishes and the schools.

And those consolidations were necessary. If half of the people degrading the bishop over closings and consolidations actually went to church and played an active role in their parish, there wouldn't have been nearly as many closings. It was a combination of less people going to church and the area having a much lower population than it had when those churches were built. Scranton used to be double the size it is today, so obviously we don't have a need for as many churches as we had in the 1920s. Notice the only place where the church and its schools have been expanding in the Scranton diocese is in the Poconos, since its the only part of the diocese that is growing.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Because the Catholics-in-name-only of the Scranton diocese pouted and stomped their feet because they were so offended by CATHOLIC doctrine. Wow...a Catholic bishop teaching straight from the Catechism...what an outrage!

Makes me wonder why so many of these people consider themselves Catholic? As an adult convert to the Church who went through instruction in the Church's beliefs as an adult rather than a kid who was born into it and forced to go to CCD, confirmation, etc, I realized how little many of the "cradle Catholics" of this area know or appreciate about their Church and its teachings. Too many of them worship at the altar of the democratic party rather than God.

Sure... it couldn't possibly be the devote Catholics who were upset about the parish consolidations and school closures that were constantly bashing him. It couldn't possibly be the law suits he had to ensure got settled for the pedofile priests the diocese had previously protected. And it couldn't possibly be that people were upset with the fact that he crossed the line between separation of church and state which put the diocese in a very precarious position. Oh no,none of that caused him any stress it was Bob Casey and liberal democrats.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

Sure... it couldn't possibly be the devote Catholics who were upset about the parish consolidations and school closures that were constantly bashing him. It couldn't possibly be the law suits he had to ensure got settled for the pedofile priests the diocese had previously protected. And it couldn't possibly be that people were upset with the fact that he crossed the line between separation of church and state which put the diocese in a very precarious position. Oh no,none of that caused him any stress it was Bob Casey and liberal democrats.

As far as being upset over closings and consolidations, see my above post....it was a necessity, a lower population plus less people going to church means less of a need for churches than there was 50+ years ago. As far as pervert priests, Martino cracked down on them, I would say that Timlin was more guilty of shuffling around pervert priests than Martino. But Timlin didn't close any churches or schools, and he didn't harrass the local hypocrite politicians, so apparently he's OK...

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by go phillies

As far as being upset over closings and consolidations, see my above post....it was a necessity, a lower population plus less people going to church means less of a need for churches than there was 50+ years ago. As far as pervert priests, Martino cracked down on them, I would say that Timlin was more guilty of shuffling around pervert priests than Martino. But Timlin didn't close any churches or schools, and he didn't harrass the local hypocrite politicians, so apparently he's OK...

I understand that he was sent here for a mission. I am not faulting him for that. If you read my response to the OP then you would have noticed that. What I am saying is that the stress was caused by Catholics who did not want the closures, the pedofile cases he had to settle, etc. I do not believe the stress was caused liberal democrats like Bob Casey and others.