[NYer]

Archbishop Jean Jadot, Pope Paul VI's apostolic delegate to the United States from 1973-1980, has no regrets about the spate of bad bishops he inflicted on the Catholics of this country.

Jadot is still proud of some of his most notorious picks, such as Bishop Walter Sullivan of Richmond, Va., Archbishop Rembert Weakiand of Milwaukee, and Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles - to name but a few, many of whom are known more for their advocacy of homosexual rights, their protection of pederast priests, and their conunitment to modernism than to their commitment to the Church's doctrines.

Other men who became bishops during Jadot's tenure in the United States include Rochester Bishop Matthew Clark; Albany's Howard Hubbard; former Santa Fe Archbishop Roberto Sanchez, who resigned in a sex scandal; former San Jose Bishop Pierre DuMaine; former Honolulu Bishop Joseph Ferrario; San Antonio Archbishop Patrick Flores; former Newark Archbishop Peter Gerety; Joliet, Ill., Bishop Joseph Imesch; Louisille Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P., a former staffer at the apostolic nuncio under Jadot; Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston (whom Jadot selected as bishop for Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo.), Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk; Saginaw, Mich., Bishop Kenneth Untener - to name a few more - all of whom, supposedly, mirrored his own progressive image as a "man of the people."

Still Proud Of Bishops He Gave U.S. - Full Text.

[Rummyfan]

How can this father be so naive???? If the Church lets avowed homosexuals become priests........

[BipolarBob]

In each case, I have admired their honesty and felt enriched by their trust and confidence.

What if they were, by sexual orientation, child molesters? Would he be refreshed by that revelation?

[marshmallow]

Translation of Clark's outrageous essay:

"Business" as usual. "Homosexuals welcome here" (wink, wink).

No mention of the Church's position that the homosexual orientation is fundamentally disordered. No mention of the lop-sided stats showing the vast majority of priestly abuse cases were homosexual encounters. No mention of giving loyal submission to the Church's up-coming document.

Just this; "Their task is to form candidates toward intellectual, emotional, psychosexual, spiritual and pastoral maturity, regardless of the sexual orientation of the candidate."

In other words, homosexuality is not an issue.

I'll bet my next paycheck that this guy is a shirtlifter. A card-carrying member of the lavender mafia. Heck, this letter sounds like he prefers homos as priests. After all that's happened, he's still laying out the welcome mat for the gays. Defiant to the end.

[Aquinasfan]

To read reports in the press, however unsubstantiated those reports may be, that homosexuals will be declared unacceptable as candidates for priesthood is a source of great pain for them and for all of us who know and love them.

That's unfortunate, but it's the only prudent course of action. "Whoever leads one of these little ones to sin..."

[Convert from ECUSA]

Memo from Virginia to "bishop" Clark, "father" Clark....whatever:


Zip it you trash-talin' carpetbagger! If you don't like the program, there's the door! We've had too much tragedy and destruction of innocent lives in the Church with that kind of fool-*** thinking already! Tell your sorry shuck and jive to the families of the young men who were molested as boys who either killed themselves or left the Church and shut God out of their lives!

These type of "catholics" wear on my last nerve like a rusty hinge!

[RobbyS]

Must be bluntly ask this bishop: Do you subscribe to the teaching of the Church as explicated in the new Catechism? Do you understand that homsexual priests are ublikely to do so, if only to preserve their self image.

[Lazamataz]

I don't recall Bishop Clark being so liberal back when I lived in Rochester. Wha hoppen?

[Deo volente]

"Bishop" Clark is either stark raving mad, or he knows exactly what he's doing.

I hope for his sake it's the former.

[livius]

Clark should be out of a job. My other candidate for unemployment is Lynch of St. Petersburg. Well, aside from Mahony, that is - except I think that the theory with Mahony is that they will let him stay and enjoy the - er, fruits - of his labors, in the form of $500 million in lawsuits over child molesting priests under his watch.

Still, I'd really like to see the Pope do something to make it clear to the bishops that they have got to get with the program.

[Notwithstanding]

I wonder, does this bishop feel the same way when one of his priests reveals that he is straight?

The whole reason "gay" is always and everywhere inappropriate for use in pastoral setings is preciesly because to use that word is to join in the "celebration" of a disordered sexual orientation toward objective evil. Some folks seem to enjoy embracing "gays" (and discussing those embraces) more than is prudent.

[kittymyrib]

My, what a cheerful acceptance of this sin. Would he feel the same toward a thief, a philanderer, a heterosexual adulterer? I doubt it. This is the "in" sin that is celebrated everywhere, and if one dares speak against it as being a sin, he is condemned as intolerant and bigotted. On the other hand, by easily accepting what the Bible terms "an abomination" to God, one is hailed as enlightened, tolerant and liberated from the fuddy-duddy Christianity of the Apostles day. Amazing. Calling evil good and good evil, just as the Scripture foretold it would be in the end times. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

[tioga]

Ah, my bishop has been busy again.

[victim soul]

Bishop supports gay priests in writing

Clark asserts in weekly column that diocese still welcomes them

Marketta Gregory
Staff writer

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051115/NEWS01/511150330


(November 15, 2005) — While the world awaits a controversial Vatican document that could ban gays from the priesthood, Bishop Matthew Clark assured gay priests and seminarians on Sunday that they are welcome in Rochester's Roman Catholic diocese.

"We deeply value your ministry," Clark wrote in his weekly column in the Catholic Courier, referring to priests who are gay and dedicate their lives to service. And to gay men considering becoming priests: "We try to treat all inquiries fairly. You will be no exception."

Clark was at a meeting of bishops in Washington, D.C., and couldn't be reached on Monday, but his column, which is distributed at parishes throughout the 12-county diocese, was apparently sparked by his concern over two recent events: Vatican officials visiting seminaries to study how students are being prepared for priesthood and a life of celibacy; and the soon-to-be-released Vatican document that deals with whether gay men should be allowed to become priests.

The content of the Vatican document has provided grist for the rumor mill. Some media reports claim the document, which was years in the making, dissuades gays from joining the priesthood; others say it gives bishops authority to look at each applicant on a case-by-case basis. Regardless, people in the pews are talking about it.

"I was really stunned that the bishop is basically saying that he is going to defy the Holy See," said Andrew Dick, a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist in Rochester who believes the document may state that gays can't be priests. "(The bishop is) obligated and all Roman Catholics are obligated to follow the directions of the pope. The thing that really struck me is he's pretty much saying, 'I'm not going to do that.'"

Jamie Fazio has a different interpretation of what the pope wants.

"I think what the pope wants is good priests," said Fazio, a Catholic who worked with an openly gay priest in Utica — a priest he and his wife thought enough of to choose as their daughter's godfather. Fazio is now a campus minister at Nazareth College and pastoral associate at Blessed Sacrament in Rochester.

"A gay sexual orientation only adds an ability to serve a wider group of people," Fazio said, adding that many people who are gay feel alienated by government, families and church. "I think (the bishop's column) was very much needed."

The content of Clark's column doesn't come as a total surprise to those who have watched his ministry for years. He celebrated a Mass with gays and lesbians, something he is still criticized for years later. He defended the Rev. Charles Curran, a priest whose writings on abortion and homosexuality drew attention, and eventual censure, from the Vatican — in particular from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI. Also in the mid-1980s, Ratzinger's office ordered Clark to remove his imprimatur from a book, Parents Talk Love: The Catholic Family Handbook About Sexuality, saying that it differed from the church's teachings by adopting a more tolerant attitude on homosexuality, contraception and masturbation.

"When I first read (Sunday's column), I can't say that I was shocked," said Mary Burke, a parishioner at St. Jude the Apostle in Gates, "but I was very sad to have read that particular insight into what is going on in our diocese."

In the past few years, several priest abuse scandals have been uncovered and some of those, particularly the ones involving older boys, are linked to priest homosexuality, Burke alleged.

"I can't speak against the bishop because he is our bishop," Burke added. "He has to answer to higher authority. If the Holy Father has come to the conclusion that there have to be changes in regard to gay priests, then he should be obedient."

The column speaks for itself, said Doug Mandelaro, spokesman for the diocese. "The bishop writes from his heart. ... He is trying to be Christ-like and live out the words of Christ's commandment to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor."

That pleases the Rev. James Schwartz, pastor at St. Joseph's Church in Penfield and director of seminarians for the diocese.

"I know Bishop Matthew and I know his genuine pastoral care for everyone," he said.

"We really need to speak pastoral support to people who are gay. We need to affirm them and not to do otherwise."

MGREGORY@DemocratandChronicle.com

[Coleus]

Bishop Matthew Clark's March 1997 Homily for Gays and Lesbians

 

Pastoral Center Administration

(585) 328-3210

1 -800-388-7177

FAX (585) 328-3149

 

 

try these:

 mclark@dor.org, shepherd@dor.org, info@dor.org,

[trisham]

In any case, the two priests of our diocese told me that they are homosexual, and I am glad that they did. It seemed a great relief to them that their bishop -- to whom they are so closely bound in priestly identity and ministry -- should be aware of this important aspect of their personal reality. I know that I was deeply gratified that they entrusted me with that information. I had come to know and admire them through years of shared ministry. Their simplicity and honesty with me only deepened my regard for them.

**************

Something about this is unsettling. On the surface, it seems to be an almost Christ-like love he is offering these priests. Yet it seems also that there may lurk something under that surface.