Pilla Flip-Flops on Futurechurch Days Before Ad Limina Visit with Pope

http://theclevelandcatacombs.blogspot.com/ ^ | April 30, 2004 | Brother Solanus

[Knock3Times]

Futurechurch and Pilla - Pilla and Future Church

Fearful Pilla flips-flops on Futurechurch days before Ad Limina visit with Pope

Early last year, Futurechurch leaders were urging its supporters to support Bishop Pilla:

Were Bishop Pilla to be forced out, we would be leaving ourselves open to a new bishop who would most likely be much more conservative and legalistic given the Bishop appointments that have been made in this papacy. The well-known litmus test for being appointed a bishop under John Paul II is that the person must be opposed to birth control, optional celibacy and women priests. I have this information directly from several bishops who are in positions to know. Bishop Pilla is one of the few remaining "pastoral" bishops who were appointed under Archbishop Jean Jadot. If he doesn't outlast the Pope we can expect to have our next Bishop be less open to lay participation in decision making than Bishop Pilla. It will be a given...and something we need to prepare for, IMHO.

In fact, the relationship between Futurechurch and Bishop Pilla appeared to be one of mutual admiration. Teachers at the bishop's seminary are active supporters of Futurechurch. The national headquarters for Futurechurch resides on diocesan property. Last month, in March of 2004, a Futurechurch event was even advertised in the parish bulletin of St. John's Cathedral:

http://www.saveourchurch.org/cathbishotten.pdf

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(Note the shared address below:)

From http://www.futurechurch.org/ :

FutureChurch 15800 Montrose Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44111 USA Phone: 216.228.0869 | Fax: 216.228.4872 E-mail: info@futurechurch.org

_______________________________

From http://www.cleveland.catholicnet.com/parish/stmark/

St. Mark Church 15800 Montrose Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44111 E-mail: doughk@aol.com Rev. Doug Koesel, Pastor

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So why the sudden announcement from the diocese that Futurechurch "promote(s) an agenda that is not consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church," and that the group's activities are "not appropriate" at church institutions or facilities?

Afterall, Catholic bloggers like Domenico Bettinelli, Mark Shea, and Kevin Miller have been very outspoken about Pilla's failure to act on the Futurechurch issue as have been the so-called Freepers at freerepublic.com. The organization "Save our Church" was formed in Cleveland for the sole purpose of exposing Futurechurch.

So why did Bishop Pilla finally take action?

The answer appears on the Diocese of Cleveland website today, less than two weeks after the stunning Futurechurch announcement. It is time for Bishop Pilla's ad limina visit with the Pope! Bishop Pilla certainly knows that for months now folks have been writing Rome and influential Cardinals about the state of the Cleveland Diocese. Bishop Pilla's lasty second acknowledgment of the heritcal ways of Futurechurch is a "Hail Mary" pass attempt. Will Pope John Paul II by this belated attempt by Bishop Pilla to paint himself as an orthodox Catholic Bishop?

Let us hope not. After all, the Rainbow Gay Pride Flag still flies on Bishop Pilla's website.

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/gayandlesbianfamilyministry/contact_us/index.htm

Here is today's announcement by the Diocese of Cleveland - Pope Do Not Be Fooled:

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/news/bishopstovatican.htm

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN …

Bishops from Ohio and Michigan are traveling to Rome for
“ad limina” meetings with Vatican officials and with the Pope

It’s a trip they make every five years and it’s that time again for the bishops that oversee the dioceses in what’s known as U.S. Region 6 (Michigan and Ohio) to meet with Pope John Paul II and various Vatican officials for ad limina meetings.  The Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla, Bishop of Cleveland and his brother bishops from Ohio and Michigan will visit Rome from May 1-8 to make themselves available to the offices of the Holy See to report on the state of their respective dioceses.  This will be the fifth time that Bishop Pilla has participated in these meetings each time representing the Cleveland diocese.

These regularly scheduled meetings follow the submission of detailed statistical information from each diocese that the Holy See requires in what is known as the diocesan Quinquennial Report.  The visits give Vatican officials the opportunity to dialogue with bishops directly regarding information appearing within the reports.  It also allows the bishops the opportunity to explain to Vatican officials about the major activities going on within their dioceses.

Often during these visits, Vatican officials will raise specific issues with the visiting bishops.  Recently, Australian bishops were asked to stress to the faithful the importance of keeping Sunday (the Lord’s Day) holy.  Their concern is that Australian Catholics are putting sports events, recreational activities, and work ahead of weekly Mass attendance and resting on the Lord’s Day.

          The visit will also be a time for the bishops to celebrate liturgy at all of the major basilicas for the people of their dioceses.  Highlighting the trip, the bishops will have the opportunity to meeting directly with Pope John Paul II.  In recent years these opportunities for meetings with the Holy Father have become more limited in frequency and duration because of the Pope’s declining health.

[Knock3Times]

This may help explain what is going on in Cleveland.

[Diago, appears to be some heavy reliance on your thoughts here. Surprised?]

[Diago]

Ping!

An interesting explanation of the Pilla/Futurechurch situation.

See the next post for the Pope's message to the Ohio and Michigan bishops concerning their seminaries.

[Diago]

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw97358_20040506.htm

Pope tells visiting bishops to pay closer attention to seminaries

May 6, 2004, 10:16 AM


VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope John Paul II told visiting U.S. bishops Thursday they should pay close attention to educating seminarians to ensure they are properly schooled in chastity, celibacy and church theology.

John Paul urged the 20 bishops from Michigan and Ohio to visit seminaries frequently to make sure they are producing "mature and balanced" priests -- and to follow up after they are ordained to care for their spiritual life.

"Proper formation in chastity and celibacy remains an essential component of seminary training, together with the presentation of a solid and correct theological understanding of the church and the priesthood," John Paul told the bishops.

That includes a "clear and precise identification" of those positions which are not compatible with the church's positions, the pope said.

The churchmen are the latest group of American bishops to visit the Vatican on their "ad limina" visits -- which bishops must make every five years.

John Paul didn't refer to the U.S. church sex abuse scandal in his comments, but Cardinal Adam Maida, archbishop of Detroit, mentioned it in his speech to the pope. He said the "sad saga" of the sex scandal had nevertheless produced some "positive fruits" for the faithful.

"More than ever, Catholic laity appreciate the unique and necessary role of the ordained ministerial priesthood. They are deeply grateful for the great sacrifice being made by the majority of faithful, hardworking priests who are humbly living their vows of celibate chastity."

John Paul opened his remarks by praising the work of American priests, particularly those involved in parish work.

"I invite you, their bishops, to join me in thanking them and acknowledging with gratitude their untiring commitment," he said.

[Knock3Times]

Diago,

The article is also linked here:

http://www.runningoff.blogspot.com/

[Knock3Times]

ping

[Diago]

Knock, check this out:


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1143556/posts

[Diago]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1143556/posts