Grant Bishop Pilla his leave [Plain Dealer: Pilla won't say why he has offered to resign]

Cleveland Plain Dealer ^ | Sunday, January 08, 2006

[Diago]

Grant Bishop Pilla his leave Sunday, January 08, 2006 Bishop Anthony M. Pilla won't say why he has offered to resign from his position as leader of more than 800,000 Roman Catholics in the nation's 15th-largest diocese. But clearly, Pilla, who is 73, wants to go. And Pope Benedict XVI, who handles such matters, should honor his wish without undue delay. The Vatican's bureaucracy is not known for acting with dispatch. Some letters of resignation spend years wending their way through the bureaucracy. That should not be allowed to happen to Pilla's missive. Pilla's unusual and intriguingly timed request, which comes as he prepares to celebrate his 25th anniversary, or Jubilee Year, shows that he is ready to move on. Pilla has led the diocese in trying times for the church, both locally and nationally, and that has to be a punishing job. The local challenges - including the steady shrinking of urban parishes (but not of the church's urban mission), the continuing fallout from a painful clergy sexual-abuse scandal and nagging questions about the financial stewardship of diocesan officials - show no sign of abating soon. Nor, for that matter do the national challenges that affect every diocese, chief among them the long decline in the number of priests that has led to an increasingly heavy work load for those who remain. If Pilla believes it's time to let a new man take up his crosier, Rome would be well advised to take him at his word. Although some of his administrative decisions, particularly his handling of the sexual-abuse and financial scandals, have been questionable, there has never been any doubt that this good man had what he thought to be the best interests of the church at heart. By making his request public, Pilla has opened the door to hope among Greater Cleveland Catholics for the timely appointment of a worthy successor. Rome should disappoint neither Pilla nor the faithful. © 2006 The Plain Dealer © 2006 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

[Diago]

nagging questions about the financial stewardship of diocesan officials - show no sign of abating soon

unusual and intriguingly timed request

particularly his handling of the sexual-abuse and financial scandals

The Plain Dealer knew months ago that Pilla had offered his resignation due to the ongoing federal investigation into the diocesan financial scandal. Yet, the paper still refuses to report the fact that the resignation was submitted some time ago.

The Plain Dealer also knows that insiders believe that the resignation will be accepted within the next couple weeks and that his successor appointed with a couple of months.

So why does the Plain Dealer pretend to be advising the Vatican - - "Grant Bishop Pilla his leave." The paper already knows this is being done. Why doesn't the paper report what it actually knows rather than pretend it is offering advise?

BTW, several bloggers have completely missed the boat on this one reporting that Pilla is simply retiring due to health problems. This has been in the works for months, he is being forced out, there is no need to wait for Archbishop Sambi, Pilla's successor has been chosen.

[Petronski]

Pilla won't say why he has offered to resign

Who cares?

He's apparently gone! Yay!

[fortunecookie]

I too am glad he has resigned. But what of his flock? Are the dissenters and other disobedient ones still running the show? In my area, the dissenters have long carried on certain actions that have now become tradition (i.e. small faith groups as uniquely defined by my diocese, long before Pope JPII wrote about anything like it, carried out even when their proposed ideas were 'banned' by Rome) and the dissenters continue their quiet dissent, influencing many.

Pilla was probably frightened off by the 'hard line' of Pope Benedict, who has come out guns blazing, if you will, letting it be known that the days are numbered for those bishops who play fast and loose with Catholicism and lead countless astray. Now if only that sentiment could spread eastward... (Like into PA and NY...)

I will be curious to see what the official 'reason' is, once it leaks out, and then the 'unofficial' word.

[Salvation]

**By making his request public, Pilla has opened the door to hope among Greater Cleveland Catholics for the timely appointment of a worthy successor**

BTTT!

[Salvation]

I wasn't aware of financial shennanigans, either. Wow! Good-bye, Pilla; don't let the door hit you on your way out.

Next -- Mahoney!

[Tax-chick]

Best wishes for an anonymous retirement to Bishop Pilla.