Bishop John M. Dougherty / Bishop Joseph F. Martino
Posted on 08/31/2009 10:13:47 AM PDT by NYer
.- At a press conference in Scranton this morning, Bishop Joseph Martino announced that he and auxiliary bishop John Dougherty are stepping down from their posts. Bishop Martino explained that he is resigning because of "crippling physical fatigue," while Bishop Dougherty is retiring upon having reached the age limit.
Last week, CNA reported that Bishop Martino, 63, would be resigning from his post in Scranton. The Vatican announced today that Pope Benedict has accepted the resignation of Martino in accordance with canon 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law which says: a diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfillment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.”
Speaking at a press conference in downtown Scranton on Monday morning, Bishop Martino announced that for some time, “there has not been a clear consensus among the clergy and people of the Diocese of Scranton regarding my pastoral initiatives or my way of governance. This development, he continued, “has caused him great sorrow, resulting in bouts of insomnia and at times a crippling physical fatigue.”
“The Diocese of Scranton needs to continue to respond to the call of our late Holy Father Pope John Paul II, and of his successor Pope Benedict XVI, to engage in the New Evangelization,” he said. “To do so however, the Diocese of Scranton requires a bishop who is at least physically vigorous. I am not that bishop.”
He went on, “therefore, I have asked our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to accept my resignation as Bishop of Scranton.”
He noted that though he has no immediate plans, he plans to remain in Scranton.
Born in Philadelphia in 1946, Martino was ordained a priest in 1970 and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia in 1996 before becoming Bishop of Scranton in 2003.
The Diocese of Scranton will not only lose Martino, but also one of its auxiliary bishops, Most Rev. John M. Dougherty, whose resignation was also accepted by the Vatican today. Dougherty, 77, submitted his resignation when he reached the age of 75.
Dougherty was born in Scranton in 1932. The Scranton auxiliary studied at the University of Notre Dame and was ordained a priest in 1957. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton in 1995.
Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia will oversee the Diocese of Scranton as its apostolic administrator until a replacement is named by the Holy Father.
When he was asked how quickly he would like to see the Pope name a replacement, Cardinal Rigali said he hoped it would be within six months, stressing that this was his hope, not an expectation.
Whoa ... it’s challenging enough to replace one bishop but two!?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Father Corapi take over the diosese and straighten them out? He says his Mother wears combat boots.
This is sending a message loud and clear to all the other bishops in the U.S.
Is he enough of a politician?
Just darn.
I don't remember that bit in I Timothy 3...
What's the message? "Don't get too old or too infirm"?
He is an equal opportunity offender of sinners. He is on EWTN every week and he has a powerful message. He is like a old fashioned common sense evangelist.
I heard he fought tooth and nail against the more liberal members of the American Bishops.
My guess is that Bishops don't get to put expectations on the Pope. ;_P
Don’t get too orthodox and don’t, whatever you do, oppose Obama. Bp Martino was one of the leaders of the anti-Obama at ND faction, and is one of the few who is known to think there should be public punitive measures taken against supposedly Catholic politicians who reject Church teaching.
Oh, please, you don’t buy that? There has been no indication of that at all, even though his resignation goes far back. There is always some “excuse,” but it has been made perfectly clear why he is being taken out.
And that's why he is being forced out today.
He is a former green beret, dropped in a swamp for 1 week with nothing more than a knife, during his training. He had to not only survive with no food or water but also evade those pursuing him. He is as tough as they come!
You can get a glimpse of his style on YouTube
I wish The Pope would fire the stinking rats at Notre Dame and other liberal faux “catholic” universities and clean house. Let the lib vermin at those schools get a real job.
But is he enough of a politican to be Bishop? Apparently Bishop Martino was too... combative.
This is sending a message loud and clear to all the other bishops in the U.S. >>
why are they cleaning house, what did they do wrong?
I disagree that Martino has been "taken out". I believe he's utterly disillusioned and depressed with all the flak he's had to take in his battle with the modernists and liberals. He's one of the walking wounded and is burnt out.
He needs our prayers.
Here’s my guess about what went down.. Martino told the Vatican in no uncertain terms that they needed to get tough with some of the leaderless bishops who cater to the pro-aborts and the Democrat party. He might have mentioned some names of bishops who had to be removed from their assignments. He might have told the Vatican that they needed to send very strong signals to the American Church to straigthen up. And when the Vatican went into their usual sleep mode, Martino said, “I’ll find something else to do...write books...teach...” You guys get in touch with me when you’ve decided that what’s happening to the Church is seriously important.
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