Bishop Adamec Goes ... into Retirement last January [Catholic Caucus]

Eponymous Flower Blog ^ | April 9, 2011 | Tancred

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Bishop Adamec Goes Unnoticed and Unmourned into Retirement last January

Bishop Adamec of the highly troubled Altoona-Johnestown Diocese retired in January of this year. How was it it was missed? Someone should have been popping the cork of champagne. But like the despot of a distant oriental country flooded with sand and camels tethered in the ruins of better days, his unhappy reign has passed like the report of a swinging rusty sign, deep in the rust belt somewhere between Detroit and Saginaw.

He's been accused justifiably of Simony and of being a protector of predatory homosexuals, while he has been a scourge to priests loyal to Rome. Now he's gone being replaced by Bishop Bartschak. Here's Bishop Bartschak's statement from the Diocesan rag:

I have spent almost twenty years assisting and advising the Most Rev. Donald Trautman, Bishop of Erie. I want to especially acknowledge his trust in me and the care which he has shown me as a father and brother. He has never been at a loss to offer me practical words of advice and encouragement. I am certainly grateful for the insights and encouragement that he has shared since learning of my appointment as Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown.

I am grateful to Bishop Adamec for the warm welcome and solicitude that he has shared with me in so many ways. He has been quite generous in providing me with the kind of help that is needed during the time of transition that continues for the next several weeks.

If he worked for Bishop Trautsperson, he can't be much better and is probably decidedly worse than the outgoing +Adamec. No doubt those trying to hear the Mass of their grandsires will find things difficult. Yet another Old Liberal given a position of trust where he doesn't belong. May God have mercy on the decaying and rusting Altoona-Jonestown Diocese.

Image from Catholic Cartoon blog.

Posted by

Tancred at 9:34 AM Labels: Altoona-Jonestown, Bishop Adamec, Bishop Bartschak, Retirement

2 comments:

Brian Kopp said...

Bishop-elect Bartchak is a highly regarded canon lawyer, considered one of the best in North America, and is known by Cardinal Burke quite well. Cardinal Burke is playing a pivotal role in vetting candidates for bishop in his role at the Congregation for Bishops. If Fr. Bartchak were heterodox, Cardinal Burke would not have approved his elevation to bishop.

Furthermore, years ago, when pro-abort PA Gov Tom Ridge spoke here in our diocese at a fund raiser for the Foundation for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Diocese of Erie followed up several months later with a decree banning Ridge from speaking on any diocesan properties or events. As judicial vicar for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Bartchak would have written that decree. That decree is probably the only thing that kept Ridge from being named as a VP running mate for presidential candidates like McCain.

Finally, Fr. Bartchak has excellent pro-life credentials and served as chaplain for Project Rachel in Erie. He is known to be 100% orthodox on moral theology issues.

He has served in spiritual direction for Erie seminarians for quite some time, and the young orthodox candidates in seminary for Erie diocese are very saddened to see him go.

We don't know where he stands on liturgical issues, but from all indications so far he is orthodox and strongly pro-life. There are no indications whatsoever that he is of the mold of Bishop Trautman.

We are very hopeful here in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown about this appointment.

April 9, 2011 11:39 AM

Tancred

said...

Thanks for that posting and correction.

April 9, 2011 11:47 AM

[Brian Kopp DPM]

You may want to continue the discussion on this caucus format thread.

Please note that the premise of the original blog article is primarily based on a thread I posted on a Catholic forum (second link in blog post above) describing a long history of problems in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

As a result of the efforts to clean up this diocese, I have personally been threatened with being sued, and was stalked by a known homosexual priest for a brief time. This is something I never even told my wife and children about.

As a result of this experience, I feel I am uniquely qualified to comment on the situation in this diocese, despite other opinions that have been voiced recently.

Bishop elect Bartchak has a good track record on the issues that precipitated this blog posting. He has served as a canon lawyer in at least one case where a priest was credibly accused of viewing homopederast internet porn, working for the side of the religious superior seeking the removal of said priest.

This is exactly the kind of man we need in a diocese with a history of well documented similar problems.

[Kenny Bunk]

As His Excellency departs, I think it only fitting that he be commended for reviving the quaint practice of "Simony.". It's not often that we can point out to today's catechism students a modern example of this once popular medieval practice.

In the good man's defense, may I be permitted to point out that he did not, NOT, sell indulgences? Also note that during his long and lugubrious tenure, at least there was no, repeat NO repeat, of the Johnstown Flood.

Where will the good bishop retire? One of those priestly rehab centers that are discretely hidden in the Arizona Desert? Permit me to recommend one of those monasteries in the remote and wild Abruzzi where Popes have been sending those best hidden for 2000 years.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

I’m not going to criticize our former bishop. I have personally apologized to him for any times when, by indiscreet zeal, I may have caused him unjust hurt or harm. And I pray for him earnestly by name every day at mass, that he may have a long, healthy, peaceful and fruitful retirement, and that he may persevere in the state of sanctifying grace and have the grace of final perseverance.

[Kenny Bunk]

Who can criticize a man who was placed in a position unsuited to his undeniable gifts, and who obviously accepted it in obedience? Like many another, he was apparently overwhelmed by events and left with no means and no direction from the hierarchy to answer the challenges.

Alas, the scandals, particularly those involving pedophile homosexual priests, are far from over. Many of those who caused them are gone. Many more are not. This bishop, among many others, made an obscene choice, protecting those who harmed children because they deemed it is a forgivable sin, but choosing not to remove those who sinned from the occasion and from the priesthood itself in a truly stupid attempt to avoid what they perceived as "scandal."

Not a new problem. His salvation: personal and assured. The damage done to the church: quite possibly irreparable for several generations, especially since no effective and public remedial steps are actually underway!

[Salvation]

So happy for all of you in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.

God bless you all!

[dangus]

>> Many of those who caused them are gone. Many more are not. <<

Fortunately, those who are gone are far more than those who are not gone. The sexual abuse cases were, with exceptions, from the 1950s through the 1980s, even though they were only REPORTED in the last 15 -20 years. (By the 1990s, the rate of sexual abuse had declined more than 95%. The cases may have predated the 1950s considerably, and it may only be because the perps from the 1940s were gone by the 1990s that we don’t know of them: the largest number of those killed by the Spanish Inquisition were not heretics as we think of the word today, but were priests who like boys.)

[johngrace]

Hi Doc-Thanks for posting!

[GCC Catholic]

Thank you for your defense of Msgr. Bartchak. I am one of the seminarians who attended St. Mark Seminary in Erie, and though he was not my spiritual director, I will vouch for him and second what you have said.

I think your hopefulness is quite justified.

[Cronos]

how orthodox is he?

[surroundedbyblue]

Thank you for this & for making it a caucus thread. It was quite clear the Catholic bashers were itching for a fight in the previous thread. And as usual, they were being enabled by those oh-so-impartial powers that be.

[GCC Catholic]

how orthodox is he?

Based on all of my interactions with him, he is.

I'm not sure what you want, but that's all I can give you. The seminary itself is rock-solid, and I would be surprised if the Rector and Vice-Rector (who have each been there almost 10 years) would allow anyone who is heterodox in any way to be assisting with spiritual direction for the seminarians.

[Cicero]

Thanks. I figured that this would be an improvement, and I’m glad to hear it confirmed.

Catholics should show respect for their bishops, and obey them as long as they don’t teach or command anything contrary to the faith. It can certainly be difficult if one has the bad luck to be in the diocese of a questionable bishop.

Still, I think it’s only right that faithful Catholics should speak out, with appropriate care, rather than just sit back and stay quiet if it is evident that the bishop is off the rails and damaging the souls in his care.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for this, Dr. Kopp. And BTW, I think you should make every thread a Caucus hread, every time. To do otherwise is to dangle temptation in front of the faces of bethren and sistren who simply can't resist. Let's kindly and graciously refrain from doing that, as we hope for their well-being and redemption... and our own.

(Note to self.)

[Cronos]

Based on all of my interactions with him, he is

Thank you! That is what I wanted -- a fact from a person who really knows.

[Cronos]

Thanks

[nina0113]

(...the largest number of those killed by the Spanish Inquisition were not heretics as we think of the word today, but were priests who like boys.)

I'd be most grateful if you could provide a source or suggested reading on that.

[dangus]

Ill see if I can find it...