Posted on 03/09/2023 6:03:42 PM PST by ebb tide
Today marks one year since the dismissal of Monsignor Daniel Fernández as Bishop of Arecibo, in Puerto Rico.
On March 9, 2022, the Holy See made public that “the Holy Father relieved HE Mons. Daniel Fernández Torres of the pastoral care of the Diocese of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) and appointed Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese HE Bishop Álvaro Corrada del Río, YES, Bishop Emeritus of Mayagüez».
The news of the dismissal of Monsignor Fernández, 57, went around the world. In Spain, even the general press echoed the arbitrary dismissal of this bishop by the Holy Father. The bishop of Arecibo was dismissed for "lack of communion with the rest of the bishops," sources close to the case pointed out.
According to ACI Prensa, “Mons. Daniel Fernández Torres has been the most critical voice in the Church in Puerto Rico against gender ideology, demanding that Pedro Pierluisi, the current governor of the island, stop the imposition of this agenda in 2020.” «In 2021, Bishop Fernández Torres warned that the imposition of gender ideology is a “religious persecution” and a violation of the right of parents to educate their children according to their convictions».
Monsignor Fernández Torres was also targeted when he refused to sign a joint statement from the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference that assured that "there is a duty to be vaccinated and that we do not see how a conscientious objection can be invoked from Catholic morality."
Bishop's reaction to his dismissal
"In reacting to what happened, I feel blessed for suffering persecution and slander (cf Mt 5, 10-11) for announcing the truth of the dignity of man in circumstances like the current ones in which" it is uncomfortable: it opposes our actions …” (Wis 2, 12). Today I can hold my head high and even though I am imperfect and a sinner, know that I have done the right thing and that gives me a lot of inner peace. I am also comforted by the meaning in Hebrew of the name Daniel, which I providentially received at my baptism, 'God is my judge,'” the bishop said in a statement a year ago.
Monsignor Fernández stated that “I am very sorry that in the Church where mercy is preached so much, in practice some lack a minimal sense of justice. I have not been prosecuted, nor have I been formally accused of anything and simply one day the Apostolic Delegate verbally communicated to me that Rome was asking me to resign. A successor of the apostles is now replaced without even undertaking what would be a dutiful canonical process to remove a parish priest ».
"I was informed that I had not committed any crime but that I had supposedly" not been obedient to the Pope nor had I had sufficient communion with my brother bishops of Puerto Rico. It was suggested to me that if he resigned from the diocese he would remain at the service of the Church in case they ever needed me in another position ; offer that actually proves my innocence. However, I did not resign because I did not want to become an accomplice in a completely unfair action and that even now I am reluctant to think that it could happen in our Church, "explained the former bishop of Arecibo.
On this sour anniversary for Monsignor Daniel Fernández, a statement from the bishop has reached our newsroom on the occasion of this date so relevant to him.
Until now, the ousted bishop of Arecibo has kept scrupulously silent about his situation. Despite everything, sources close to Daniel Fernández highlight how the bishop in the face of adversity has immersed himself in prayer, showing great confidence in God despite not understanding or understanding what happened.
March 9, 2023
To my brothers and friends who have accompanied me spiritually during the past year:
“…Like a weaver, I reeled my life and they cut the weft” (Is 38, 12). One year after being "removed" from my pastoral service as bishop of my beloved diocese of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, I share a brief reflection with all those who have been accompanying me spiritually.
I still feel the same perplexity that I felt when I was suddenly asked to resign and when, in a hasty way, the removal was carried out. After one year, I reaffirm exactly the same words of the statement that I made public on March 9, 2022. In this time I have discovered the meaning of witnessing the beatitudes rather than preaching them. At the same time, I can share with you
some thought that has been brewing inside me in the past twelve months.
Some words from what is known as the Canticle of Hezekiah (Is 38, 10-14. 17-20) have constantly come to my memory, which we pray in the Liturgy of the Hours, and which I have quoted at the beginning of this communication. When I entered the Seminary in 1990, I did so full of enthusiasm and convinced that God called me to serve the Church for the rest of my life. But suddenly..."the plot is cut off" and I am "removed". Hence, I can make those words of the Canticle my own and that Saint John Paul II commented masterfully in one of his Catechesis (General Audience on Wednesday, February 27, 2002). He said, referring to the Canticle of King Hezekiah: “Human life is described with the symbol, typical among nomads, of the tent: we are always pilgrims and guests on earth. It is also used
image of the cloth, which is woven and can be incomplete when the weft is cut and the work is interrupted (cf. Is 38,12)”.
Saint John Paul II told us about this reality: “The Lord does not remain indifferent to the tears of those who suffer and, even if it is through paths that do not always coincide with those of our expectations, He responds, comforts and saves. It is what Hezekiah proclaims at the end, inviting everyone to wait, to pray, to have confidence, with the certainty that God does not abandon his creatures… ”. This is my invitation to all those who have accompanied me in pain for the Church that suffers, scandalized by some current events, including the personal outrage from which I try to continue serving it: wait, pray and trust.
Pope John Paul II concludes his Catechesis quoting Saint Bernard who "applying to the life of each one the drama lived by the King of Judah and internalizing its content, writes among other things: «I will bless the Lord at all times, that is, from morning to night, as I have learned to do, and not like those who praise you when you do them good, nor like those who believe for a certain time, but in the hour of temptation they succumb; On the contrary, like the saints, I will say: If from the hand of God we have received good, why should we not also accept evil? (...) Thus, these two moments of the day will be a time of service to God, because in the afternoon there will be crying, and in the morning there will be joy. I will plunge into sorrow in the afternoon so that I can enjoy joy in the morning."
With this simple reflection I want to express my gratitude to God and to all those who have prayed for me and have expressed their support and closeness to me during this time and there have been so many. I have received all this convinced that divine consolation is undeserved.
+Daniel Fernandez Torres
Monsignor Fernández Torres was also targeted when he refused to sign a joint statement from the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference that assured that "there is a duty to be vaccinated and that we do not see how a conscientious objection can be invoked from Catholic morality."
If Frank is against him, he must be good.
Ping
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