Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy

CBS58 ^ | August 30, 2003

[NYer]

Madison Bishop Robert Morlino calls the current push by a group of Milwaukee priests to make celibacy optional an example of American pragmatism that has no place in the Catholic faith.

"It is part of the American fix-it mentality that the removal of the obligation of celibacy will make the priesthood more marketable and perhaps from certain points of view it might," Morlino writes in a column to be published Thursday in the Diocese of Madison's weekly newspaper. "But it also is a step back from total reliance on Jesus Christ in this matter, Jesus Christ alone gives the grace of celibacy."

Morlino was installed as Madison's new bishop Aug. 1. The issue of mandatory celibacy for priests was openly challenged two weeks ago for the first time in a quarter century by a group of 163 priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The priests submitted a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urging that married men be eligible for the diocesan priesthood as a way to ease the shortage of priests. Representatives of priest associations in Chicago, southern Illinois, Boston, New York and Pittsburgh said last week they plan to take action to support the Milwaukee priests.

The Madison diocese has 99 priests to serve 135 parishes in 11 counties, down from 127 priests in 1997, said spokesman Bill Brophy. The diocese projects the number of priests will dip to 34 by 2025, Brophy said. The current challenge to the rule of celibacy, considered a church law rather than divine law, has been taken up by independent associations of priests organized in many major dioceses. The Madison Diocese has no such group, Brophy said. The Rev. Gary Wankerl, pastor of St. Olaf Parish in DeForest, said the rule of celibacy is supported by priests in the Madison diocese. He said the diocese's new deacon program will allow the church to continue to serve parishioners with fewer priests.

Deacons, who may be married, can perform baptism, funeral and weddings services where no Mass is included. "Hopefully this is something that will assist us in bringing the sacraments to people so there is no shortage," Wankerl said.

[EODGUY]

I'll keep you posted on the activities of our new Bishop and pray that yours becomes inspired by the Holy Spirit to take substantive action.

God bless,

EODGUY

[EODGUY]

Our two local newspapers, both of which are liberal, find it easy to ignore small groups of people who assemble to pray outside this hospital on a regular basis.

Perhaps the presense of our Bishop will not only encourage more people to participate, but also force the media to acknowledge the compassion that is being shown for all those touched by the atrocity of abortion.....including those who perform them.

[EODGUY]

I pray this trend never ends!

[EODGUY]

I don't think you are being naive at all. The horrendous scandal within our Church today would never have occurred had we had Bishops who were strong enough to buck the growing tide and refused to allow relativist catholcism within the ranks of the priesthood. I pray the installation of conservative Bishops is by design.

[Antoninus]

**He was one of eight American bishops last year to sign a call for a plenary council to discuss the church's sexual abuse crisis. He said he will focus on recruiting new priests in Madison.**

Excellent news indeed! Once again, we see Rome promoting a man with a track record of faithfulness. The crowning glory would be "Fabian Cardinal Bruskewitz of Los Angeles."

[Antoninus]

When lay Catholics in the United States have to settle for a Communion service instead of the Mass two out of four Sundays, they'll begin to vote for a solution to the priest shortage with their checkbooks.

Yeah, but it won't be the solution you're hoping for. If the US can't recruit good men to be celibate priests like the rest of the world, we'll become a mission country.

I'd much prefer Fr. Nugwegwe from Kenya than Fr. Sinkspur, his wife and grandkids.

[sinkspur]

I'd much prefer Fr. Nugwegwe from Kenya than Fr. Sinkspur, his wife and grandkids.

We had a Fr. Nugwegwe in Dallas, and he was sent back to his home country after he started soliciting money for "African Missions" that went into his pocket.

[Antoninus]

Because the arguments of the other side don't deserve to be taken seriously. There's no proof that American bishops are trying to destroy the priesthood. Just conjecture, based on prejudice.

Yeah, this coming from the guy who condemned Goodbye Good Men by Michael Rose before he even read it. There is evidence. You chose to ignore and disregard it because it is devastating to your pet issue.

The proof is in the numbers. The conservative dioceses are producing seminarians and priests. The liberal dioceses are struggling badly. "By their fruits shall ye know them."

We're not stupid here.

[Antoninus]

We had a Fr. Nugwegwe in Dallas, and he was sent back to his home country after he started soliciting money for "African Missions" that went into his pocket.

So.... clearly by that logic all African priests are hustlers and crooks, I guess. Good point. I guess those darn blacks aren't evolved enough to make adequate clerics, eh? Is that what you're saying?

[sinkspur]

I guess those darn blacks aren't evolved enough to make adequate clerics, eh? Is that what you're saying

This one black cleric soured the well enough that Dallas is taking a break from African priests.

You'll have to ask Bishop Grahmann for his reasons.

[NeoCaveman]

but not as proud as I was when he left noon Mass at the Cathedral in downtown Madison on the feast of the Queenship of Mary to walk next door to lead approximately 250 people in praying the Rosary on the sidewalk across from a Madison hospital where abortions are performed.

Wow. What a bishop.
I wish Cleveland's diocese was as blessed.

[Antoninus]

This one black cleric soured the well enough that Dallas is taking a break from African priests. You'll have to ask Bishop Grahmann for his reasons.

Hey, if we start tarring entire classes of people based on the bad actions of one or a few, I'd say that US bishops would be in a rather dicey position....

[RobbyS]

Reformers, as they grow older, because "conservative." They see the momentum of their reforms flagging and try to keep it going somehow, sort of like that sport where players sweep in front of a moving stone.

[secret garden]

Curling? I have heard, from people who do it, the attraction of that sport is that you can hold a beer while you play.