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[Bishop] Adamec irked at loose lips in diocese [,planning to punish good straight priest]
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT ^ | June 30, 2002 | SUSAN EVANS

Posted on 06/30/2002 10:49:00 AM PDT by Polycarp

Angered by information leaks, Bishop Joseph Adamec abruptly canceled planned transfers of priests this week, The Tribune-Democrat has learned.

The cancellation affects a Centre County priest who has publicly disagreed with the bishop’s stance on homosexuality in the priesthood, and whose brother is a conservative Catholic activist and harsh critic of the bishop.

Both brothers declined to comment, and Adamec was tight-lipped about his orders, issuing only terse written responses to a reporter’s questions.

The cancellations appear to be the latest tear in the widening fissure between Adamac’s administration of the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese and his conservative critics.

Events leading up to the cancellations began June 18, when Altoona businessman George Foster’s laity group sponsored a visit by conservative author Michael Rose, whose book “Goodbye, Good Men” is critical of the Altoona-Johnstown diocese.

Several priests attended a reception for Rose, and there were conversations of pending transfers and moving arrangements.

On June 19, the Centre Daily Times newspaper carried a front-page story about Foster’s brother James, a Bellefonte priest, being reassigned next month to another parish, and diocese officials denying political motivations.

On June 21, Adamec wrote to all parishes, telling priests that “a number of transfers scheduled to take effect on July 10, 2002, have been put on hold. There are several reasons for that, including breaches of confidentiality.”

A new list of transfers was developed last week, but dated for release on June 28.

Foster’s transfer was not included in the new list.

In his letter, Adamec apologized to “those not contributing to the situation.

“I am sorry that this places an unexpected inconvenience on those who were prepared for a move on July 10,” he wrote.

When a reporter asked what motivated the letter, Adamec replied with a short, written answer: “It’s in the letter.”

When asked if a copy of the transfer list obtained by The Tribune-Democrat early last week, but dated June 28, was a complete list, Adamec replied, “I don’t know.”

Reassignments announced by the diocese on Friday were:
• The Rev. Dennis Kurdziel, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Altoona, to medical leave of absence.
• Msgr. Paul Panza, [a priest with a known history of active homosexuality!--Polycarp] to temporary administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes.
• The Rev. David Becker from pastor of St. Stephen in McConnellsburg to chaplain at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Altoona.
• The Rev. Alan Thomas from medical leave to administrator at St. Stephen.
• The Rev. Joseph Nale [who apparently refused to show up for Holy Orders last year because of persecution for his conservative views in seminary as well as while serving here as a transitional deacon--Polycarp] from leave of absence to St. Francis Xavier in Cresson.

Sister Mary Parks, spokeswoman for the diocese, declined to comment on Foster’s situation.

But Adamec and Parks have clashed with the priest in the past over the issue of homosexuality.

Some dioceses, such as Philadelphia, will not accept homosexuals as priests, and the Vatican bans homosexual priests.
But the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese does not. Adamec’s position is that homosexuals may be priests as long as they are celibate.

The homosexual lifestyle has been the subject of an ongoing debate at Penn State University in State College. Foster voiced his conservative views and was chastised by the diocese.

That debate began in October 2000, with a Penn State ceremony titled, “A Service of Affirmation of the Human Dignity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People.”
The Rev. Joseph Hlubik, Penn State Roman Catholic Community campus minister, said that although some Bible passages speak negatively of homosexuality, there are positive images as well.

Hlublik then wrote an essay saying:

“Fortunately, with a few positive thought-provoking images of gays portrayed on television and movies and maybe even encounters with gays in our own lives, it is becoming common enough to be a topic of discussion.”

Conservative Catholics, including priests like Foster, were outraged. Foster wrote a response calling Hlubik’s statements “false teaching.”

Then Parks wrote back, rebuking Foster:

“It is highly inappropriate for a Catholic priest to criticize publicly one of his brothers. [but its OK for a feminist nun to publicly criticize a priest--Polycarp] It is canonically inappropriate for a priest to suggest publicly that the diocese (ergo his Bishop) is somehow colluding to lead souls astray.”

Foster’s brother, George, who is president of the Lay Stewardship Foundation, since has been engaged in a public war of words over the way the diocese has handled sex scandals.

Both Parks and Adamec declined to discuss James Foster’s future as a priest, or any other transfers that might be made.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: activism; catholic; catholiclist; evil; needed
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To: Starwind
LOL!

;^)

101 posted on 07/01/2002 7:49:31 PM PDT by Siobhan
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To: Polycarp
Polycarp, this article of yours is outstanding. I will pray with all my heart that it is published. I am outraged at Bishop Adamec for putting your son at risk and for lying to your friend, but I am so proud of you for bringing it out into the Light. God bless you, and Godspeed on getting this published.

Sia lodato Gesucristo!

102 posted on 07/01/2002 7:52:41 PM PDT by Siobhan
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To: Lurker
I am sorry if the Catholic Church has hurt you in any way. Since you choose not to disclose why you feel so strongly, I feel like I am throwing mud when maybe I need to sit down and listen.

I do not think the Catholic Church will implode, for out of every advesity comes a greater or equal opportunity. My prayer is that the Catholic Church chooses the opportunity of reporting all sexual abusers as the Charter passed in Dallas stated. Then I pray that the Bishops will deal with the issue of homosexuality. I think you can see by the many posts from Catholics here, that we oppose homosexuality among priests.

Thanks for your reply and the tone in which it was rendered.

And remember that prayer is the answer.

103 posted on 07/01/2002 7:59:26 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: COBOL2Java
...read what the Catholic Church officially states on the topic of Chastity and Homosexuality...

Thanks for the direct cites.
I (and most people) know this is the stance of the Catholic Church on the issue.

But, even who's not Catholic...I'm afraid that a lot of the "sheeple" will soon not
believe this is the functional policy. That's what I'm afraid of.
104 posted on 07/01/2002 8:20:17 PM PDT by VOA
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To: ninenot
Maybe we should call a Baptist--they are generally up on ALL of scripture.

Well, I'm from the mainstream Church of Christ...graduated from one of the
colleges that would be considered an "ideological boot camp". The Baptists are just a bit
looser in legalistic scrutiny of the scriptures (in my opinion).

And even though I wasn't a religion major, I didn't encounter one hint
of homosexuality being a favorable thing despite having about 8 courses in Bible and
chapel five times a week.

If it's in there, I sure didn't find it.
105 posted on 07/01/2002 8:24:28 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Steve0113
I've seen a variation of what St Athanasius said: "The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops" attributed to St John Chrysostom: "The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests and erring bishops are its lamp posts" and St John Eudes: "The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops"

Personally, since it was St Athanasius who dealt with the Arian heresy before St John Chrysostom was even born, I believe the quote I posted is correctly attributed to him. I believe that Chrysostom and Eudes more than likely paraphrased Athanasius. Eudes may have paraphrased Chrysostom or both may have come to virtually the same conclusion as Athanasius. The definitive answer may be hard to come by.

106 posted on 07/01/2002 9:04:58 PM PDT by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: VOA; ninenot
I didn't encounter one hint of homosexuality being a favorable thing...

If it's in there

Sleep easy tonight. It isn't favorable in the bible.

The homosexual proponents are simply fabricating. No honest interpretation could ever conclude it is anything other than an abomination in God's view.

107 posted on 07/01/2002 9:16:05 PM PDT by Starwind
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To: Starwind
For those of you who find no biblical references to the "gift" of homosexuality,I believe you are correct. However,if you think it is considered the sin spoken of in the story of Sodom and Gomorhea,you are sadly mistaken.

I have heard in three or four homilies here in Phoenix that the "sin" of the men of Sodom was-------are you ready for this-------?The sin,was,A LACK OF HOSPITALITY.Yesiree!I bet you guys have been misunderstanding those passages for years,but not our priests,and they are so pleased to share that "new take"on it with us.

108 posted on 07/01/2002 11:17:10 PM PDT by saradippity
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To: saradippity
the "sin" of the men of Sodom was ...A LACK OF HOSPITALITY

Yikes! No more Mr. Nice Guy for me when strangers come a knockin. I don't want anyone accusing me of being "HOSPITABLE".

109 posted on 07/02/2002 12:53:44 AM PDT by Starwind
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To: Polycarp
Bishop Adamec must understand that enough is enough. He should start acting like a Catholic bishop, or resign.

Great editorial. Let us know if it gets printed.

110 posted on 07/02/2002 5:35:30 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
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To: saradippity
the "sin" of the men of Sodom was-------are you ready for this-------?The sin,was,A LACK OF HOSPITALITY.

I've heard that several times, too. I guess it's just a coincidence that the name of the city is the root of the word sodomy.

111 posted on 07/02/2002 6:36:02 AM PDT by Steve0113
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To: VOA
I will consider your opinion final on the topic, insofar as you are better-educated on the Bible than I am (having gone to a Catholic college.)

BTW, nobody else I know can find any favorable references, either...so as we fisheaters say, Q.E.D. (that's Catholic code for Roma locuta est, causa finita est (Rome has spoken, the case is closed.)

On to the next Big Lie of the perverts!!!

112 posted on 07/02/2002 6:59:58 AM PDT by ninenot
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To: Salvation
Thanks for a terrific resource!
113 posted on 07/02/2002 8:09:42 AM PDT by Siobhan
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To: VOA
But, even who's not Catholic...I'm afraid that a lot of the "sheeple" will soon not believe this is the functional policy. That's what I'm afraid of.

You are so right. And the sodomite community tries to take advantage of this ignorance at every opportunity.

It is the responsibility of the Bishop to encourage and teach with love the Church's doctrine, and to endure the disapprobation of the liberal press and the sodomites. Look at the persecution which was heaped upon the late John Cardinal O'Connor in NYC.

114 posted on 07/02/2002 9:12:12 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: afraidfortherepublic
The very fact that these words were uttered by a member of the priesthood, or flowed from his pen, leaves me disgusted and speechless.

My pastor usually avoids saying "homosexual" from the pulpit. The one time in the past several months he did say it, he immediately said he doesn't like to say it from the pulpit.

115 posted on 07/02/2002 9:16:46 AM PDT by ELS
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To: ELS
My pastor usually avoids saying "homosexual" from the pulpit. The one time in the past several months he did say it, he immediately said he doesn't like to say it from the pulpit.

How about "sodomite" instead?

116 posted on 07/02/2002 9:24:54 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: Domestic Church; Siobhan
Is there a Congregation of Bishops that is distinct from the Congregation of the Clergy?
117 posted on 07/02/2002 9:25:42 AM PDT by ELS
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To: COBOL2Java
He usually refers to the scandal indirectly or uses "perversion" or some form thereof.
118 posted on 07/02/2002 9:54:25 AM PDT by ELS
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To: Siobhan; Domestic Church
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons

I answered my own question. There are two distinct Congregations, as you can see on the Vatican Web site's Congregations index page. The Bishops' page only has the profile in Italian.

119 posted on 07/02/2002 10:04:05 AM PDT by ELS
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To: Siobhan
Yes, perhaps we need a "Chesterton Project" and put quotes from the great man himself on billboards across the land.>

That's a great idea!

120 posted on 07/02/2002 4:17:34 PM PDT by Renatus
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