Pope Francis has removed Memphis bishop Martin Holley from office.
The removal follows an apostolic visitation by two American bishops earlier this year, which apparently was triggered by complaints from priests and laypersons in the diocese. Among the things that Holley did in his two years in office in Memphis was to reassign more than half the pastors in the diocese, leading to many complaints; he closed 11 schools; and he installed as Vicar General an outsider, Msgr. Clement Machado, who may not even have been properly incardinated into the Memphis diocese. Machado resigned the Vicar General position within 10 days of the visitation. There also are allegations of financial impropriety.
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until a successor to Holley can be appointed.
The story was broken by Church Militant, which has achieved recent prominence by being one of the favored outlets for Archbishop Vigano's "testimonies". Church Militant reports that it "obtained the contents of a confidential email sent from Abp. Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, to Bp. Martin Holley on behalf of Cdl. Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops." Pretty good scoop for them.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal has a few more details.
Holley is African American, one of a few such among American bishops. His previous post was as an auxiliary bishop in Washington DC under Cardinals Wuerl and McCarrick. While those connections may be suggestive given the national headlines from this summer and fall, the Commercial Appeal was able to obtain a statement from a Vatican spokesperson that "Holley's removal was "about management of the diocese, not abuse related.""
We've seen a lot of bishops weather a lot of complaints and scandals over the years. It seems that one of the few things that moves the Vatican to unilateral action is when a bishop loses the support of his priests.
His actions sound rather erratic. I wonder if there are mental issues involved?
ReplyDeleteI agree: he does sound erratic, and it wouldn't surprise me if there is mental illness behind it. But I'd like to think, if it's a case of mental illness, that the story would be a bit different: that he has been sent somewhere for treatment, and wouldn't be forced out.
DeleteThe story comes across more like a punishment story than a treatment story: he's been permanently removed as bishop of Memphis. Church Militant also reported that "Holley will no longer be allowed to reside in the chancery past Friday". I found that statement somewhat confusing; a chancery is generally an administrative office building, not a bishop's residence, but the quote is that he can't "reside" there anymore. So I don't know if that's just an unusual way of saying that he won't be allowed back inside the business office anymore, or if that particular chancery building also contains a bishop's residence and he's being booted from the residence as well.
But that bit of confusion aside, the story comes across as similar to those stories about priests who are being removed from ministry - except that, according to the story, the church will continue to provide some living support to Holley; I don't believe that is offered frequently (or at all) to men being removed from the priesthood.
I can't remember any previous cases like this. Istm that in the past, the practice would have been to send a coadjuter to sit on the offender, or an auxiliary with special powers, as they did when they sent Donald Wuerl (hmm, him again!) to correct Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen in Seattle when the latter became more peaceful than the pope.
ReplyDeleteFrankly saying "we're mad at him, so he is out" is more transparent than a coadjuter or an auxiliary with more power than his boss. But it still isn't transparent enough that the pew sitters can figure out exactly what the offense was.
Yep, I agree on all points.
DeleteIf it was about sex, the story would be out by now. My guess, besides the possible mental issues, is mismanagement of funds. Which still doesn't rule out mental problems.
DeleteMismanagement of funds!! How many bishops could be fired for that. Let's count them up.
ReplyDeleteFrancis comes from a different management tradition, i.e. the Jesuits.
ReplyDeleteThat is evident in how he hires and promotes bishops. There is not the idea of a systematic way of promoting people. Rather as in the Jesuit tradition you locate the best person for the position. It may turn out to be regarded by others as a promotion, a demotion or a sideways move.
The Jesuit management tradition is also evident in the way he is selecting cardinals, bringing in a wide variety of backgrounds as papal electors and potential future popes.
I suspect from some other changes that the curia recognizes the difference of papal management style and they are going to directly replacing people that need to be replaced. They are not yet being transparent about rational, but they are no longer hiding or soft pedaling that people are being replaced.
It is interesting that Francis is bringing bishops out of retirement as administrators (also consistent with his attitudes toward the elderly)
Rocco: Keeping with recent trend elsewhere – but all the more notable here given mid-Michigan diocese’s twin abuse probes – Grand Rapids emeritus +Walter Hurley, 81 (long Detroit’s managerial supremo) named Apostolic Admin of Saginaw;
There have been other appointments like this. Francis is a practical Jesuit.
"There is not the idea of a systematic way of promoting people. Rather as in the Jesuit tradition you locate the best person for the position. It may turn out to be regarded by others as a promotion, a demotion or a sideways move."
DeleteA quintessentially servant-leader way of approaching church leadership. Subordinate any perks and pride to the good of the mission and the organization.
Holley says that this is payback from Cardinal Wuerl because Holley wrote a negative opinion to the Vatican when Wuerl was being considered for Secretary of State. (I am a little skeptical that any American Cardinal has been seriously considered as Secretary of State. It just would not work internationally).
ReplyDeletehttps://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/holley-says-revenge-not--mismanagement-led-to-his-removal-99505
Rocco says
For those wondering about Memphis, the series of events culminating yesterday in +Holley’s ouster – a US first in recent memory – have been on the radar here for over a week... but as the digging increased, the story turned weirder still.
Piece is in the works – just sit tight.
The whole story is kind of strange. Holley's explanation seems a bit far-fetched. We'll see what Rocco comes up with.
Delete