The story I like most is:
While on the usual after-hours circuit at the 2014 November meeting of the US bishops, this scribe stopped to wave and nod to a familiar trio of prelates holed up at a table in the Marriott lounge.
Per his habit, the then-auxiliary of Rockville Centre wasn't with his old confreres from Philadelphia, but the bench's contingent of his fellow Cuban exiles: the auxiliaries of Brooklyn and Newark, Bishops Octavio Cisneros and Manny Cruz. (Somehow, the group's senior member – Felipe Estevez, the Miami-bred bishop of St Augustine – was oddly missing.)
To be sure, Nelson Perez would always join the other Philly priests-made-bishops for their traditional dinner during the week, but – having spent 15 years in these night sessions (i.e. the part of the day when Whispers' work really gets done) – the rest of the time, Nelson invariably wound down the days with the conference's Latino bloc, often including the now-president, LA's Archbishop José Gomez.
In any case, on the night mentioned, Cisneros shouted a memorable greeting my way: "Now you can say you saw the Cubans preparing the 'invasion'!"
Five years later, little could any of us have imagined how that line would prove prophetic.
UPDATED: Tom Reese's view of the appointment at NCR
Francis had some interesting things to say about the resignations of bishops when he revised the rules recently
One who prepares to submit his resignation needs to
prepare himself appropriately before God, stripping himself of any aspiration
to power and of the claim of being indispensable. This will allow him to calmly
and trustingly take this step, which would otherwise be painful and discordant.
At the same time, one who truly realizes the need to step down must discern in
prayer how to experience the stage that is about to begin, by making a new plan
of life, marked as much as possible by austerity, humility, prayers of
intercession, time dedicated to reading, and willingness to provide simple
pastoral services.
On the other hand, if exceptionally one is asked to continue to serve for a longer period, this entails generously giving up one’s new personal project. This situation, however, must not be considered a privilege or a personal triumph, or a favour due to presumed obligations deriving from friendship or closeness, nor as gratitude for the effectiveness of services rendered. Every eventual deferment can only be understood in line with certain reasons that are always linked to the common good of the Church. This pontifical decision is not an automatic act but an act of governance; consequently it entails the virtue of prudence which will help one, through appropriate discernment, to take the suitable decision.
On the other hand, if exceptionally one is asked to continue to serve for a longer period, this entails generously giving up one’s new personal project. This situation, however, must not be considered a privilege or a personal triumph, or a favour due to presumed obligations deriving from friendship or closeness, nor as gratitude for the effectiveness of services rendered. Every eventual deferment can only be understood in line with certain reasons that are always linked to the common good of the Church. This pontifical decision is not an automatic act but an act of governance; consequently it entails the virtue of prudence which will help one, through appropriate discernment, to take the suitable decision.
Chaput has indicated that the plans to remain in Philadelphia, and that he will spend the next few months free of commitments to reflect upon his future. As Archbishop emeritus, he also pledged his obedience to his successor.
Abp. Perez will need a cure for atherosclerosis. But he probably knows that. When one of my daughters took up residence in Philadelphia some many years ago, her landlady announced right off the bat that "Cardinal Krol doesn't allow hunter's Masses here, so you have to get up on Sunday morning." The "hunter's Mass" was the Saturday anticipatory everybody else had. But not Krol. As far as I can tell, the attitude continued through coverups, lawsuits and changes of administration in Rome. The archbishop's stately manor was pushed off on poor St. Joseph's College to pay the bills, and now a chunk of the more-than-stately seminary is going to the developers. To pay the bills. In slow motion, the Church Triumphant seems to be becoming the Church Mendicant, and the old Philadelphia attitude is not promising for the success in the new role. We have grandkids and three great-s living in that diocese.
ReplyDeleteSome years back a sociologist took at look at Catholic church statistics and found much evidence for decadence. The dioceses where Catholics were a large percentage of the population had fewer priests per Catholic, religious per Catholic, deacons per Catholic etc. than dioceses in which Catholics were a small percentage of the populations.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be wonderful if Francis's appointments represented a sort of disarmament movement for the polarization that plagues our secular politics?
ReplyDeleteI say this without wishing to deprecate Francis in any way, as he didn't choose the governance model of the church he leads: he may well be an example of a benevolent dictator.
It is very clear that Francis does not like the alliance of the bishops with the Evangelicals and the Republican party with its focus upon abortion, and wants the American bishops to become more concerned about climate change and income inequality along with migration. Most of all he wants the American bishops not to be divided by partisanship but all for life, the poor, the environment and migrants.
DeleteHis first major appointments of Cupich to Chicago and Tobin as cardinal were to get like minded bishops into the future leadership of the American bishops.
His recent appointments of Gregory to Washington and Perez to Philadelphia have been to elevate the non-white leadership of the American church. Both of them emphasize pastoral leadership from the center. When Perez was asked about his background, he replied "There are no Hispanic bishops there are only Roman Catholic bishops." Then acknowledge that, of course, he has a language and culture background that makes it easier for him to minister to Hispanics.
If you had financial problems, then it is time for you to smile. You only need to contact Mr. Benjamin with the amount you wish to borrow and the payment period that suits you and you will have your loan within three working days. I just benefited for the sixth time a loan of 700 thousand dollars for a period of 180 months with the possibility of paying before the expiration date. Mr Benjamin has be helping me with loan.Make contact with him and you will see that he is a very honest man with a good heart.His email is lfdsloans@lemeridianfds.com and his WhatApp phone number is + 1-989-394-3740
ReplyDelete