Is it NORMAL for a lay Catholic to have a bishop who is a debt collector?
(This post has nothing to do with the United Catholic Appeal Quota)
I must be in quite a bit of debt to Bishop Zurek. Last spring I was asked to serve on a committee to help put together the sacramental preparation program for our parish. Since His Excellency had banned me from catechetical ministry two years ago I requested that he be consulted as to whether that would be okay. The answer that the go between relayed to me a few days later was, “The bishop is not there yet.”; gratefully, Abba is merciful and gracious, and will always be there.
Pay it back one of these days
One of these days I’m gonna pay it back
Pay it back one of these days
Words in italics indicate passages pulled from the Preparatory Document for the Synod 2021-2023.
In spite of our infidelities, the Spirit continues to act despite our “serious mistake“, and to show his life-giving power. It is precisely in the furrows dug by the sufferings of every kind endured by the Amarillo Diocesan family and by the People of God that new languages of faith and new paths are flourishing, : capable not only of interpreting events from a theological point of view but also of finding in trials the reasons for refounding the path of Christian and ecclesial life.
“Inasmuch as there could be serious legal implications for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles if we do fully disclose to you our concern regarding the Reverend John Salazar, Sch.P., by this letter I am informing you that the Reverend John Salazar, Sch.P. would never be allowed to minister as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in any way whatsoever given the circumstances of his case.”
From a 1991 letter from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to the Diocese of Amarillo prior to Bishop’s Matthiessen’s bringing of John Salazar to the Diocese of Amarillo. Bishop Matthiesen ignored this warning. Later he defended the “serious mistake” by stating that he never conducted his own checks of the priests – which included the Rev. John Salazar-Jimenez, and that it wasn’t until 10 years later that he learned some priests were not the first-time sex offenders that they purported to be when he agreed to hire.
“In memory of the death of innocence of the victims of clergy sexual abuse. When innocence dies…a life stops. It is essential that we never forget.”
It is a reason for great hope that more than a few dioceses, (Austin, Corpus Christi, Knoxville, Davenport, Charleston , Brooklyn, Camden) have already begun more or less structured meetings and consultation processes with the People of God. Where they have been marked by a synodal style, the sense of Church has flourished and the participation of all has given new impetus to ecclesial life.
The desire of young people to be protagonists within the Church and the request for a greater appreciation of women and spaces for participation in the mission of the Church, already signaled by the Synodal Assemblies of 2018 and 2019, are also confirmed. The recent institution of the lay ministry of Catechist and the opening of access to those of Lector and Acolyte to women also move in this direction.
““It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium.”
FRANCIS, Address for the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the
Synod of Bishops (17 October 2015)
This week begins the countdown to the 2021-2023 Synod entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” There are 3 days until the solemn opening on the 9th – 10th of October 2021 in Rome and 11 days until the Diocese of Amarillo is expected to celebrate the local ceremony on the 17th of October; that is unless Bishop Zurek is, “…not there yet.”, in meeting God’s expectation.
