Bishop in another diocese questioned for heavy hand
The following letter to the editor appeared in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, April 5, 2008:
Editor:
Most of people in this area are not aware that there is a Catholic Bishop who is causing dissension in his diocese. It seems that in the last year he has made important decisions without consulting the people of the diocese or even the priests that have to implement these decisions. The people and priests have tried to talk to him but he refuses to listen or even respond to them. Although there are still people who support the bishop it has gotten to the point where one third of the active priests and several retired priests in the diocese have decided that he is causing such great harm they have written a letter of “No confidence” and sent it to the Vatican.
His name is James Braxton, and he is the Bishop of The Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. The priests that wrote the letter realized that although Bishop Braxton is in authority in the diocese, a bishop is just a man and he can make mistakes. They realized that when a man makes a decision that harms many people and he will not correct his mistake it is up to other men of conscience to do something to correct the problem, even if it may cost them personally.
When a man of integrity is approached by thousands of people and told he made a mistake he thinks to himself maybe I erred, maybe I got bad information and advice, maybe I should talk to these people to find out their point of view and rethink my decision. When an arrogant man is told by thousands of people he has made a mistake he gets angry and stubborn. He refuses to listen to facts or reconsider his decision. He lashes out at the people that he feels are against him saying, “My decision is final.” It seems from the information coming out of the Belleville diocese that Bishop Braxton is the second type of man. Catholics here in the Scranton Diocese should be thankful that a man like Bishop Braxton is not in authority here, and our priests do not have to take such action to fight for justice.
Eugene Gowisnok
Swoyersville
Editor:
Most of people in this area are not aware that there is a Catholic Bishop who is causing dissension in his diocese. It seems that in the last year he has made important decisions without consulting the people of the diocese or even the priests that have to implement these decisions. The people and priests have tried to talk to him but he refuses to listen or even respond to them. Although there are still people who support the bishop it has gotten to the point where one third of the active priests and several retired priests in the diocese have decided that he is causing such great harm they have written a letter of “No confidence” and sent it to the Vatican.
His name is James Braxton, and he is the Bishop of The Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. The priests that wrote the letter realized that although Bishop Braxton is in authority in the diocese, a bishop is just a man and he can make mistakes. They realized that when a man makes a decision that harms many people and he will not correct his mistake it is up to other men of conscience to do something to correct the problem, even if it may cost them personally.
When a man of integrity is approached by thousands of people and told he made a mistake he thinks to himself maybe I erred, maybe I got bad information and advice, maybe I should talk to these people to find out their point of view and rethink my decision. When an arrogant man is told by thousands of people he has made a mistake he gets angry and stubborn. He refuses to listen to facts or reconsider his decision. He lashes out at the people that he feels are against him saying, “My decision is final.” It seems from the information coming out of the Belleville diocese that Bishop Braxton is the second type of man. Catholics here in the Scranton Diocese should be thankful that a man like Bishop Braxton is not in authority here, and our priests do not have to take such action to fight for justice.
Eugene Gowisnok
Swoyersville
posted by SDACT at
9:50 AM
1 Comments:
The shepherd's crook is an ancient tool that in the modern day has become a symbol. The primary use of the tool was to serve as a walking stick for the shepherd who had to oftentimes traverse uneven ground, and as a means of fending off predators that could harm the sheep. The crook, at the end of the stick, was used carefully and sparingly, to retrieve the occasional sheep that began to wander away from the flock. It was never used with great force.
Communities that practiced sheep herding depended on the animals for their livelihood. The milk was used for cheese, the sheep were shorn for wool, and, on occasion a few were slaughtered for meat. The sheep and the products produced from milking and shearing, were used in commerce to obtain other goods necessary for the survival of the community. Traditionally, the shepherds lived among the flock, even sharing mountainside cabins with their charges, and developed a bond with the animals. This bonding further encouraged the sheep to stay near the shepherd. A shepherd who used the crook cruelly could injure the sheep and rob the community of the income the sheep would have produced over the course of its life span. Further, the sheep would naturally flee a cruel shepherd for fear of harm.
Later, and in other locations, it was discovered that dogs could be used to assist in the herding of large flocks. These dogs were well treated by the sheep herder and, in turn, provided faithful service. They are blindly obedient and will not, in spite of their natural instincts, herd sheep if ordered to sit and stay.
Over time, in the Catholic Church, the shepherd's crook became the symbol of the Bishop's Office. Unfortunately, for the Diocese of Scranton, the punishing end of the crook has been turned on the flock. While the Bible tells the story of the Good Shepherd, as related by Jesus, it also contains more than one passage relating to what happens when an incompetent shepherd is put in charge of a flock.
My favorite passage is contained in The Book of Zechariah, Chapter 11, verses 15 through 17.
By
Anna Jesse, At
April 5, 2008 at 2:23 PM
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