Unfair attack

The following letter to the editor of the Scranton Times Tribune appeared February 11, 2009:

Unfair attack

Editor:

An early Christian bishop once wrote that a silent bishop is a revered bishop. Recent events have shown us the wisdom of his words. I, too, would prefer to keep silent, but love does not allow us to keep silent in the face of Bishop Martino’s unkind and unwarranted attack on Sen. Bob Casey’s good name, which could result in his being denied Holy Communion.

Instead of guiding us through today’s uncertain waters, drawing us closer to the mind of Christ by his humility and love, Bishop Martino has chosen the path of violence and power. He is a Juno, who out of insecurity and fear has unleashed a terrible storm against those he should be serving and protecting. Surrounding himself with bitter men, he has exiled or ignored everyone in this diocese who sees things differently than he. He has sown seeds of discord and distrust; he has tempted us to despair. And in his simplistic and uncatholic reduction of every truth to a moralistic code, he has forgotten that the church on earth is first and foremost a culture, a people, sinners all — the one body of Christ. Yet, he would have us shun the good senator.

Our Lord built his church on St. Peter, the Rock, not in spite of his weakness and failure, but because of his weakness and failure, to remind us that those who would lead us must first humble themselves, and that those who would love Christ must first feed his sheep. Oh help us, St. Peter.

GLEN JOHNSON
SCRANTON