www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall If You Were Bishop For A Day

If You Were Bishop For A Day what would you do?

If I were a Latin bishop, I'd let all my priests offer the ancient Mass, ban all those who attempt to receive Communion yet deny Church Teachings, and suspend those priests who do not conform.

I'd also encourage traditinal RC public devotions in parishes.



I'd probably be pretty unpopular in your average Joe American diocese!

If I were an Eastern Catholic bishop, I have no clue what I'd do...seems most of them are doing pretty well as it is.

Logos Teen

I'd probably get up earlier than usual and spend a lot of time praying. I've come to the point where I know a lot about myself and there's a lot that I don't like. As I said to a man who once told me he didn't like me, I don't like me either, but you can go home; I'm stuck with me.

Then I'd try to navigate the day by not destroying that portion of the Lord's Vineyard that was assigned to me. I'd try to remember that there will be those who are completely opposite from me and who may have been formed in a seminary that made them that way, even if they started out differently. I'd try to remember that playing favorites is not the way to build up the Vineyard--and that means the clergy who are my mirror images in terms of my own prejudices and assumptions should not be given preferential treatment or an easier time when they do what they should not do. I'd try to remember that we are in the business of winning souls--not raffles, not bingo, not fund raising, not bricks and mortar. I'd try to remember that there are people who are hungry and who may not be Catholic, but that that does not relieve me of the obligation of doing what I can for them because they are the Face of Jesus Christ in my area.

Finally, I'd probably be so glad at the end of the day when I was no longer bishop that I'd spend the night following just repeating "thank You, thank You, thank You . . ."

BOB

I always did like Bishop Fulton Sheen in his early years...(B&W TV).

james

I wouldn't do anything big.

I'd happily celebrate a Pontifical Liturgy/Mass, and reemphasize to the faithful what a wonderful gift I'm humbly bringing to them.

If there's something useful I can do in a day, I can do it; e.g. if my visit to one or another significant parish, place or such would make people happy or focus the local Church's attention to it, I'd go there.

One day is certainly not long enough to change the direction of a diocese. Indeed, these things need to be done slowly. Evangelism programs are not put together in a day - or even a year.

As for liturgical abuses - well, let's just say that in one particular diocese I know, around 60% of the (many) priests are under the age of 45, and I'm pretty sure each of them would like to turn the altar back to the east. However, none of them take it up as a "cause", and the only one I've talked to in depth about it is adamant that this take place over the next 20 years, not overnight, for good reason.

I'd spend the day in prayer, carefully removing the knives from my back.

Gaudior, thinking that bishop is a thankless job

In 1965 Bill Buckley ran for Mayor of New York. When asked what he would do if he won the election, he immediately replied that he would demand a recount!

Incognitus

That is SO well said !!!

I would take a day of "reflection" in Florida.

Mistakes, most probably.

However, I'd celebrate the Eucharist. That's for sure.

Shalom,
Memo

I would demand the files on every priest who has been accused of the sexual abuse of a child, and if the accusations have any credibility whatsoever, that priest would be GONE before the end of MY day.

No more cover-ups - no more transfers - no more children abused under MY watch!

But of course, I'm just a woman, so I probably don't understand these things ...

LOL!

Hello,

I am not sure I can agree.

One day doesn't seem to be enough time to ascertain the truth of even the most credible accusations, let alone those accusations that have "any credibility whatsoever".

The crime of sexual abuse is horrible indeed, but I would not go down in history as the bishop who in his ONE day as bishop condemned innocent priests of a crime they did not commit.

If the truth of the crime and its perpetrator cannot be ascertained beyond any reasonable doubt, then there shall be no condemnation.

One mistake doesn't fix another mistake. The sin of covering up the crimes of guilty priests will not be solved by a witch hunt of innocent ones.

Of course, I would suspend priests with an outstanding credible accusation while the matter is investigated. At the same time, I would carefully remind the accusing party that false testimony in an accusation such as this is punished by excommunication reserved to the Holy See.

On that day, after celebrating the Eucharist, I'd probably spend the rest of the day praying and preaching the Gospel, even with words, if necessary. But then again, I do not have to wait to be a bishop to spend the rest of the day doing that.

Shalom,
Memo

I'd rather risk hurting an innocent priest than an innocent child.

If I were a Bishop (in my own particular church) I would instigate a visitation of all the parishes in my See and say High Mass at each one. I'd want my flock to know me by my face and for this reason I'd make it my business to celebrate Cathedral liturgy as often as possible (as we all know Bishops are busy people).

Then I would begin an investigation of the diocesan seminary (providing we had one) and ensure the learning materials meet respectable levels of orthodoxy. Wrong teaching would be removed, tutors who favoured wrong teaching would be given permanent compensated leave. Moreover, I'd get the rectors to place more emphasis on the spiritual formation of the candidates and I'd bring back the custom of giving seminary graduates copies of Pope St Gregory the Greats 'rule of pastoral care'.

My priests would be very important to me and I'd make sure to invite them--seminarians included--to dine with me individually and personally. Sure, it'd take awhile but it'd be worth it so as to grow closer to them. People are more likely to listen to you on a one on one basis and in a confident environment. This would give me a) a good knowledge of the priests of my See--particularly the heretics amongst them and b) a good relationship with all them--but not perhaps with the heretics amongst them.

Thereafter, if it could be confirmed that the majority of the priests in my diocese would be willing to follow my lead I'd call for a Diocesan Synod as an exercise in collegiality. Since as the Bishop I'd be the only one voting it'd be a formality but it would unify the Diocese behind my proposals which would focus upon the liturgy and the sacraments. I'd play for having it the norm in my Diocese to celebrate the Pauline Mass facing East with Roman Canon in Latin (or at least with the ordinary of the Mass in Latin)--the Pioline liturgy would also be made available.

I'd also seek assistance from orthodox religious orders e.g. the Legionaries of Christ to move in and begin parish missions to bolster the faith of the lay faithful. Moreover, I'd want to see what I could do about dissidents in the Catholic Education system so as to ensure all traces of heresy are driven away from the young and vulunerable.

Ok, that wouldnt all be possible in a day. But if I wrote it all down in my episcopal notebook I'm sure the guy who came after me could implement my proposals :p