Australian bishop's ouster sends a message
May 06, 2011
The Australian carries an unusually informed and insightful commentary on the forced retirement of Bishop William Morris.
The Pope's insistence on the early retirement of the Australian bishop can be seen in context, the Australian analysis noted, pointing to the ouster of two other bishops recently, in Congo and in Italy:
The three forced departures in seven months have no precedent in recent years and suggest an increasing preparedness to intervene on the part of the Pope and his new prefect for the Congregation of Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.
The lesson to be learned, the Australian essay suggests, is that the Vatican is becoming more serious about ensuring that bishops provide sound teaching and discipline--or that, to put it another way, Rome will not allow bishops to tinker with the deposit of the faith:
Morris's removal sends a clear message to bishops, in Australia and around the world. The Holy See's patience is not, as it long seemed, limitless.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Tex132 -
May. 07, 2011 3:45 PM ET USA
Amen Hartwood!
-
Posted by: Obregon -
May. 07, 2011 3:44 PM ET USA
It's about time! I know in the last 40 years popes have tried to persuade bishops and dissenting priests to be careful about dissenting in private and in public, thus confusing the People of God with their ideas, but the last forty years have also shown that the tactic used by the supreme pontiffs has been taken advantage of. Now, finally this Holy Father is beginning to do what I expected from him six years ago and I support this move 100%
-
Posted by: hartwood01 -
May. 06, 2011 9:51 PM ET USA
Hooray! I wish the Holy See had been so vigilant when it came to the bishops who shuffled around the clerical perpetrators. At this point, we are stuck with that hierarchy.
