VOTF
, The Boston Priests’ Forum and export a ''subculture of infidelity.'' to
Long Island
89 % refuse to join coup on Long Island
An
important issue for discussion will be the recognition of Voice of the
Faithful…
The Rev. Robert Bullock supervisor of Fr Paul Shanley
The Boston 58 comments by George Weigel , Fr. John
Neuhaus and Deal Hudson
Banned from meeting on church property. by 10 bishops
Voice of the Faithful Promotes homosexuality in the
priesthood
Bishop:
We'll Talk
Murphy
agrees to meet with priests about the diocese's future
By
Rita Ciolli
STAFF
WRITER
December
4, 2003, 1:52 PM EST
More
than 50 Catholic priests expressing "sadness and a sense of
desperation" have signed a letter to Bishop William Murphy asking for a
meeting to address what they describe as widespread dissatisfaction and a lack
of confidence in his leadership among the clergy and laity in the Diocese of
Rockville Centre.
When
the bishop learned about and saw a copy of the extraordinary petition being
circulated from rectory to rectory last month, he quickly agreed to the meeting
- even before the formal letter with the list of signatures was sent to him
last week.
The
tone of the letter is respectful and conciliatory. It expresses hope that if
both sides meet in "a spirit of truth and humility" the effort to
repair the diocese will work. Yet, the two-page letter reveals a deep chasm
between the priests on the front lines in Long Island parishes and their
leader.
"In
our own personal experience we have perceived a general malaise and even an
abiding anger within our beloved diocese. There are very many in the diocese,
clergy and laity who sense the same atmosphere ...," the priests wrote.
"There is open and public conflict that remains unresolved and it is the
experience of many that life goes on under a dark cloud. What others and we
experience is not an acceptable situation."
Murphy's
quick response in agreeing to a meeting was described by some priests as an
effort to blunt a growing clergy revolt. However, other priests praised him for
his enthusiasm and openness to the idea.
Murphy
described a dialogue as a "wonderful idea" at a regularly scheduled
clergy conference last week and encouraged two of the organizers of the petition
to speak to the priests about their efforts at a regularly scheduled meeting
last week.
The
organizers contacted most of the about 400 priests in the diocese, about 100 of
whom are retired. Priests who were involved in the signature gathering said
that while more clerics shared their concerns over Murphy's leadership and
worries about a sharp decline in contributions they didn't sign initially for
fear of repercussion or the impact it would have on their careers. About
two-thirds of the signers are pastors or former pastors ranging from some of
the most liberal and outspoken to conservatives. Almost 20 percent are
monsignors, according to priests involved.
The
Jan. 19 meeting will be moderated by the Rev. David Couturier, a Capuchin
priest from White Plains who is a professional facilitator. The holiday
commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen so the auditorium of a
Catholic high school would be available. After a Newsday inquiry, the diocese
issued a press release by the organizers yesterday announcing the gathering,
saying Murphy will respond to questions and concerns raised by the priests.
"In
a forum like this he might hear some difficult things," said Msgr. James
M. McNamara, who was asked by Murphy to be his personal representative to the
priests organizing the letter drive. "I think he is making an honest
effort to listen and to respond," said McNamara, pastor of the Parish of
the Holy Cross in Nesconset, who said he has been friends with Murphy for 20
years beginning when they spent time studying in Rome.
The
Rev. Thomas Gallagher, one of the four priests on the organizing committee,
said Murphy's encouraging response will probably draw many priests, regardless
of whether they signed the letter.
"It
will give the bishop a chance to know us better because we probably will be
talking from the content of our own hearts and, hopefully, to his. I don't know
if we have ever had that kind of situation with Bishop Murphy since he got
here," said Gallagher, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in North Merrick. The
other members of the priest committee are the Rev. Chris Aridas, pastor of St.
Margaret of Scotland Church in Selden; Msgr. Peter Pflomm, pastor of Maria
Regina Church in Seaford; and Msgr. Daniel Hurley of St. Rose of Lima Parish in
Massapequa.
Gallagher
noted there was never a chance for Murphy to "meld" with his priests
because a week after he was installed as bishop on Sept. 4, 2001, terrorists
attacked the World Trade Center. Less than a year later, the priest sex abuse scandal
rocked the Catholic Church in Boston, where Murphy had been second-in-command,
with severe repercussions nationwide and on Long Island. "Everyone has
been on roller skates ever since," Gallagher said.
The Rev. Robert Bullock, one of the leaders of the Boston Priests Forum whose call for the resignation of
Cardinal Bernard Law in 2002 caught the attention of the Vatican, said the
movement by priests on Long Island shows the church can't return to business as
usual. "The sex abuse crisis revealed the deeper and more systemic
problems in the church today," Bullock said.
FaithfulVoice.com comment: [ Fr. Bullock was Fr. Paul Shanley’s direct supervisor and claims to have had no knowledge of Fr. Paul Shanley’s activities } from NECN
"There
is a leadership crisis, and that is the issue the priests and the people are
trying to deal with," Bullock added. "These priests are selfless in
speaking to the needs of the church which they are experiencing directly."
McNamara
and other priests said an important issue for discussion will be the
recognition of Voice of the Faithful, an organization of the laity seeking more
accountability from the church hierarchy and an increased role in church
finances and other governance areas. Murphy has criticized
the group and banned it from meeting on church property.
The
letter sent to the bishop went through several revisions, with some demands,
such as allowing Voice of the Faithful to meet on
church property dropped, according to priests involved. Yesterday, the group
praised priests who stepped forward to take on a bishop who earlier this year
cautioned he would use church law to "silence" a diocesan priest for
writing an opinion essay calling for the resignation of church leaders in power
during the cover-up of the sexual abuse of minors.
"We
support the efforts of this courageous group of priests," board members of
Voice of the Faithful on Long Island said in a statement released yesterday.
"And we hope their courageous and principled stand will help bring peace
to our diocese."
Copyright
© 2003, Newsday,
Inc.