on January 31, 2006
A Catholic Look at Society, Culture and Politics /
Deal W. Hudson
In This Issue:
Radical Left Bishop Faces Retirement by Deal W. Hudson
In an interview for the Toledo Blade, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton predicted his retirement letter would be accepted quickly.
"Traditionally, you are supposed to write to the Pope on your 75th birthday and offer to resign. . . . But it's so arbitrary - some of them they ignore, but if you are the least bit progressive, they accept it immediately."
But, as Bishop Gumbleton himself suggests, the reasons the Holy Father has for accepting or ignoring a bishop's resignation are not really arbitrary.
As a so-called "progressive," Bishop Gumbleton expects a quick response from Benedict XVI.
In fact, the auxiliary bishop from Detroit has been much more than a progressive. Since becoming a bishop at the young age of 38, he has consistently been the most far left of all this nation's bishops.
He openly supports dissenting organizations and their positions on key issues such as an all male priesthood, homosexuality, and Vatican authority.
If a dissident group like Call to Action or Voice of the Faithful wants a bishop present, Bishop Gumbleton obliges them. He is a founding member of the pacifist group, Pax Christi, which misrepresents the Church's teaching on just war.
Additionally, Bishop Gumbleton has endorsed a group called Priests for Equality which affirms "that men and women have a right to equal opportunity for ordination to the priesthood."
The list goes on and on.
This is why the bishop admits, "I suspect I'll get a call saying that the Pope is looking for my letter."
However, putting all this aside for a moment, we can respect Bishop Gumbleton's recent admission that he had been sexually molested in his early teens by a priest at Detroit's Sacred Heart Seminary.
Bishop Gumbleton's career has been one that reflects all the confusions and struggles of priests who came into leadership positions as bishops and cardinals during the 60s and 70s.
The power of that generation is suddenly coming to an end as the list of bishops turning 75 grows long.
According to the Code of Canon Law (Can. 401 ß1), "A diocesan Bishop who has completed his seventy-fifth year of age is requested to offer his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff." The pope may accept his resignation immediately, as Bishop Gumbleton expects, or allow a bishop to serve until the mandatory retirement age of 80.
A bishop cannot step down on his own initiative; he must wait until the pope gives his approval.
Earlier this month, Catholic News Service released a list of bishops who are still serving after reaching 75 and those who are to reach 75 in 2006.
Here is the list. It's worth taking a moment to scan the names as it suggests a changing of the guard in the U.S. Catholic Church.
Cardinals Szoka, Maida, and McCarrick reached retirement age in 2005. Cardinals Keeler and Law turn 75 in 2006. Twelve other bishops are still active after turning 75 and eleven more will reach retirement age in the year ahead. They were all born around 1930 and were ordained in the late 50s or early 60s.
Here are the bishops, not including the cardinals, whose resignations have not yet been accepted:
· Ruthenian Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic, N.J., Aug. 30, 2002.
· Bishop Manuel Batakian of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in
New York for Armenian Catholics, Nov. 5, 2004.
· Auxiliary Bishop John P. Boles of Boston, Jan. 21, 2005.
· Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, Jan. 26, 2005.
· Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, N.C., April 1, 2005.
· Bishop William E. Franklin of Davenport, Iowa, May 3, 2005.
· Bishop John J. Leibrecht of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo., Aug. 8, 2005
· Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan of Monterey, Calif., Sept. 3, 2005.
· Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing, Mich., Oct. 22, 2005.
· Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior, Wis., Oct. 25, 2005.
· Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon of New Orleans, Dec. 13, 2005.
· Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, January 26, 2006
(Happy birthday!).
The currently active bishops, not including Cardinals Keeler and Law, who will turn 75 in 2006:
· March 22: Auxiliary Bishop Robert W. Donnelly of Toledo, Ohio.
· May 1: Auxiliary Bishop Emil A. Wcela of Rockville Centre, N.Y.
· June 21: Bishop Joseph L. Imesch of Joliet, Ill.
· July 14: Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly of Louisville, Ky.
· July 15: Bishop Charles V. Grahmann of Dallas.
· Aug. 14: Auxiliary Bishop Robert A. Brucato of New York.
· Sept. 9: Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto of Galveston-Houston.
· Sept. 21: Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile, Ala.
· Sept. 29: Bishop Victor Balke of Crookston, Minn.
· Oct. 2: Bishop John W. Yanta of Amarillo, Texas.
· Oct. 22: Bishop William B. Friend of Shreveport, La.
Bishop-watchers have been publicly wondering about the fate of Cardinal McCarrick's resignation letter, and they will be surprised if Bishop Gumbleton doesn't get exactly the reception he expects.
Many observers were surprised at Benedict XVI's choice of Archbishop Levada to succeed him at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
Will the new pope keep surprising us? Will Bishop Gumbleton remain an active bishop? We will see.
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