And so on this day and in the name of the good people of the Catholic Church of East Tennessee, i wish to offer our best wishes to two great men of the Church, Pope Benedict and Justin Cardinal Rigali!

Ad Multos Annos!!!

My parents were very simple people. I am sure they would be mystified by their son blogging as a bishop of the Church!

Happy 100th, Dad! Thanks for everything!

Reception following Mass of Thanksgiving, Dec. 15, 1985

In years past, I had the real treat of attending this annual event, which in many ways marks the beginning of summer. A special part of the program involves the introduction of the Hall of Famers. There is the usual thunder of applause for these great men of the past, but none could match the applause for Stan the Man Musial, a true legend and gentleman.

Go, Cards!

April 6, 2010

He [Or She] That Is Without Sin Among You, Let Him [Or Her] Cast The Next Stone…  Enough Already

I believe the continuing attacks by the media on the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI have become manifestations of anti-Catholicism.  The procession of articles on the same events are, in my opinion, no longer intended to inform, but simply to castigate.

The sexual molestation of children, principally boys, is horrendous.  This is agreed to by everyone, Catholics, the Church itself, as well as non-Catholics and the media.  The Pope has on a number of occasions on behalf of the Church admitted fault and asked for forgiveness.  For example, The New York Times reported on April 18, 2008 that the Pope, “came face to face with a scandal that has left lasting wounds on the American church Thursday, holding a surprise meeting with several victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area….‘No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse,’ the Pope said in his homily.  ‘It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.’”

On March 20, 2010, The Times reported that in his eight page pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, the Pope wrote, “You have suffered grievously, and I am truly sorry…Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated.”  The Pope also “criticized Ireland’s bishops for ‘grave errors of judgment and failures of leadership.’”

The primary explanation for the abuse that happened — not to excuse the retention of priests in positions that enabled them to continue to harm children — was the belief that the priests could be cured by psychotherapy, a theory now long discarded by the medical profession.  Regrettably, it is also likely that years ago the abuse of children was not taken as seriously as today.  Thank God we’ve progressed on that issue.

Many of those in the media who are pounding on the Church and the Pope today clearly do it with delight and some with malice.  The reason I believe for the constant assaults is that there are many in the media and some Catholics as well as many in the public who object to and are incensed by positions the Church holds, including opposition to all abortions, opposition to gay sex and same-sex marriage, retention of celibacy rules for priests, exclusion of women from the clergy, opposition to birth control measures involving condoms and prescription drugs and opposition to civil divorce.  My good friend, John Cardinal O’Connor, once said, “The Church is not a salad bar, from which to pick and choose what pleases you.”  The Church has the right to demand fulfillment of all of its religious demands by its parishioners, and indeed a right to espouse its beliefs generally.

I disagree with the Church on all of these positions.  Nevertheless, it has a right to hold these views in accordance with its religious beliefs.  I disagree with many tenets of Orthodox Judaism – the religion of my birth — and have chosen to follow the tenets of Conservative Judaism, while I attend an Orthodox synagogue.  Orthodox Jews, like the Roman Catholic Church, can demand absolute obedience to religious rules.  Those declining to adhere are free to leave.

I believe the Roman Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, not evil.  Moreover, the existence of one billion, 130 million Catholics worldwide is important to the peace and prosperity of the planet.

Of course, the media should report to the public any new facts bearing upon the issue of child molestation, but its objectivity and credibility are damaged when The New York Times declines to publish an op-ed offered by New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the issue of anti-Catholicism and to offer instead to publish a letter to the editor, which is much shorter and less prominent than an op-ed.

I am appalled that, according to The New York Times of April 6, 2010, “Last week, the center-left daily newspaper La Repubblica wrote, without attribution that ‘certain Catholic circles’ believed the criticism of the Church stemmed from ‘a New York Jewish lobby.’”  The Pope should know that some of his fellow priests can be thoughtless or worse in their efforts to help him.  If the “certain Catholic circles” were referring to The New York Times, the Pope should know that the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., is Episcopalian, having taken the religion of his mother, and its executive editor, Bill Keller, is also a Christian.

Enough is enough.  Yes, terrible acts were committed by members of the Catholic clergy.  The Church has paid billions to victims in the U.S. and will pay millions, perhaps billions, more to other such victims around the world.  It is trying desperately to atone for its past by its admissions and changes in procedures for dealing with pedophile priests.  I will close with a paraphrase of the words of Jesus as set forth in John 8:7:  “He [or she] that is without sin among you, let him [or her] cast the next stone…”

- Edward I. Koch

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Well, let me tell you, my sisters and brothers, I love being a bishop because I love being a priest. To be a priest and a bishop is truly a humbling experience, and I truly believe that I am not worthy. But I do believe in the Lord’s call.

A good friend of mine, Father James Swift, the former provincial of the Congregation of the Mission, known as the Vincentians, recently gave me some great material to reflect on. I spoke to him about how I still do not understand fully what it means to be a bishop of the Church. I spoke to him about how I still find it very difficult to believe. I told him I am still processing the very idea.

After years of administration in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, I understand the administrative aspects of running a diocese, even though I can no longer use the line I used so often when I was faced with a difficult decision. So often I would say, “Well, I’ll bring it to the archbishop and see what he says.” But now, to quote that famous Missourian Harry S Truman, “The buck stops here.”

My dear friend Father Swift said that if I truly believe the Holy Spirit is part of the decision-making process of the Church, if we believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Church, if we believe that the Holy Spirit guided the cardinals to choose the Holy Father, who eventually chose me to shepherd the Church of Knoxville, then even though I might believe I am not worthy to be a successor of the Apostles and bishop of this diocese, I have been chosen.

So to answer the question “What is it like to be the bishop of Knoxville?” I say without equivocation, that I love being bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, for it allows me the opportunity to be a pastor: to be pastor of a Church from Helenwood to Chattanooga, from Kingsport to Townsend, from Soddy-Daisy to Crossville and of all the different parishes and institutions I am privileged to serve.

As a pastor I witness daily the face of Jesus in the work of Marriage Encounter and Cursillo and Search, in the work of the Ladies of Charity, and in parishes that adopt other parishes throughout the world, especially in Haiti and Colombia.

In the beautiful cultures that make up the fabric of the church of East Tennessee and the languages that speak of the faith that allows us to know God. In the commitment of my brother deacons and priests from around the world who are so committed to be another Christ to the people they are called to serve with a spirit of humility.

In the 10 seminarians who are studying for the diocese and the six or seven men who are now contemplating joining them in September.

In the consecrated women who serve the church so faithfully.

In so many different ways I see the face and the voice of Jesus.

It brings me joy to pray with you. In the Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in confirmations and church dedications and parish-hall festivities. In fish fries and visits to the parishes that make up this wonderful church of Knoxville. It brings me joy to stand behind the bench at a high school football game and root for our team, as so often I feel like the owner of a team. To sit in the stands of a gymnasium and see a well-played basketball game by our young men or women. To sit at a baseball game and enjoy America’s favorite pastime, hoping someday one of the members of the team will play for the St. Louis Cardinals.

To hear children sing at school or to sit in a cafeteria and chat with those with so much life ahead of them and to hear about their dreams and celebrate with them the occurrences of their life.

To witness a stage production or choral festival or the servers who are excited about serving at Mass for the first time.

To witness daily the work of Catholic Charities and how its staff represents Jesus. The faithful teachers at our schools who give so much and make so little.

To the Knights of Columbus and their families who are so good to the Church and our community in so many ways.

To witness the dedicated service of those who work at the Chancery and in other areas of the Diocese. Those unseen people who do so much for the Lord and his people.

With all of this, to reflect why wouldn’t I love to be a bishop—and the bishop of Knoxville.

To truly see the face of Jesus, to see how he is trusted by so many. Most Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, I thank you for this privilege, and I pray daily that I may be worthy.

Also, thanks be to God for the work of those involved in vocation recruitment. You know, we may have as many as seven new men entering the seminary this fall. These men, God willing, will join the 10 who are already in formation. But with this gift comes a very practical challenge to our budget. So now I come to you.

The average cost of supporting a seminarian in the Diocese of Knoxville and in effect in the United States is about $45,000 per year. We have to provide certain things, such as insurance, and give them a small stipend, as well as pay for tuition, especially in theology.

Well, given the 10 men who are already studying for the Diocese of Knoxville and with the possibility of five to seven more—which is indeed a great blessing—I have now authorized, after consulting with the priests and finance council of the diocese, a second collection that will be taken up each year to help with the formation of these young men. This year the collection will be taken on Easter Sunday. Then we will evaluate to see whether this is the right time. This yearly collection will assist in the formation of those who wish to serve you, the people of God, in East Tennessee.

I also ask your prayers for those who are preparing to be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Pray for the candidates and catechumens and their families as they prepare for this special journey. In some ways their journey is complete—but it is also just beginning with the Easter Vigil.

Spring is beginning to surround us in East Tennessee. Let us be mindful that the beauty of spring is truly a gift. For it reminds us of the gift that comes to us from God. As we all continue our journey of Lent, let us pray that we will continue our commitment to be Jesus to others. And so my sisters and brothers as I complete my first year of service to you, the people of God of East Tennessee, that is my prayer, through the intercession of St. Joseph, the faithful husband of Mary and the protector of Jesus and his model in life. I pray through the intercession of St. Joseph that we might continue in our journey together, united by Jesus, to give praise and thanksgiving to God that the Lord will continue to bless us. Until next time, God bless you all.