I know a priest who worked closely with Bishop Bradley and he said similar things about him. He has been a healing balm for the people of Steubenville. About a month ago, the bishop was quoted more or less saying that he doesn't believe a merger is necessary and that the diocese is stable. While not well known, BIshop Bradley immediately contacted the powers that be to let him know that is not what he said and it did not convey what he meant to say.
It's too bad he wouldn't agree to an interview with the Pillar, but he's probably been discouraged by the nuncio from doing so.
As the article mentions, the merger is almost certain to happen, but Bishop Bradley's approach has helped make that transition easier. It is great to see an example of a good shepherd.
Yes, I'll concur that Bishop Bradley is a good, even excellent shepherd to us. We haven't seen that in many moons. But a hostile takeover of this diocese by another is not in anyone's best interest. I doubt very much we'd be getting a shepherd of Bishop Bradley's caliber in such a case.
The Columbus/Steubenville merger would create a very large diocese in which the bishop would find it difficult to get around as much as he should. Perhaps Rome will grant Columbus an auxiliary who could live closer to Steubenville.
All the same, Steubenville still has a very large number of active priests over the age of 75, their salaries are some of the lowest in the country, and while they have had a nice increase in seminarians in the last few years, it seems a bit too much to have a diocese for less than 35k active Catholics (which I believe inlcudes students at Franciscan).
Sadly, I've heard that the USCCB wouldn't give approval to an auxiliary being granted to a diocese under 500k Catholics, and a merged Columbus-Steubenville would be around 375k.
I've been told the 500K number by a former staffer at the Dicastery for Bishops. But I wonder if in this case, an auxiliary may be granted. Columbus is a growing city and should meet the 500K mark of Catholics in the next five to ten years. Bishop Fernandes is also close to the nuncio and the nuncio may be willing to make an exception in this case.
When did such a rule come into effect (500K Catholics for an auxiliary)?
When I was growing up in the 1980's, the neighboring Youngstown diocese even had an auxiliary bishop (with just 250,000 Catholics and declining at the time)
35k active Catholics... tough number. No offense, but the merger will happen (per those Vatican sources), albeit with a ton more buy-in and synodality than previously expressed.
"Vatican sources"? I weary of those who claim to have inside information on what might or might not be happening to someone else. It is so self-serving and obviously narcissistic. Vatican politics can change in (literally) a heart beat (or lack thereof) and those "sources" will either disappear or change their tune according to the the whim of the current ruling power. What it comes down to is merely talk. No more, no less. Who knows? God might decided against the current rumormongers. He's done it before.
This isn't at the Vatican level, only at the local level and the Nunciature. You are right though about "Vatican Sources." In the Vatican, those who don't know, speak, and those who know, don't speak.
I hope that the bishops who are Pillar readers and are asking themselves, "How do I win back the trust of my priests?" give this a good careful and take its lessons to heart. This should be the norm, not the surprising, corrective exception.
What a Refreshing sign of true hope for us all over the USA. For decades now it seemed the only way forward was to sell or merge Then "Collaboration" by multiple parish administrations worked to stablize the financial situation whose "root causes" are to be found decades earlier in the education ( or lack thereof) The closing down of most Catholic High Schools in the NorthEast accelerated the growth of The "nones" a fastest growing Non Religious Secular Humanitarian social justice activists led by youth. These Humanitarians however aroused, emboldened and encouraged the Stuebenville Youth Led Apostolates to go with a dozen others familiar the Fatima Message and teenage Carlo Carluti High Tech Revival of what The Holy Eucharist, Holy Rosary and Holy Adoration is all about in our "daily duty" to God.
It seems to me that, if the faithful, the religious, and the clergy of this (or any other) diocese think that it is best for them to remain their own diocese, that view should prevail unless it is manifestly unreasonable. After all, who knows better the situation, the people who are actually present in the diocese or someone at a dicastery in Rome or the USCCB offices in Washington? And who will receive the benefits and costs of a decision? It also seems that, when it comes time to appoint a new bishop for this, or any other diocese, the nuncio should survey the broad range of views among the practicing and believing faithful, the religious, and the clergy of the diocese. Under current policy, only the select few are consulted.
My own view is that there is something decidedly not Catholic about mergers. Mergers seem to me opposed to two Catholic principles: subsidiarity and human scale. I do understand that a grave clergy shortage (and laity shortage) is driving parish closings/mergers, but two signs of good health would be many new, small, neighborhood parishes, and the reorganization of dioceses into much smaller ones. Honestly, who can seriously shepherd the faithful of an archdiocese as large as Los Angeles or Mexico City? Who can pastor a parish of thousands? I understand what I am describing is a fantasy, at least in my lifetime, but one day, perhaps. Oremus.
Perhaps more thought needs to be given to the institutional Church's adjusting openly to the reality of its being a much smaller entity than its officials may want to admit. The Western world has already gone largely atheist.
I know a priest who worked closely with Bishop Bradley and he said similar things about him. He has been a healing balm for the people of Steubenville. About a month ago, the bishop was quoted more or less saying that he doesn't believe a merger is necessary and that the diocese is stable. While not well known, BIshop Bradley immediately contacted the powers that be to let him know that is not what he said and it did not convey what he meant to say.
It's too bad he wouldn't agree to an interview with the Pillar, but he's probably been discouraged by the nuncio from doing so.
As the article mentions, the merger is almost certain to happen, but Bishop Bradley's approach has helped make that transition easier. It is great to see an example of a good shepherd.
Yes, I'll concur that Bishop Bradley is a good, even excellent shepherd to us. We haven't seen that in many moons. But a hostile takeover of this diocese by another is not in anyone's best interest. I doubt very much we'd be getting a shepherd of Bishop Bradley's caliber in such a case.
The Columbus/Steubenville merger would create a very large diocese in which the bishop would find it difficult to get around as much as he should. Perhaps Rome will grant Columbus an auxiliary who could live closer to Steubenville.
All the same, Steubenville still has a very large number of active priests over the age of 75, their salaries are some of the lowest in the country, and while they have had a nice increase in seminarians in the last few years, it seems a bit too much to have a diocese for less than 35k active Catholics (which I believe inlcudes students at Franciscan).
Sadly, I've heard that the USCCB wouldn't give approval to an auxiliary being granted to a diocese under 500k Catholics, and a merged Columbus-Steubenville would be around 375k.
the usccb does not decide on auxiliary bishop appointments, but that does seem to align with the praxis of the Holy See, generally speaking.
I've been told the 500K number by a former staffer at the Dicastery for Bishops. But I wonder if in this case, an auxiliary may be granted. Columbus is a growing city and should meet the 500K mark of Catholics in the next five to ten years. Bishop Fernandes is also close to the nuncio and the nuncio may be willing to make an exception in this case.
When did such a rule come into effect (500K Catholics for an auxiliary)?
When I was growing up in the 1980's, the neighboring Youngstown diocese even had an auxiliary bishop (with just 250,000 Catholics and declining at the time)
Sometime in the 2010s I would think. You are right that there used to be a lot more. I think at one point even Cheyenne WY had an auxiliary.
Why that number?
35k active Catholics... tough number. No offense, but the merger will happen (per those Vatican sources), albeit with a ton more buy-in and synodality than previously expressed.
"Vatican sources"? I weary of those who claim to have inside information on what might or might not be happening to someone else. It is so self-serving and obviously narcissistic. Vatican politics can change in (literally) a heart beat (or lack thereof) and those "sources" will either disappear or change their tune according to the the whim of the current ruling power. What it comes down to is merely talk. No more, no less. Who knows? God might decided against the current rumormongers. He's done it before.
This isn't at the Vatican level, only at the local level and the Nunciature. You are right though about "Vatican Sources." In the Vatican, those who don't know, speak, and those who know, don't speak.
Isn't it tragic that a bishop like this is seen as an anomaly in our Church?
I hope that the bishops who are Pillar readers and are asking themselves, "How do I win back the trust of my priests?" give this a good careful and take its lessons to heart. This should be the norm, not the surprising, corrective exception.
AMEN!!!
God bless Bishop Bradley, may God prosper the work of his hands!
Lord, give to your Church more bishops like him.
What a Refreshing sign of true hope for us all over the USA. For decades now it seemed the only way forward was to sell or merge Then "Collaboration" by multiple parish administrations worked to stablize the financial situation whose "root causes" are to be found decades earlier in the education ( or lack thereof) The closing down of most Catholic High Schools in the NorthEast accelerated the growth of The "nones" a fastest growing Non Religious Secular Humanitarian social justice activists led by youth. These Humanitarians however aroused, emboldened and encouraged the Stuebenville Youth Led Apostolates to go with a dozen others familiar the Fatima Message and teenage Carlo Carluti High Tech Revival of what The Holy Eucharist, Holy Rosary and Holy Adoration is all about in our "daily duty" to God.
It seems to me that, if the faithful, the religious, and the clergy of this (or any other) diocese think that it is best for them to remain their own diocese, that view should prevail unless it is manifestly unreasonable. After all, who knows better the situation, the people who are actually present in the diocese or someone at a dicastery in Rome or the USCCB offices in Washington? And who will receive the benefits and costs of a decision? It also seems that, when it comes time to appoint a new bishop for this, or any other diocese, the nuncio should survey the broad range of views among the practicing and believing faithful, the religious, and the clergy of the diocese. Under current policy, only the select few are consulted.
Father,you get it! Would that we had more priests like you who are not AFRAID to speak the reality. Wish they would make you a bishop.
My own view is that there is something decidedly not Catholic about mergers. Mergers seem to me opposed to two Catholic principles: subsidiarity and human scale. I do understand that a grave clergy shortage (and laity shortage) is driving parish closings/mergers, but two signs of good health would be many new, small, neighborhood parishes, and the reorganization of dioceses into much smaller ones. Honestly, who can seriously shepherd the faithful of an archdiocese as large as Los Angeles or Mexico City? Who can pastor a parish of thousands? I understand what I am describing is a fantasy, at least in my lifetime, but one day, perhaps. Oremus.
Perhaps more thought needs to be given to the institutional Church's adjusting openly to the reality of its being a much smaller entity than its officials may want to admit. The Western world has already gone largely atheist.
I just want to know who is responsible for finding a way to put “the Bradley method” in this otherwise serious and meaningful article.
If you don’t get the joke, fellow readers, Google the Bradley method.
If there are any auxiliaries hanging around please send to Charlotte,NC
Bishop Bradley rocks. He was bishop in Kalamazoo when I lived there, and he’s the real deal.