More than 1,000 Catholics from all corners of the country have signed a petition protesting Lincoln Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz's actions against members of the Lincoln-based Call to Action Nebraska.
One thousand?! That's the best you can do? Heck, our small parish packs that many in on any given Sunday.
"We are not happy with the way Bishop Bruskewitz has been handling things in the diocese and wanted to draw attention to that," said Rachel Pokora, president of Call to Action Nebraska.
Ms. Pokora thinks herself ill-used, excommunicated by the bishop for belonging to an organization that inherently defies catholic teaching and doctrine.
..the petition criticizes Bruskewitz's refusal to allow girls to serve at the altar and his 1996 excommunication of Call to Action Nebraska members.
Having not gotten any sympathy for their heretical views, Call To Action plays the Abuse card:
The petition also included criticism of his refusal to participate in the annual nationwide audit to determine whether churches are compliant with church policies regarding sex abuse.
"We find this to be very disappointing because we feel the children of Lincoln and the diocese are at risk," said Nicole Sotelo, spokeswoman for the Chicago-based Call to Action U.S.A.
Unlike Call To Action, the USCCB is less hysterical about Lincoln's non-participation in the audits:
A spokeswoman for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said the Lincoln Diocese's lack of participation in the audit does not mean it isn't adhering to church policies regarding sexual abuse.
"The clergy sexual abuse crisis is a serious issue for all the bishops, and I can't see any bishop not doing all they can to ensure children are safe in their diocese," said Teresa Kettelkamp, executive director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection, which administers the audit.
In a written statement, Bruskewitz affirmed that his diocese is operating in full compliance with all civil and church laws concerning the abuse of minors.
I don't worry much about the children in Lincoln, because the Bishop's policy is clear to the local clergy. I think it's something along the lines of "If you abuse children, I promise I'll visit you in prison."
"The Catholic Church teaches that all homosexual acts and any sexual abuse of minors or others are mortal sins," Bruskewitz said in the statement. "Such sins and heinous crimes should be appropriately punished by the authorities of the church and the state."
He cracks down on heretics as well. It's going to take much more than a pathetic petition to change Bp. Bruskewitz' mind on the Call To Action Nebraska excommunications. Maybe they should try renouncing their heresies and reconciling with the Church. It's been known to work.
5 comments:
Nebraska sounds like a slice of heaven.
I notice this isn't getting much coverage in the media...thank goodness! There is a contingency that is sending around a petition and a group of faithful Catholics who intend to go to the chancery this afternoon to demonstrate their support for the Bishop...well more than 1,000 people in all, I'm sure.
The latest news...only 9 Call to Action people showed up (including their national director, so only 8 locals). More than 100 faithful Catholics gathered to offer their support to the bishop, rallied in around 45 minutes, and in 2 days', a petition in favor of Bruskewitz had more than 1,400 signatures...Even the local paper noted that it took Call to Action months to gain 1,000 nationwide...
Wow, this is what I get for leaving town on vacation. I was there in Spirit.
Bishop B is awesome. How I miss the Lincoln Diocese.
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