Well, here's some good news.

[rug]

And the local bishop, Joseph F. Martino, took full advantage of that platform. Martino became for many the angry face of the anti-Obama wing of the Catholic hierarchy thanks to his intemperate blasts about pro-choice politicians and an overweening administrative style that irritated the flock and even his brother bishops.

Now, in a stunning turn that has taken even veteran church-watchers by surprise, Martino on Monday resigned his post under highly unusual circumstances -- citing the stress of the job and saying he could not continue in a post that should have been his for another dozen years, at least.

But church insiders say Martino had also worn out his welcome with his brother bishops and the Vatican. So his resignation may be further evidence that the U.S. hierarchy is divided between moderate voices and a more strident conservative minority that is struggling in the wake of Obama's success with Catholic voters.

Martino is only 63, and adding to the air of mystery and suspicion surrounding his resignation, his auxiliary, or assistant bishop, also resigned at the same time. The resignation of the auxiliary, Bishop John M. Dougherty, was put down to age; he is 77, and the normal retirement age for bishops is 75. Martino's sudden exit was officially chalked up to undiclosed "health reasons," according to a statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop in Washington, which said that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted Martino's resignation.


http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/31/scranton-bishop-joseph-martino-bidens-nemesis-resigns-under-c/

[47of74]

1. Yes that's good news

But I find myself wondering if like Law and Burke he'll wind up with a promotion to some high level job at the Vatican after a suitable period of "recovery."

[rug]

2. I don't think so. I watched a replay of his press conference on the diocesan website,

A reporter asked him his plans. He is named the retired Bishop of Scranton so he'll remain attached to the diocese. He said he'd be living at the Fatima Center, which is a retreat center on the grounds of the former seminary, "except when he's visiting friends and family in Pgiladelphia. He has no pastoral or episcopal functions to speak of for at least the next few months.

http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/index.asp

He truly appears to be in some type of limbo until they decide what to do with him.

[hedgehog]

3. Someone has realized that the bishops are starting to irritate people.

We don't mind what they say or that they live in mansions as long as they leave the rest of us alone. Now that they're closing parishes and going after the sisters, they're going to get people riled up.

[rug]

4. In all fairness, he still has to live in Scranton.