“Catholicism is in the air in Scranton.”
That’s the way Rocco Palmo of the blog “Whispers in the Loggia” described the pervasive religious atmosphere in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Rocco, the self-described “Church Whisperer,” chatted with me this morning on WILK about the surprising resignation of Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino. Retired Bishop Martino, as we will now call him, cited overwhelming fatigue and insomnia as reasons he can no longer lead the flock here.
He’s probably not the only one who’s tossed and turned over the church in the past six years. Many other believers have lost sleep as they worried about their closing schools and parishes. Some have probably stayed up late, burning the midnight oil, as they composed impassioned pleas to the bishop in a vain effort to save the places they loved so much.
Just the other day, my daughter and I drove by St. Boniface School, where my kids never knew how good they had it until it was gone. I vividly remember my son’s first day there. Last week, he said goodbye to his former kindergarten classmates and lifelong friends as they scattered like the winds, off to colleges far and wide. I know the memories are held in our hearts, but that building still reminds me of Halloween parades, Valentine’s Day shoe boxes and shiny floors.
I drive by Holy Rosary Church at the end of my block every day, and remember the bells playing songs in the afternoon as I turned steaks on the grill. Itwas the church where my children took their sacraments and became altar servers. Now, the church has new owners.
Tomorrow, the school year begins at Holy Redeemer High School, the ground zero of labor turbulence in the diocese. Those who staunchly believed in unionism for its teachers have been systematically removed from the system, stifling the debate in a church that has always preached social justice.
I was on the campus of King’s College today, one of four Catholic colleges/universities in the Diocese of Scranton. One of my colleagues who listened intently to the news conference today said, “It was nice to hear someone mention the colleges.” That someone was Cardinal Justin Rigali of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, who has been called in to shepherd the diocese through this unusual time. Retired Bishop Martino, at age 63, leaves when some of his fellow priests are still saying Mass in their 70s.
I was talking to one of my friends who is a priest in the faith. His assessment? Retired Bishop Martino came from Philadelphia to Scranton and expected certain things. He expected to meet some resistance, because the decisions he had to make were not easy. He expected some turbulence, because people get upset when their routine is impacted. What he didn’t expect was a group of people picketing his residence and writing letters to Rome. He didn’t anticipate becoming talk radio fodder, the attention of newspaper cartoonists and the flood of letters to the editor expressing dismay. See, when Catholicism is in the air, people will breathe deeply.
Tonight, say a prayer for Retired Bishops Joseph Martino and John Doughterty. I’m going to ask God to give us all the rest we deserve, too.
Corbett
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