; charset=UTF-8" The new bishop

A Plumbline in the Wind

The world is going to the dogs, but I refuse to learn to bark

Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.

A Plumbline in the Wind Near Lauder, Scotland: Sheep on a hillside

The new bishop

27 February 2008 · No Comments

For two and a half years, we have been praying for the eventual successor to Bishop Mengeling in the diocese of Lansing (some of us under our breaths hoping to forestall as long as possible the retirement for which he longs), and now we know who he is. Bishop Earl Boyea, heretofore auxiliary in Detroit, is the new bishop. I didn’t know anything about him this morning, but thanks to the wonders of the internet, I know a little now. He has two things (at least) in common with me: he was born in 1951, and he is a historian. He has written for First Things, defending the priesthood, and has celebrated Mass at the Tridentine parish in Detroit. All this looks good. I found a podcast of the homily he gave at the installation of Fr. John Riccardo at Our Lady of Good Counsel last fall. He did not mince his words on the subject of abortion and those who support it and those who think they should do nothing about it. I hope our Governor hears it and quakes in her shoes. My daily prayer for the new bishop has been that he will be a man after God’s own heart who will build up all that is good and correct all that is lacking. I now may have some hope that this may be so.

My greatest concern is selfish: that the new bishop will be favorable to Christ the King parish, as Bishop Mengeling has been, and will allow us to continue as a nonterritorial charismatic parish. I am sure that Bishop Boyea is aware of the parish, since he has taught at Sacred Heart Seminary along with a number of members of the parish who are also on the faculty (at least three full-time and four part-time, by my count, not counting a couple of priests who were formerly parishioners). Even if he weren’t, I can’t see a bishop wanting to disturb a parish that has more men in seminary than many dioceses, not to mention the priests we have already produced (including the oldest priest ordained in 2007), as well as four deacons and four more in training. And even if he did not care for that, we have a poison pill: more than $3 million in debt for a parish of 825 families. And we always exceed our DSA goal.

Tags: My Life · Spirituality