Bishop Joseph Martino to resign?

Something big is apparently afoot, with the Diocese of Scranton holding a closed news conference on Monday. Philly.com reports:

Bishop Joseph Martino, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton and one of the most fervent pro-life voices in the nation, is widely reported to be resigning next week after just six years in the office and long before traditional retirement age.

Martino, 62, who served as a priest and auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has rarely appeared in public during his term in the 350,000-member Scranton diocese. Yet he has not shied from controversy, denouncing pro-choice politicians, theologically liberal academics, and Catholic teachers' unions.

The diocesan communications office declined yesterday to confirm reports by local media, the Catholic News Agency, and the National Catholic Reporter that Martino was stepping down and hinting at health problems.

Read the entire piece. More news at it becomes available.

Comments

[Kim Jordan]

Saint John Fisher, pray for your fellow shepherds.

[Gail F]

Our former auxiliary bishop died this week, after what the news media called "stepping down for health reasons." He had several massive strokes and by all accounts was completely incapacitated. But that's all anyone ever said: "health reasons." Now I am very wary of those words...

[Steve Cianca]

Both the bishop, Joseph Martino, and the auxiliary bishop, John Dougherty, have resigned. Bishop Martino resigned because of incapacitating chronic fatigue and insomnia. No reason was given for Bishop Dougherty's resignation.

Here is a link to the news item: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Martino_officially_announces_resignation_along_with_Dougherty.html

[Ed Peters]

This story seems odd.

[Mary Myers]

My guess is that the money dried up because the liberal Catholics, who are in the majority, pulled in their purse strings in order to force the good bishop out.