- Feb 5, 2002
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When the Vatican announces the appointment of a new diocesan bishop, it’s typically an occasion for rejoicing among local Catholics.
They may have had to wait months, even years, for a new shepherd, and are likely to feel a sense of relief that the vacancy is finally filled.
Preparations begin immediately for the episcopal ordination (if the appointee is not yet a bishop), or installation Mass (if he is). The date is penciled in on calendars across the diocese. In the diocesan offices, papers begin to pile up in the bishop-elect’s intray.
And then comes unexpected news: the episcopal ordination/installation is canceled. The new bishop won’t be arriving after all.
How often does this happen? What are the reasons? Is it an increasingly common occurrence? And if so, is there anything the Church can do about it?
The Pillar takes a look.
Continued below.
www.pillarcatholic.com
They may have had to wait months, even years, for a new shepherd, and are likely to feel a sense of relief that the vacancy is finally filled.
Preparations begin immediately for the episcopal ordination (if the appointee is not yet a bishop), or installation Mass (if he is). The date is penciled in on calendars across the diocese. In the diocesan offices, papers begin to pile up in the bishop-elect’s intray.
And then comes unexpected news: the episcopal ordination/installation is canceled. The new bishop won’t be arriving after all.
How often does this happen? What are the reasons? Is it an increasingly common occurrence? And if so, is there anything the Church can do about it?
The Pillar takes a look.
How often does it happen?
Continued below.
The Catholic Church’s bishop-elect problem
What's going on with episcopal appointment interruptions?
www.pillarcatholic.com
