By Tim Rohr
In fact, the bishop-priest relationship is even more a father-son relationship than the biological father-son because whereas our children can grow up and remove themselves from our authority after a certain age, a priest, and in this case a diocesan priest, makes a Promise of Obedience to his bishop-father for life or at least until a priest is released from that promise by an official act (such as excardination).
Imagine your son dying. You show up for the funeral but don't bother to attend the burial. Instead you have lunch with friends and let others bury him.
This is what Archbishop Jimenez did. After the funeral, he enjoyed lunch at a nearby restaurant while he let others bury his son, Fr. Michael Crisostomo.
Pathetic.
One wonders what Fr. Mike did to deserve to be treated this way, both in the final months of his life and now in death.
Lacking humility. Pathetic indeed.
ReplyDeleteJimenez not ready and unwilling to assume responsibilities of an Archbishop. Yet he relishes the Archdiocese-paid vanity trips to Timbuktu, etc. He struts his stuff as peacock “Archbishop” yet unable to discern inherent and basic duties which were entrusted to him by the Vatican. Emerging apuronic tendencies?
ReplyDeleteOnce they become appointed, too many bishops and archbishops treat their special status as royalty, becoming monarchal and dictatorial in behavior and attitude.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that the father chose to only do the Mass, but skip the burial! If I did that at a family funeral and skipped the burial portion I would be scorned forever by my family.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn’t Ryan understand this? It must be the same in the Filipino community. Why was his lunch so important?
Shame on you Archbishop!!!
Who did he have lunch with?
DeleteWe are taught to see no color, no race, no distinction over everybody's culture.
Filipinos have extreme reverence for the dead, especially those deemed as family. Schedules and resources are arranged and allocated to devote to such an event as a kin's funeral, no matter what.
What Jimenez has done reflects his lack of character, judgment and basic care for the Catholic community of Guam.
These same sentiments were felt by those so relieved by him being taken out of Saipan.
His actions to displace priests, i.e. Fr. Mike, Msgr. James, showed his true desire to show his power and his unintelligent nature. Instead of coming in harmoniously, he chaotically stirred the pot. He placed Father Mike away from the healthcare that he needed by putting him down south. Jimenez even noted that his decision was sound. There are people down south that have dialysis too, just like Father Mike. Therefore, he will just figure it all out--- tough love, from a Father.
We have yet to see Jimenez really take to Guam and the people. He is too busy trying to secure his place in this community‐‐‐regardless of the time, place, and appropriateness.
Taya respeto.
Jimenez better change.
May God help us all.
Archbishop Jimenez has a significant responsibility to look after the welfare of his priests, which includes caring for them when sick.
ReplyDeleteThis obligation is rooted in Canon Law and pastoral care emphasizing the Bishop's role as a father and brother to his clergy.