Thursday, May 4, 2017

Bishop Huonder's Retirement Postponed -- "It's a Complete Surprise"

Bishop Huonder
(Chur) "The surprise is complete," the reaction of a Swiss priest friend last night when he communicated the news. Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur has had his retirement put off for another two years by Pope Francis. Hardly anyone reckoned with this confirmation, even those closest to the bishop.
Msgr. Huonder has been bishop of the oldest Swiss diocese since 2007. On the 21st of April, he completed his 75th year and submitted his resignation on the same day. "That's it," was what the same priest said ten days ago.
Yesterday, Bishop Huonder wrote a letter to "all priests, deacons and pastoral staff in the Diocese of Chur".
"On April 21, 2017, I offered Pope Francis my resignation as a diocesan bishop. In the meantime Pope Francis, after weighing all the circumstances, has already decided and told me that my resolution, now pro-doc, has now been accepted. 'Tunc', so 'then', will be Easter 2019. I will be able to work as a diocesan bishop for two more years."
The Bishop recalls that the Holy See also left his predecessor in the office, Monsignor Amédée Grab, who remained until the age of 77, and till an Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese was appointed until the election of a successor.
Since this was the course under Pope Benedict XVI., however, nobody had expected the usual procedure under Pope Francis. Last autumn, a campaign had been launched against Bishop Huonder, who was already seeking his successor. It was requested that no bishop at all be appointed.
The surprise is also "complete," since Bishop Huonder, with has opposed Amoris Laetitia with the "excellent" Pastoral letter "The Holiness of the Marriage", against the Kasperians and the ambivalent attitude of Pope Francis, who refuses to make a clarification. This faithful confession of the traditional faith and morality has met with little satisfaction in the past few months at the papal court.
Bishop Huonder wrote in his letter:
"The sign of confidence on the part of the Pope, which is connected with his decision, has stirred great gratitude within me. I will continue to use all my powers to continue pastoral service, together with our Auxiliary Bishop Marian, with all priests, deacons and pastoral staff, for the salvation of the souls and the well-being of the Church of Chur."
"I am grateful to Pope Francis for his decision favoring continuity for our diocese.  And I thank him for giving me the opportunity to continue and accompany non-completed work within the diocese as well as at other levels."
Bishop Huonder is the first diocesan bishop of the German-speaking world and beyond, who has appointed his own diocesan vicar to the faithful attending the Immemorial Roman Rite in his diocese. Since diocesan vicars are appointed by the incumbent bishop, the extension also applies to Father Martin Ramm of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.
"The surprise is complete," as the Swiss friends repeated.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Bishopric of Chur (screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Look! See how nice Pope Francis is! This is 'proof' that He loves Tradition and will do nothing to hurt the SSPX. Come, Come, Bishop Fellay, and sign here.

Sean Mercer said...

"I will continue to use all my powers to continue pastoral service, together with our Auxiliary Bishop Marian, with all priests, deacons and pastoral staff, for the salvation of the souls and the well-being of the Church of Chur."

See, this is the problem of conservative vs. traditional Catholic. When the Bishop mentions "pastoral staff" he is referring to all those laity (mostly women) who are doing pastoral work for which they hath not the grace of office; he's accepted the post-conciliar assault on the priesthood by reconciling himself to this Marxist notion of "collaborative ministry." This relativizes the priest's authority to teach, govern and sanctify. It is accepting the implosion of the hierarchical structure of the Church.

The fact that this is never alluded to by those who possess authority within the traditional societies of priests is troubling.

Martin H said...

Give it a break. There has always been 'pastoral staff' - both male and female - who have contributed to the work of the Church. Your comment is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

You're being sarcastic, right?

Tancred said...

I thought he'd had a moment of transformation.

michael simmons said...

"The surprise is also "complete," since Bishop Huonder, with has opposed Amoris Laetitia with the "excellent" Pastoral letter "The Holiness of the Marriage", against the Kasperians and the ambivalent attitude of Pope Francis, who refuses to make a clarification."

That is false. Bishop Huonder's Pastoral letter says Pope Francis didn't change church teaching. The Pastoral letter says Pope Francis supports church teaching.

Sean Mercer said...

There is none so blind as those that will not see.

You obviously have not read the Canon Law Code of 1`983. If you think this is just business as usual,we're just on a different page.

But that really has been the problem with you neo-cons for 50 years. By the way, tell me again: just what is it that you "conservatives" are conserving after 50 years of Revolution?

Martin H said...

If I could attend the traditional Latin Mass daily I would. I am neither a liberal or conservative or neo-con. Those who have legitimate concerns about much that is happening in the Church do not help the cause they serve when they find a need for nitpicking even when something that is positive is being reported. It's made worse when the point being made is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

....from ‘The Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.’

“I again understood that man was created to fill up the places of the angelic choirs that had fallen from heaven. If the fall had not taken place, men would have multiplied only until that number was reached, and then creation would have come to an end. But by the Fall, a dispersing, an arbitrary scattering, a transplanting arose mixed up with impurity and darkness; therefore is the punishment of death a necessary consequence, a real benefit, a real kindness to man. As to what is said of the end of the world, this much is certain: it will not end UNTIL all of the wheat is separated from the chaff and those choirs of the fallen angels filled up with it.”

There’s a reminder for us, all....... Thousand years is ‘one day’ for God! 2000 years is just 2 days for God!....how monstrous was the amount of the fallen angels? Accordingly, His soldiers have yet, a long battle to fight the good fight, until the last breath, until the end of time.

She is His Church! The gates of hell shall NOT prevail against the holy Church! HE said so,......we believe!

......the end is near, but in God’s time!

"Dum Spiramus Tuebimur!" +++ "While we breathe, we shall defend!"

Tancred said...

I guess, with a more than generous reading.

Tancred said...

Sean... I guess if brilliant canonists like yourself are in charge.

Sean Mercer said...

Why the sarcasm?

michael simmons said...

No need for a generous reading. In no way does Bishop Huonder's Pastoral letter oppose Amoris Laetitia. What part or parts of the letter oppose the exhortation? I'd like to read those parts because I can't find them.

Anonymous said...

Sarcasm instead of answers or sound logical alternatives.
That's how most Americans talk
nowadays.

Sean Mercer said...

Tancred: I guess you're more interested in creating "heroes" (who are nothing of the sort) than getting to the root of the chaos? You think +Houdner's serving the revolutionary ecclesial structure in Switzerland is constructive? Martin H above thinks I'm nitpicking. Do you two actually know what the parish situation is in Switzerland? Or do you just like to make snarky comments to people who don't agree with you?

Martin H said...

Your criticism of snarky comments made me smile, given your own remarks to me - the statement that I have 'obviously' not read Canon Law, and that I am a "conservative" as well as "blind".

You made a point. It was criticised.

Having said that, I apologise for the obvious offence you have received and the lack of consideration and charity in what I said. Oremus pro invicem.

Sean Mercer said...

Apology accepted and my apology to you.

Tancred said...

It's a lot easier to go with what's left than to try and create your own version.

Tancred said...

Or to assume a mantel of authority you don't have.

Tancred said...

Because his reading is opposed to that of the Papal Kasperians.

Tancred said...

I know it goes against a Sede mentality, but +Huonder is almost universally despised by the lay employees of his diocese. You don't seem to know much of anything about him, Sean, and that's what I really dislike about you is your presumption not only about real people and Catholic bishop's on the ground, but your very real ignorance about the Catholic Church and its mission.

What are your solutions? Stay at home on Sundays in your bunker?

Sean Mercer said...

My presumptions? LOL! My point is that the Church will never be authentically reformed unless sitting bishops reject the post-conciliar structure that is fortified by clerics who serve it. He has an option: refuse publicly to accept an office where he is placed in a position where his acceptance of the status quo undermines the traditional hierarchical structure of the Church. STOP SERVING THE REVOLUTION! Is that so difficult to figure out?

Your comment about me assuming a "mantel" (sic) of authority: I'll assume since English is evidently not your first language, I'll give you a pass. Otherwise the comment is certifiable.

Sean Mercer said...

The only way I can explain Tancred's going off the rails on this subject is that the Bishop must be a personal friend.

Tancred said...

Not really. Unlike you, I actually know something about him.

Tancred said...

You have even less authority than knowledge.

What's certifiable is that you expect your prescriptions should be taken seriously and are workable, as if you have the apostolic keys.

You can post again after you stop larping.

Sean Mercer said...

Opting out of the Revolutionary structure is "unworkable"? Then why do you support the work of Archbishop Lefebvre and the SSPX?

Tancred said...

If you want to start your own theatrical catholic live action role playing society, I guess I can't stop you.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

No, Sean. The real explanation seems to be that Tancred enjoys abusing many who contribute to this site. No other Catholic blog has this destructive and reprehensible practice, at least not in my experience. Tancred will drop ad hominem attacks at the slightest disagreement from his take on ecclesiastical events. We are really to blame for coming to this web site---which I will drop and urge others to do the same. (Wait now for the insane attacks not on what I just said but on me, whom he does not even know).

Anonymous said...

Don't waste your time with Tancred, Sean. He enjoys insulting people he does not know: he is irrational and attacks Catholics who are fighting in a death/life against the Modernists.