As a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, I would ask our archbishop, John Nienstedt, to prayerfully consider stepping down from his office. It would be healing for our state and our church and would show some magnanimity on his part. His misguided crusade to change our Constitution, spending more than a million dollars and, more importantly, much goodwill, has been rejected. Elections have consequences.
– Rev. Michael Tegeder
Letter to the Editor of the Star Tribune
November 8, 2012
Letter to the Editor of the Star Tribune
November 8, 2012
To read the PVC's series of open letters to Archbishop Nienstedt from Catholics of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese, click here.
Related Off-site Links:
Both 'Marriage Amendment' AND 'Voter Photo ID Amendment' Rejected by Minnesota Voters – Michael Bayly (The Wild Reed, November 7, 2012).
Election 2012 Shows A Social Sea Change on Gay Marriage – Lauren Markoe (Religion News Service via HuffPost Gay Voices, November 8, 2012).
Same-Sex Marriage: 'Minnesota, in Particular . . . is Proof That Tide Has Turned' – Beth Hawkins (MinnPost, November 8, 2012).
Minnesota Bishops Lament Defeat of 'Marriage Amendment' – Rose French (Star Tribune, November 8, 2012)
I found Archbishop Nienstedt's involvement in the marriage amendment issue personally unpersuasive, highly divisive and a foolish use of church resources. The unintended consequences of his actions will be felt both in the parishes and in the hearts of those that no longer feel welcome in these Catholic communities.
ReplyDeleteI support the call for him to step down but doubt that he will. In recognition of Archbishop Nienstedt’s new found appreciation of democracy and its methods of making major decisions, perhaps a referendum should be held to see whether a majority of Catholics in the Archdiocese want him to stay. Of course, in the Minnesota way, a blank ballot would count as a “No Vote”.
Elections do have consequences. A leader whose constituency is not following should re-think the strategy and the plan. If, as Father Tegeder has said in other contexts, the goal is strengthening marriage, we could agree on that goal and help to think of many strategies for achieving it. I think we should call upon the Archbishop to hold open talks with people who rejected his leadership in the matter of amending the MN constitution. We could come up with some strategies and plans that everyone could endorse and work on. In the process, we could gain respect for his leadership and, perhaps, build some trust that alone will enable us to be united in the Church's mission.
ReplyDeleteThis battle is over, you have won, and it's a time for celebration. Add Maine and Maryland to the victory dance.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo, congrats you guys! Well done.
The Bishops have lost, and this election may have finally shown their supporters that our culture is going to fully embrace the gay community, whether they are ready or not. Hopefully they too will soon be ready.
The next move of the campaign might be to send Archbishop Nienstedt a few kind words, and a case of good wine. That's what winners who know they have won would do.
We've let the Bishops grab the spotlight by baiting us in to these kind of polarizing divisive controversies. They've successfully dragged us down to their level.
It's time to shift the spotlight back to Catholic agendas we all can agree on, and what these events have taught us is that we have to provide that leadership, as the Bishops just aren't up to it.
It's time to stop relating to the Bishops as if we are rebellious teenagers and they are our parents. If we really want to be tough on the Bishops, we should ignore them, and pursue a Catholic agenda under our own leadership.
The real Catholic agenda is all about human beings who have bigger problems than we do.
Bigger problems than we do.
What makes being Catholic so annoying is that it's not all about us. :-)
You'll know we've finally really won when the topic of this blog begins to revolve around Catholic Charities and other such efforts.
Celebrate your excommunication from the Catholic Church. You made your bed now lie in it.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Father Mike for his prescient recognition of the need for resignation. I hope and pray that the Archdiocese will be able undo the damage done under the leadership of Nienstedt. I expect that there is more to the story that has yet to come out.
ReplyDelete