A new bishop for Scranton
As a Scrantonian by birth, I was pleased to hear that the seat vacated by Bishop Joseph Martino in August (an event we discussed here and here) has been filled. And I’m doubly pleased to hear that the new bishop will be Msgr. Joseph Bambera, a native of the diocese. I don’t know Msgr. Bambera, but I know he is highly thought of and well-liked, and it’s my sense that a bishop who knows the territory well is just what Scranton needs. In place of the usual “I look forward to getting to know you” message, Bambera’s official statement reflected his familiarity with the area and its challenges:
The people of this Diocese are our greatest blessing and I have been so privileged to walk the journey of faith with many of you. I’ve been blessed to share in your joys and hopes. And I am also keenly aware of the struggles that we have faced together. In addition to the personal losses and setbacks that touch everyone’s lives, as a diocese, we’ve struggled with change, parish restructuring and church and school closures. We continue to do so. But notice that through all of these challenges, despite the pain that so often comes from loss, life goes on.
Lately there has been talk of low morale in Scranton, among priests especially, and a bishop who can make reference to “my brother priests with whom I’ve served for twenty-six years” is bound to be an asset in that department. Bambera’s many years’ experience as a pastor should also be a boon for Scranton. He’s got a tough job ahead of him, and he’s got my prayers.
Update: if you’ve come via Whispers, welcome. Please note that despite Palmo’s attribution to “no less than Commonweal,” it is I, an individual, that is pleased with this news, and I am in fact “less than” Commonweal. The magazine hasn’t stated its opinion.
He seems like the sort of bishop who would have been chosen in the old days when bishops were chosen locally, like Saints Ambrose and Augustine.
As another Scrantonian by birth, I’m also pleased the diocese will be getting a new bishop soon. I also don’t know Msgr. Bembera, but I noticed at one of the links provided by Mollie that the Msgr’s pastoral experience included a stint as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Archbald, the church where I and three of my nine siblings were baptized. The Msgr. was also the pastor at the Church of St. Mary of Czestochowa in nearby Eynon, a small but beautiful church where the funeral of a relative took place a couple of months ago. He seems to have a strong mix of pastoral and administrative experience that will hopefully serve this Scranton-area native well in his new responsibilities.
A bishop should come from his own diocese. It should not be a plum given to those most loyal to Rome.
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, national director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915 home)
Bambera is a poor choice and his promotion worries and insults us. Under oath, Bambera admitted that barely a decade ago, he refused to report a credibly accused predator priest to police, in violation of his diocese’s own child sex abuse policy.
He also admitted relying on the word of an accused priest without even questioning that cleric’s alleged victim.
This decision raises a troubling question: Is it that hard for the Vatican to find good, smart priests who have not concealed horrific crimes against kids?
As long as Catholic officials continue to promote corrupt colleagues, child sex crimes and cover ups will continue happening.