By Michael Sadowski
Pocono Record
September 1, 2009
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090901/NEWS/909010338/-1/NEWS01
The many sides of Bishop Joseph F. Martino, retired bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, stood on display Monday as he announced he was stepping down from his post.
There was the pious side of Martino that quoted the Bible and humbly thanked the people of the diocese for their help during his service.
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| Pope Benedict XVI on Monday accepted the early retirement of Bishop Joseph Martino, who critics say alienated many parishioners with his hard-nosed leadership style. Photo by AP |
There was the conservative Catholic side, the one that took strict and unfaltering pro-life views when he lamented the 50 million unborn babies "murdered" from abortion.
There was the repentant side, the one Martino showed when he said his biggest regret was not being more mobile within the 11-county Diocese of Scranton.
And there was the strong-willed side that Martino has become known for when he defended the closings of Catholic parishes and schools throughout the diocese.
All of them put together made up the persona of Martino, who ended his tenure as the ninth bishop of the diocese Monday just short of his six-year anniversary.
Martino cited poor health for the decision, but said there is nothing seriously wrong with him.
"The Diocese of Scranton requires a bishop who is at least physically vigorous," Martino said in a press conference Monday announcing his resignation. "I am not that bishop."
The Rev. Thomas McLaughin, long-time pastor at St. Luke's in Stroudsburg and head of Monroe County's deanery of Catholic churches, said he admired Martino for stepping down before the normal retirement age of 75.
Monroe and Pike counties are included in the Diocese of Scranton and its 350,000 Catholics.
"It's never nice to have to be in the position to resign," McLaughlin said. "The bishop wasn't feeling up to the job, and for the good of the diocese, he decided to resign. I think that's a noble deed, to recognize your limitations and to act on them on the behalf of others."
Martino said he had thought about leaving his post for months, even mentioning it in passing to the man who is his temporary successor, Cardinal Justin Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia.
"I thought the best thing I can do for the diocese is to move on," he said. "You begin to realize a small thought is the best thought."
On June 15, Martino said he made those thoughts official when he requested Pope Benedict XVI allow him to resign. He received word at the end of July he received that permission.
He said he felt "relieved" that he finally shared that information with the public. Rumors swirled for weeks about a move at the top of the diocese and they only seemed to be confirmed last week when Martino moved out of the rectory at St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton — the traditional home of Scranton bishops.
He now is living at the reclusive Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton. Martino said he intends to continue to live there in between visits to see his family in Philadelphia.
However, he said he has "cleared his schedule" for the rest of the year, which means he likely will not be carrying out duties he promised he would.
That includes presiding over a confirmation ceremony at St. Luke's in October.
Rigali said Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin and former diocesan auxiliary bishop John M. Dougherty — whose resignation request also was granted Monday — will preside over confirmations until a new bishop is named.
Rigali said he hopes that is within six months.
Martino's tenure since he took the position on Oct. 1, 2003, has been marked with controversy. Recently, he chastised diocesan colleges and other Catholic organizations who granted speaking time to abortion supporters or homosexuals, threatened to cancel the traditional Mass before the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Scranton and called for Sen. Robert Casey Jr. to rethink decisions in Congress.
"I never talked about that to bring any attention to myself," he said. "I only did what I was supposed to do."
What he may forever be known for, however, is Called to Holiness and Mission, the two-year process that resulted in the closing or merging of almost half of the parishes in the diocese.
While closings were widespread elsewhere, Monroe County has only one planned, Christ the King in Blakeslee.
All of that not only brought Martino attention, but also criticism. The stress from the job, he said, caused stress in his personal health.
"For some time now, there has not been a clear consensus among the clergy and people of the Diocese of Scranton regarding my pastoral initiatives or my way of governance," he said. "This development has caused me great sorrow, resulting in bouts of insomnia and at times a crippling physical fatigue."
McLaughin said Martino realized the Poconos is a growing area and was willing to avail local parishes with resources whenever he could.
"He was an active player in Monroe County," McLaughlin said, citing his role with the county's Catholic Social Services. "I think he played a great role in the county."
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