By Bob Scott
Journal & Courier
May 22, 2010
http://www.jconline.com/article/20100522/LIFE07/5220312
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| The Rev. Tim Doherty (left) listens as Bishop William Higi speaks after introducing Doherty as the new bishop of the Lafayette Diocese May 12 at St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette. Photo By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier |
After a record tenure of 26 years as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, the Rev. William Higi is entering retirement. The Anderson native turns 77 on Aug. 29.
Last year, Higi celebrated a double jubilee -- 50 years as a priest and 25 years as a bishop.
He submitted his resignation in 2008 at age 75 as required by the pope. During his time as bishop, he confirmed more than 26,000 people, and the diocese grew by more than 21,000 to 105,000.
Last week, Higi introduced Bishop-elect Timothy Doherty as his replacement. The ordination and installation of Doherty has been set for July 15 at St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette.
Here are a few questions for Higi.
Question: Until the new bishop takes over, you will continue to do your normal duties. When you retire, will you miss a bishop's busy daily schedule?
Answer: It will be different to wake up and not have 20 things to do that day. I don't work any harder than anybody else, but I am a workaholic. It will be an interesting transition.
Q: What are a few of your plans for retirement? You've said that you don't have any hobbies.
A: I always take January and August off to visit family members.
I have two younger sisters. My sister in Florida has 25 grandchildren. My other sister lives in California.
It was very educational to visit them when they were raising children to see what married life is like.
Q: How has the life of a parish priest changed over the years?
A:Priests have always been advocates for parishioners in need, but it seems to me more demands are placed on priests today than in former times. ... In many ways, the life of a priest has moved from the altar into a multiplicity of managerial roles as we call ever increasing numbers of laity to become involved in the mission of the church.
That involvement should free us to focus more on priestly functions. But what once perhaps were more relaxed days have given way to activities that stretch late into the night. Reflective of this is the fact that parishes, now staffed by lay personnel, rarely have multiple priests.
The expectations people have of a priest are different now than they were 50 years ago.
Q: What gave you the most joy as a bishop?
A: Many things bring joy to the heart of a bishop, but the privilege of ordaining men to the priesthood and permanent diaconate stand at the top.
Q: What do you consider to be your most important achievements as bishop?
A: The reality is that any achievements as diocesan bishop are the result of collaboration with clergy and laity. In that context, a number of initiatives have been significant.
A program called Ecclesial Lay Ministry provides formation for laity called to leadership roles in our parishes. ... The Catholic Foundation of North Central Indiana (endowments directed to parish needs, scholarships, ministry to the poor). ... Fruitful Harvest (a biennial financial appeal).
During my time, a permanent deacon program has also been initiated.
We now have 28 seminarians. Per capita that places us toward the top in the United States in the number of men preparing for the priesthood. It is a legacy I will be very pleased to pass on to my successor.
Q: What was the low point during your time as bishop?
A: The low point of my tenure as diocesan bishop has been the burden of addressing the sexual abuse reality at a time when few if anyone understood that phenomenon and how it should be addressed.
The learning curve was painful. Yet, I firmly believe that this diocese and the Catholic Church in this country learned quickly and is on the cutting edge of making our world safe for children.
Not only do we go to great lengths to make sure that both adults and children understand boundaries, but the responsibility to report abuse to child protection agencies, how to recognize grooming that typically precedes boundary violations and what happens when someone crosses the line.
Q:You said that sex abuse scandals were a wake-up call to the church and to society as a whole. Explain.
A:While the church should be held to a high level, most instances of child abuse are not perpetrated by Catholic clergy. Far from it. Sexual abuse is rampant in our society. The Catholic Church has put zero tolerance policies into place. Much of our society has not done that.
Zero tolerance means that if a priest admits or is found guilty of even one boundary violation, even if it took place 40 or 50 years ago, he will no longer be permitted to celebrate Mass or the sacraments in public, may no longer present himself as a priest and may not live where a minor lives.
We have a victim's assistance coordinator whose task is to assist victims of abuse. I have held healing services around the diocese for victims of abuse and their families. ...
This diocese, along with others in the United States, has voluntarily undergone safe environment audits, generally conducted by former FBI agents. These audits are done on an annual basis to be sure what we are doing here is what we promised to do in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the bishops of the United States in 2002.
Mistakes were made in the past, when the advice received from psychiatrists and counselors to whom abusers were sent for treatment did not serve the church well.
The reality is that professional knowledge of the problem and how to deal with it has come a long way in the last 25 years. Many today in judging the Catholic Church do not recognize that or insist that the criteria of today be applied to the past. Attentive people know that that is grossly unreasonable.
Q: What has been done in the diocese to keep the Catholic kids safe?
A:All priests, deacons and employees are required to participate in a safe conduct in-service (class). Volunteers who have contact with minors three or more times a year must also attend these sessions. Laws, policies and procedures to report sexual abuse allegations are explained. Criminal background checks are conducted for all church personnel under the direction of our human resources department.
Protecting God's Children is a program designed for the youth of the diocese ... and is required for all Catholic school children and public school children who attend religious education classes.
I am confident we are doing everything to protect the children.
Contact: bscott@jconline.com
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