BishopAccountability.org
	Oakland Tribune My Word: Beloved Priest's Attack Is Unfounded By Richard and Rita Nahm Oakland Tribun April 16, 2011 http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_17857141 THE VIEWPOINT column entitled, "Crisis in Catholic Church apparent in East Bay" and authored by Tim Stier saddened my wife and me deeply. Father Tim Stier was our pastor at Corpus Christi Church in Fremont for many years. He was wonderful. Under his masterful leadership, the parish's large debt to the Diocese was completely paid off within a few short years. All ethnic groups worked together to jointly make that parish unique and responsive to its members. Each year, a parish picnic took place, where everyone mixed together at tables to eat and enjoy friendship rather than separately. Tim guided us spiritually and emotionally as a friend and counselor. Father Tim, in some of his homilies, was very outspoken on several issues he had with the church hierarchy. The pedophile priest scandal and corresponding cover-ups by bishops troubled him deeply. Priestly celibacy (a church rule), and the role of women in the church (excluded from its priesthood) were issues of extreme importance to him. He often expressed anger with the pope's unwillingness to even allow discussion of these issues among the clergy. As a result, he felt he could no longer perform effectively as a priest and asked to be relieved of his duties. The bishop granted his request. Father Tim was not "exiled," nor is he an "ex-priest." Absent his formal "defrocking" -- the term applied to priests who are released from their vows and returned to lay status -- Father Tim will remain a priest until death. My wife and I both love and admire Father Tim. We respect him for not only his leadership, but his passion for things in which he firmly believes. However, his article disturbs us because, from our perspective, it seems to have been written in anger and frustration, with several unsupported statements. Based upon the recent grand jury report of Philadelphia, Father Tim asserts that pedophile priests and crimes against children are still occurring "unabated." I have read of no cases of recent transgressions. In all cases, the abuse took place several years ago. Our church, including the Diocese of Oakland, has instituted many changes to ensure the safety of its children. Lastly, we all know that this issue is not limited to the Catholic Church. On the issue of gay marriage, Father Tim bashes our newly installed bishop, Salvatore Cordileone, for using his influence to raise money for passage of Proposition 8. When did it become illegal or sinful to support a position with which you concur? Both sides of this proposition raised funds. Neither did anything wrong nor immoral. Father Tim does not state the church's position on the sanctity of marriage, and then counter with his own rationale, he simply rails against the bishop for obtaining contributions. He seems to be incapable of comprehending that the church's position against gay marriage is based on theology and has no bearing on its position on the civil rights of gays to be treated fairly, equally and with dignity with regard to civil entitlement issues such as family health benefits, IRS deductions, inheritance, Social Security benefits, etc. As for the canonization of Pope John Paul II, according to Father Tim, the church should change its procedures for canonization. Here is a shocking note -- John Paul II was a human being, subject to sin and failings just as you and I. We cannot be so naive to judge a person on only one phase of his life without regard to the rest. The real issue of canonization is to affirm that this human being lived a holy life, not one of perfection devoid of sin or choices with which we disagree; and then prove, through miraculous deeds, to be in heaven. According to Father Tim, the Diocese of Oakland would "be in a state of complete collapse for lack of interest" were it not for immigrants. This position is absurd. Millions of dollars are poured into the parishes and the diocese each year to support its mission. That money does not come from new immigrants alone, nor does it come in any comparatively substantial amount from immigrants. Whites, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians all are actively donating to the church and participating in its ministries. The vast majority of these are not new immigrants. In our parish alone, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Brentwood, we have well over 100 different ministries serving our parishioners and the community at large. By no means are we a parish of recent immigrants. The Cathedral was conceived by Bishop John Cummins, not Bishop Cordileone. It was developed and begun with the partial backing of private financial resources. The balance was, and is, to come from voluntary donations. Parishes are not assessed money to pay this debt. Bishop Cordileone cannot change what has been done before his appointment. He can only make decisions based upon current facts. This is our perspective.
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