Newark Bishop Defends His Colleague; SNAP Responds

SNAP
March 18, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nj_newark_bishop_defends_his_colleague_snap_responds

In a depressing op-ed Newark Bishop Hebda defends the opulent and expensive retirement home Archbishop John Myers is building for himself.

[northjersey.com]

We feel sorry for Newark Catholics who had assumed that Bishop Hebda would be different from and better than Myers. Hebda has no doubt dashed their hopes. And we're sad too that Hebda displays a greater loyalty to his selfish colleague than to parishioners.

Pope Francis urges us to show mercy to the poor. Hebda, however, urges us to show mercy to an imperial and imperious monarch, a man who has shown, time and time again over a long clerical career, that he values his power and reputation more than victims and parishioners.

It's striking that Hebda can't even bring himself to use the phrase “Myers' personal home.” Instead, he euphemistically calls it a “construction project.”

Finally, Hebda points out that Myers has lived for years in downtown Newark (likely because it's convenient for him personally). If Hebda or Myers believe Myers is living a humble lifestyle, we encourage them to conduct a public tour of Myers' living quarters so their flock can see for themselves whether their archbishop is living like a servant or a king.

To us, it's a sad day when Catholic officials publicly brag about living in “less than enviable” zip codes.