Help us get the word out.
Dear Fellow Catholics,
We at the Red Wolf Report are glad that you are here. We are honored to provide a forum for your thoughts and opinions for the good of the Church, and we are grateful for each of you who has taken the time to read and comment on posts.
Now we want to ask your help.
Our site and each article on it has social media sharing options. If what you have read here is important to you, will you share today on whatever media you use with the hashtag #theredwolfreport?
If you are not on any social media, will you consider sharing by email with 5 or more friends today?
If your response is any indication, there are many more Catholics in our diocese that need a voice. Let’s give it to them today.
Finally: will you pray with us for our diocese every day? For our bishop, his staff and all clergy? For all parishes?
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
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21 Replies to “Help us get the word out.”
Can’t thank you enough for getting this information to us. My wife and I have been sharing this far and wide and with parishioners who don’t have computers. When I read that our bishop was pushing ahead with the “Plan” despite COVID-19, I was dismayed. “Uniting in Heart is about so much more than where individual priests are, it’s about our diocese’s future vibrancy and vitality.”
Well Bishop Doherty, if you’re reading this, is Uniting in Heart about “so much more” than the people in the pews too?
I am so dismayed that this is going forward. I’m praying for the staff of Red Wolves and their intentions. How would we, the laity, have ever known all of this without your reporting?
Everyone! Get this information our far and wide. Pray for the bishop and the diocese and all of us who seem to have been forgotten in this process, which now Deacon Mescal writes, is no longer a process, but a “culture.”
Dissolving of the unique identities of parishes into “one Catholic identity” shares a frightening philosophical similarity to the authoritarian Marxist techniques being used to implement it (secrecy & fear). Stripping away the meaningless buzzwords like “vibrancy”, “vitality” and “mission driven”, the Uniting In Heart plan is sudden, radical, inorganic, and revolutionary.
Treating the Church as a machine or a corporation is a denial of the transcendent order, and ultimately a denial of faith in the providence of God. While some of the professed aims of the program (such as how to deal with priest shortages) may seem practical in a worldly sense, they are ultimately utilitarian and faithless- not to mention speculative. Perhaps if we focused on other measures with as much intensity as “standardizing operational process”, we’d have more vocations.
Besides being a denial of the faith, treating the faithful as a machine or a corporation is inhumane, and will result in cures that kill. Social continuity, like theological continuity, should not be interrupted. Revolution slices through the arteries of faith and culture alike, and such radical and imprudent changes give no thought to the new abuses and evils they may create.
Uniting In Heart denies the particular love that parishioners may appropriately feel for their parish or pastors. It similarly refuses to accept the value of the distinct, unique character of different parishes. It instead seeks narrow uniformity and the dead egalitarianism common to so many radical systems. If the natural uniqueness of varied parishes is destroyed in the name of equality and standardization, then new and undesired inequalities and deformities will assuredly take their place, as happens in all societies that attempt such leveling. Soviet Union, anyone?
I believe this specific section of Bishop Doherty’s March 27 memo should be of particular concern to us all. Despite many, many requests to postpone the pastoral changes due to COVID-19, the Bishop has chosen to disregard what is going on not only in our diocese but all over the world. If this plan is to take place as was originally scheduled we are looking at longtime pastors not even having an opportunity to say goodbye to their parishes. We are looking at pastors who are hardly able to administer to their parishes now being forced into new placements as of the end of June, regardless of what level this health crisis is at then. I see this as arrogance, ignorance, and straight up denial. But that is just my opinion. These are Bishop Doherty’s own words.
“I have received questions as to whether the COVID-19 epidemic in Indiana would affect the Uniting in Heart 2030 process. I remain committed to the mission and vision as it has been laid out. It is important to remember that the priest assignment or reassignment picture is just one part of Uniting in Heart. I remain committed to the assignment timetable. Uniting in Heart is about so much more than where individual priests are, it’s about our diocese’s future vibrancy and vitality.”
concern troll [concern troll]
NOUN
informal
derogatory
a person who disingenuously expresses concern about an issue with the intention of undermining or derailing genuine discussion.
What?
Well, I wish someone would explain to why anyone a part of this whole thing is forced to keep silent. Then again, the Roman Catholic Church is not a democracy, was not a democracy, and likely never will be. So, way should it be any shock to anyone that there is no room for dissension. It makes me most happy that I no longer work for the Diocese. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.
Many priests privately express their displeasure with Uniting in Heart for many different reasons. There are issues besides the secrecy not addressed on this website. How about a detailed analysis of all the problems with the plan for clergy and the faithful?
I would also ask for followers of The Red Wolf Report to keep those readers in mind who are not able to share or post this website for fear of financial retribution. Many of those most concerned about Uniting in Heart are the faithful who work for the Church- for very little money. Let’s keep each other in prayer and, if you are in a position to share on Facebook, DO! For everyone else, email, text, and comment!!
Thank you to the Red Wolves for all the work they have put into this website. I like the tone of the blog very much, I like that ,so far, the articles are reporting plain facts. I believe it was also time for the laity to take some actions over the poor management by bishops.
However, we all know that the Devil rejoices very much in the division of the Church. We know that criticizing a bishop’s action is a very serious matter based on Canon Law and on many theologians. We know that despite his poor judgments, Bishop Doherty is still our bishop. We should see him and his function with reverence and he still have full authority over us. He is the living apostle governing our local church.
I am saying this because I found myself almost enjoying the scandal last night. I felt I was on the “right side” and so I could enjoy the comments bashing the bishop. I don’t think this is the right attitude and unfortunately a lot of people are going in that direction including me and my family. There has been a lot of frustrations with the bishop and it is understandable that we react like this. I am glad the Red Wolves reminded us today that our first mission is to pray for our bishop and clergy. This should be our first action: prayer and penance, before posting on the commentary section of this website. The goal of this website is to be in a spirit of fraternal correction to the bishop. Faithful enjoying the scandal and excited about bashing the bishop should not post. I know it is easier to post when we are worked up and in a spirit of revenge and rage. This is what social media have taught us to do. However this is not Catholic.
We know as Catholics that Christ has already won the battle and we have all our Hope in Him. Let’s join the Red Wolves in saying the Memorare before we post on this blog.
I agree with this…pray and then simply tell the truth.
Grateful to the Red wolves who have more info than the rest of us. This helps me to understand the almost pleading articles of Deacon Mescall to trust the Holy Spirit is running a plan we the laity no nothing about.
Prayer. Penance. Truth. Thank you to the authors…
This comment is vitally important. Yes- pray and THEN comment. Comment in charity. Comment in charity and concern for your Bishop and Diocese. Speak your experiences in truth and love. I believe that there is so much wrong in the Uniting in Heart plan- but we accomplish nothing if we don’t lay everything at the foot of the cross in prayer and unity.
Could you please expand on what exactly you believe is so wrong about the Uniting in Heart campaign. I have found it to be very vague and confusing, and I definitely find silencing of criticism to be disturbing, but what exactly are people afraid is happening? What are the precise concerns with the campaign itself? Is it simply that we don’t know what it’s doing? Or is someone aware of specifics that will change our diocese in ways that go against Church teaching? I would appreciate any info. you or anyone else can provide.
Anonymous makes two points, only one of which can be valid. If the first, that the Uniting in Heart campaign has been marked by vagueness and the silencing of criticism, is true—which it is–then it provides the answer to the second point, as to why people writing to The Red Wolf Report are not more specific in their objections. Because they have not been told what the plan really entails. Nonetheless, it is possible to formulate reasons for the legitimate fear that lies behind opposition to the Uniting in Heart campaign and The Red Wolf Report in its introductory remarks did formulate it. The radical shake-up of parishes, and the puzzling demotion of senior priests, does give reasonable cause for concerns that “A handful of individuals appear to be committed to changing the paradigm for all of us in a major way. If the idea of radical shifts in Church culture bugs you, and you happen to love your Catholic Faith for what it is, or if you like being rooted in the things that give your spiritual life and your parish its character, then you might be worried.” Yes, the things that give your spiritual life and your parish its character are of immense value. Accustomed loyalties are necessary for human beings as created by God, they are gifts from God. To have them violently and through secrecy seized from you is great cause for concern.
Moving over 80% of the priests in the diocese in one fell swoop is wrong. Demoting senior pastors to associate priests without any cause or explanation is wrong. Forcing priests to read homilies promoting the Uniting in Health 2030 plan instead of preaching the Gospel is wrong. Telling people (even laymen) they are not allowed to disagree with the plan in public or in private is wrong.
These are just things I know about, I’m sure others out there know much worse. Even scarier is the things we don’t know about. If the diocese has nothing to hide, they need to put it all out there for us to see. They need to respond to this website proving it is factually inaccurate. If they will not or can not do this then we should all be very concerned about this diocese specifically with the hierarchy at the upper levels.
None of those are wrong… every single one of those is something explicitly stated to belong to the bishop’s authority
Hear, hear. Though I challenge the Red Wolf to come up with more information—thus far I have seen the same nuggets of information repeated with an inflammatory spin. There is far too much room for sensationalism here.
I too am looking forward to more information, but even more important than information, this blog is giving we the people something that the diocese has worked so hard to squash. A forum to discuss this plan. A forum to disagree with this plan. A forum to voice our opinions, anonymously if we wish. A forum to realize that we aren’t alone and that many others out there feel the same way.
It is very telling that nearly every comment on this blog is anonymous. People are afraid of revealing who they are and rightfully so. Does it sound acceptable to anybody that we are afraid to post a dissenting point of view on a blog because of repercussions from our diocese? From our bishop? We shouldn’t fear our diocese, we should love our diocese and look for guidance from our bishop who is in charge of the sacraments and teaching doctrine to the faithful in his diocese. We shouldn’t be afraid of losing our jobs and the ability to feed our families because we spoke negatively about a proposed plan in the privacy of our own homes or by posting on a blog.
Agreed that it is good to discuss things with others. Iron sharpens iron.
However, it is hard to discuss and critique something the average layperson in the Diocese knows very little about. The onion should be pealed back. Facts ought to be known.
Everything about this. Yes- fear of our Bishop and Diocesan repercussions should be a HUGE red flag to anyone.
Ha. I’m anonymous because I know some of the other anons on here and would rather not catch flak from THEM in real life.
The comments may be inflammatory, but the Red Wolves are being evenhanded with facts, and the rather explosive revelations about the extent of the secrecy involved in the rollout of the Uniting In Heart plan can hardly be characterized as a “nugget.” It certainly came as a surprise to me, and I haven’t heard anything about it in our Diocesan newspaper, which has only served to promote the plan and squelch criticism through scolding and haranguing. articles by certain deacons. This is to be expected, of course… it is the Bishop’s paper. I’m just glad we finally have an alternate news source in our diocese. I applaud the tone the Red Wolves are taking, and I think their admonitions regarding charity and prayer should be sufficient.