Another Pope Francis Flop: Bishop Elect Steps Down
Canon Christopher Whitehead, whom Francis appointed Bishop of Plymouth, England, has " stepped back from active ministry" (sic). He will not be consecrated a bishop as planned on 22 February, but will …More
Canon Christopher Whitehead, whom Francis appointed Bishop of Plymouth, England, has " stepped back from active ministry" (sic). He will not be consecrated a bishop as planned on 22 February, but will continue as diocesan administrator of Plymouth.
The English bishops said that "a canonical process is now underway and no further comment will be made until this has been completed".
Picture: Christopher Whitehead, © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsAsythwdifd
The English bishops said that "a canonical process is now underway and no further comment will be made until this has been completed".
Picture: Christopher Whitehead, © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsAsythwdifd
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Wilma Lopez shares this
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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has issued a terse announcement that “the episcopal ordination of Canon Christopher Whitehead will not take place on February 22 as scheduled.” The statement indicated that a “canonical process is underway,” and the bishop-elect has stepped aside from active ministry until the process is complete. Canon Whitehead was named in December to become …More
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has issued a terse announcement that “the episcopal ordination of Canon Christopher Whitehead will not take place on February 22 as scheduled.” The statement indicated that a “canonical process is underway,” and the bishop-elect has stepped aside from active ministry until the process is complete. Canon Whitehead was named in December to become Bishop of Plymouth. That post has been open since June 2002, when the previous occupant, Bishop Mark O’Toole, was installed as Archbishop of Cardiff in Wales.
John A Cassani
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It’s quite common for a priest to refuse elevation to the episcopate. It is never officially acknowledged, but those “in the know” say that it could be as high as a third of priests who are asked. It is far less common that they would accept appointment, and then bow out before consecration or taking office. This particular case doesn’t sound good.
There's no privacy when a priest is accused - let him be hanged; but when a bishop elect is accused, well now, we have a Chinese wall to protect him.
Wilma Lopez
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Embarrassing by all accounts.
SonoftheChurch
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@AJ Fides …or a Berlin Wall.
Wilma Lopez
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There is a rise in bishop-appointees dropping out ahead of ordination, isn't it?