Bishop Rey: "I Was Criticized Mainly for Accepting too many Priestly Vocations"
The many Catholic movements in his diocese led to a flourishing of priestly ordinations and religious communities. His enemies claimed that this successful approach was "too laissez-faire".
Monsignor Rey is proud of having launched "many initiatives": "Most of them have borne fruit and are sustainable. Some, about 10%, were problematic. When you launch projects, you always take a risk. Sometimes, I lacked insight or support. But when dysfunctions were identified, I always took the necessary canonical and administrative measures," he said.
The prelate reiterated that no new evidence had been presented against him. The reasons for requesting his resignation were the same as those given to him as a reason for appointing a coadjutor.
He also said of his resignation: "My mission does not belong to me, I hold it from the Pope (he believes), like every bishop. It was entrusted to me by him, and he is taking it away from me. Therefore, on December 31, I sent a letter of resignation by mail to the Holy See."
In reality, a bishop is not a local branch manager of a large corporation run by the pope, but a successor of the apostles in his own right, as even Vatican II has confirmed.
#newsBvvrcgjnap