Chris
McDonnell, UK
christymac733@gmail.com
Previous articles by Chris Comments welcome here
August
29, 2018
A
Pastor for his people
Bishops
haven't had a good press recently, sometimes deservedly so, at other times
drawn-in to controversy on a wave of popular hearsay. Either way it is a
difficult task requiring a particular skill set that few of us could
manage.
Some
bishops are good administrators, others write well, yet others 'know their
priests'. Each bring to their particular table something of their life
experience, the consequence of their journey that has led them to diocesan
responsibility.
Above
all, the role of a Bishop is pastoral, exercising a caring voice for the
needs of those Christians gathered about them. Such men are few and far
between but when they do appear their qualities are recognisable to all
and sundry.
One
such man was a Bishop in the far western US State of Washington, serving
first as Bishop of Helena, Montana, before being appointed Archbishop of
Seattle, Washington's principal capital, in 1975. There he remained until
retirement in 1991. They were to be eventful years, turbulent yet always
pastorally centred on the people that he made his community.
Very
much a bishop formed by the experience of attending all four sessions of
the Council during his time at Helena, he brought back to the States a
vision of the Church that was full of hope and joy. It was a vision that
in spite of later difficulties, never left him as he attempted to show to
others the message of the Beatitudes that were inspirational in his own
life.
It
was around the strong thread of the Beatitudes that his long- time friend
and pastor at the cathedral of St James, Michael Ryan, developed his
homily at Hunthausen's Requiem mass offered in the cathedral nearly four
weeks ago at the beginning of August. Without pretence or fuss, this
Archbishop showed how much he cared by the way he carried out his daily
tasks, be it in his ministry to the LGBT community or in his outspoken
protest of nuclear weapons. He had within his diocesan boundary, the naval
base for the US Trident submarine force. His vocal concern over the
morality of such weapons was emphasised by his refusal to pay half of his
Federal taxes. He was in trouble on both counts, with the Vatican and the
Government. Yet with dogged determination he stood firm by his Christian
conviction and accepted the consequences.
When,
on assuming the position as Archbishop of Seattle in a crowded Civic
auditorium, he stepped up to the podium to address the people, he paused,
asking those present to pray for him. That same image of humility was to
occur again in Rome in March five years ago, when Francis stood on the
balcony high above St Peter's Square and asked for the prayers of the
people. It is no small wonder, that after facing so many struggles, he was
to say that "Francis is doing the things I tried to do"
He
led the way in the US in confronting the issue of the abuse of children by
some priests and religious and the guidelines drawn up in Seattle became a
model for other diocesan authorities across the country.
His
role as Archbishop was constantly that of Pastor, for he cared about
people, stood alongside them in their anguish and was not judgemental in
his response when their lifestyle appeared to cross accepted boundaries.
His ministry to those on the margin came with a heavy price of Vatican
criticism during the 80s. There is not enough space here to itemise the
detail of those years, nor to make a qualified judgement on the outcome.
For that, I would strongly recommend the biography of Hunthausen written
by John McCoy and published in 2015 - 'A Still and Quiet Conscience'.
McCoy, a journalist in Washington State who at one time headed the
Communications Department in the Archdiocese records that he considers
Raymond Hunthausen "quintessential a Vatican II bishop. I think he’s
a remarkable religious leader and a key person in the history of the
Catholic Church in America. He was committed to the church being relevant
to the world." A worthwhile tribute indeed.
At
a time when a number of those to whom the Church has given responsibility
of leadership have fallen short of expectations, it is worth while pausing
a moment and reflecting on the life of an outstanding man, who in spite of
his being called to the Lord remains with us in example and deed. He was
truly a man of the Beatitudes, who saw Christ in those about him and was
himself Christ to those who were in need.
The
full text and audio cast of Michael Ryan's poignant homily for the
Archbishop can be found at the diocesan website of St James Cathedral,
Seattle.
www.stjames
cathedral.org/Pubs/Pastor/2018/18rghfuneral.aspx
A
humble and holy man he was.
END
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