It’s been reported that Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg was absent from his diocese the past week, including Holy Week, as the world’s attention focused on his diocese and on the plight of Terri Schiavo, the woman who the bishop has studiously ignored as best he can. Instead, he was on the other side of the world, surveying damage caused by the tsunami in Indonesia with Catholic Relief Services. Many of us thought it was no coincidence and that he was avoiding his diocese last week.
Perhaps, though, he unintentionally violated canon law:
Canon 394, para 3: The Bishop is not to be absent from his diocese on Christmas Day, during Holy Week, or on Easter Sunday, Pentecost and Corpus Christi, except for a grave and urgent reason.
Does traveling to Indonesia last week constitute a “grave and urgent” reason. After all, could he not have postponed his trip to this week or the next? I think we’ve underestimated how bad it is for a bishop to be absent from Holy Week and Easter celebrations in his diocese.
Mel Gibson just took a shot at Lynch on Newsmax. Supposedly there is a sermon at EWTN, given yesterday or the day before, that blasted Lynch for his cowardice.
Bp Robert Lynch will eventually answer to a higher authority than Pope for this absence.
“I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.”
Given his Excellency’s past callous remarks directed at the Schindler’s, perhaps it was a blessing that he was nowhere near a microphone when Terri’s murder was completed.
Since when do American Bishops obey anything?
Since not before Vatican 2.
Pretty peculiar to miss the Triduum in his own cathedral.
Flight risk? =)
KMAC,
Yes, a priest from Human Life International, Fr. Eutenneur? gave a great homily that did rip Bp. Lynch. He also reminded us that Bp. Lynch banned Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in his diocese.
Tim