Bishop Morlino emphasizes providence, mercy, mission

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

Bishop Bullock elected Diocesan Administrator MADISON -- With the acceptance of his letter of resignation by Pope John Paul II, Bishop William H. Bullock leaves office as Bishop of Madison. According to canon law, the diocese is designated as "vacant." Until newly appointed Bishop Robert C. Morlino officially takes possession of the diocese, the College of Consultors is charged to elect a Diocesan Administrator to govern the diocese. The Diocese of Madison College of Consultors was convened by Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz on Friday, May 23, and elected Bishop Bullock as Diocesan Administrator. In addition to Bishop Wirz, the College of Consultors includes Msgrs. Daniel T. Ganshert, James L. Gunn, Joseph P. Higgins, Paul J. Swain and Frs. David H. Runde, John H. Hedrick, and John G. Stillmank.

MADISON -- Although he admitted "there's a sadness in my heart on leaving Helena," Bishop Robert C. Morlino said he relies on God's providence in bringing him to the Diocese of Madison as its fourth bishop.

"Providence is a very key part of my own relationship with Jesus Christ," he said at a press conference May 23 at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.

"Each day I surf the waves of providence," said Bishop Morlino, adding with a smile, "It's the only surfing I'll ever do."

Leader, scholar, shepherd

Retiring Bishop William H. Bullock introduced his successor as a "leader, scholar, and shepherd" whom he described as "young, capable, and personable, a man who loves people."

Bishop Bullock pledged his prayers and support to Bishop Morlino as he continues to meet the challenges facing the church.

He announced that Bishop Morlino will be installed as Bishop of Madison on Aug. 1.

Reveals sense of humor

Bishop Morlino greeted the press warmly, revealing a sense of humor when he noted that he managed to "sneak into town" the day before, and, for him, "that isn't easy" (alluding to his larger than average size).

He quipped that people in Montana say their state is so beautiful that "heaven is a local call." But he described Madison, too, as a beautiful city which "is a reminder of our closeness to our Lord and heaven."

Educated as a Jesuit, Bishop Morlino noted that he often teaches in "threes." He said he wanted to emphasize three key ideas: God's providence, mercy, and Messiah and mission.

Rely on God's providence

"God's providence is bigger than all of us," he said.

Although he had begun many things in the Diocese of Helena and met "many people I love," he said he relies on God's plan for bringing him to Madison.

Web link ... For more on Bishop Morlino, visit the Diocese of Helena Web site: www.diocesehelena.org. Previous coverage ... (From 5/23/2003 Special Report) • Bishop Morlino named Bishop of Madison • Bishop Bullock's Successor Named • Bishop Robert C. Morlino's Biography • The Bishop's Coat of Arms Remarks from ...   • Milwaukee Archbishop Dolan   • Bishop Bullock   • Bishop Wirz   • Msgr. Swain   • Fr. Stillmank

"I would not have been in Helena one second longer than God's plan," he said.

Mercy needed in our culture

Bishop Morlino said we "live in a culture of death." He pointed out that death is looked on as a solution to human problems, witness war, abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, and other evils.

"On the cross Jesus Christ conquered sin and death by gentle mercy and said, 'Father, forgive them.' If we live in a culture of death, we live in a culture of lack of mercy," observed Bishop Morlino, pointing to mothers killing their children and the hazing incidents in Chicago. "Those are signs of a culture that doesn't know mercy," he said.

The bishop said the Catholic Church, too, has its own divisions, "groups that know no mercy." He said the political labels of liberal and conservative are used. This makes "some people winners and some losers."

But he said, "We are all meant to be winners in Christ Jesus. We want to proclaim that. That's death-dealing behavior in the church."

With the recent sexual abuse scandals, there has been a "terrible lack of mercy shown by some priests for victims and now it's followed by a lack of mercy for bishops and priests," said Bishop Morlino.

"If mercy is lacking in the church, we've got some work to do," he insisted.

He noted that there is "too little forgiveness in families. It has to be unlimited forgiveness," he emphasized. "We live in a culture that begs for mercy. That is our mission for the church - what we're about."

Messiah and mission

People often look to a bishop or priest to be the Messiah, said Bishop Morlino.

Like John the Baptist who said, "I am not the Messiah. Thank God I don't have to be," Bishop Morlino said the mission of priests and bishops is to "point to Jesus Christ," to invite people "gently with love and mercy to meet Jesus Christ living."

Bishop Morlino said that as a bishop he is not "a moralizer, a financial executive, or CEO. I have to enter into these, but I am a proclaimer. I try to be an evangelizer. I want people to accept Jesus Christ, his mind and his heart. We point to him, so he can change all of our minds and hearts. That's what I want to do."

He prayed, "Lord help me and help us together to be your instrument so you can shine your light, so you can guide the feet of all of us into the way of peace."

Interview with The Catholic Herald

By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Madison's new bishop admits, "I am a big-time college football fan."

In an interview during his first visit to Madison, Bishop Robert C. Morlino said he was looking forward to greeting the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger football team. They will be holding their annual pre-season training camp at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in August. Morlino said he plans to meet and mingle with the Badger players and coaches.

Bishop Morlino's allegiance has previously been with the Notre Dame football team. He taught at the University of Notre Dame as well as other Catholic colleges and seminaries. "I thought I would be a teacher all my life," he said.

Of course, as a bishop he continues to teach from a larger pulpit.

He enjoys being with young people. Last summer he attended World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada. He has also spent time with young men in the Diocese of Helena, Mont., to encourage them to consider becoming priests. As the chief vocation recruiter for the diocese, he said he built up a list of over 100 prospective priests there. Vocations will be his priority in the Diocese of Madison, too.

In the interview, Bishop Morlino said that communication is essential in the church and world today. "Any problem is due to a failure to communicate - humanly speaking," he said. "Communication is key."

He has improved the diocesan newspaper and the Web site in Helena. Radio and television can also be used by the church, he said. "We've got to communicate," he emphasized.

Bishop Morlino said that the "world needs a lot of work. It is not advancing in leaps and bounds when it comes to peace and justice. The world is not looking like the Kingdom of God," he said.

"Saying this is not a statement of pessimism," he added, "because Christ has risen from the dead and victory is bound to be decisive. But the state of our world is a 'sign of the times' which invites and challenges us to purify our faith, hope, and love. Together we can accomplish by God's grace what no one of us can do alone."

When asked what he would like to say to the people of the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Morlino said:

"Dear brother priests, deacons, sisters, and Christian faithful,

"I need you and we are called now to depend on each other. I hope that in the days ahead we will come to mean everything to one another, because Christ means everything to each one of us."

New bishop greets, meets diocesan staff
		Bishop William H. Bullock, right, applauds after introducing Bishop Robert C. Morlino to diocesan staff at an impromptu gathering May 23 in the courtyard of the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. (Catholic Herald photos by Julianne Nornberg)