A Visitor On The Situation In Houston

I had an e-mail from a visitor who sometimes helps me with what the actual job roles and duties are in Catholic seminaries and chanceries. His insights remind me of what I learn about cars when, as an English-major non-mechanic, I'm exposed to what actually happens under the hood when something goes wrong.

In this particular case, he echoes other concerns I've had from people who've commented on the e-mail from Bp Lopes's secretary: expressed in other words, it reflects "unhealthy boundaries" between him and Bp Lopes, which is not a good sign and suggests, like the visitor's other comments, that something's very wrong in Houston:

My confusion is with the structure of the chancery staff and the “hierarchy” therein at Houston. If you looked at the top of an org chart for a regular diocese, there would be a direct line from the Bishop to the Bishop's Secretary. There would be connected lines from the bishop to the V.G. and Moderator of the Curia

The Bishop’s Secretary is really a gatekeeper/handler of sorts. They handle the diary, meetings, functions, event planning and all of the “things” which the bishop is involved in around the diocese. They handle sensitive matters, draft sensitive letters and responses. The discretion most people in this position practice is phenomenal. If you want to get something done or want something to end up at the top of the correspondence pile, you want to be on good terms with the bishops secretary. In many diocese this position is staffed by a lay person. In some cases it is staffed by a religious and in other cases (fairly few) it is staffed by a priest.

The Vicar General is responsible for the day to day running of the diocese in the bishops absence. Remember there are 3 “munera” or gifts that a bishop receives through consecration/ordination to the episcopacy (teaching, administrative, sacramental). The Vicar General must be a priest.

The Vicar General can ordinarily carry out the teaching and administrative (not legislative or judicial) acts of a bishop in the bishops absence. Now, that being said, there are some limits imposed by Canon Law and basic prudence. The Vicar General cannot sell property, close parishes, issue decrees of excommunication, excardinate or incardinate priests, a vicar general may never sacramentally ordain. In exceptional cases (long term illness) a Vicar General could be the ordinary minister of confirmation in a diocese as delegated by the bishop.

The Moderator of the Curia is there to see that the chancery functions in a clear and effective manner. They really are not there to take the place of the bishop in any circumstance. They are there in a way as an “operations” manager for chancery offices. They also monitor administrative functions and assist to ensure coordination with in administrative and ministerial functions. Moderators of the Curia are not required positions to have, a bishop could choose to carry this out himself.

All of the above is to say... Why the communication from J. Henry? If anything... In the real world something from the Vicar General or something FROM THE BISHOP would arrive in people’s inbox which would address the bishop falling and breaking his leg/ankle. It would just be facts and not have any commentary surrounding it... But apparently there is a power struggle in Houston. The line, “you are to bother me, and not the Bishop.”, is something bizarre for him to say... The Vicar General is in charge, not the bishop’s secretary.

I’m also just weirded out by the overly affectionate nature of the letter. The reference to keeping him on bedrest, his version of the story, paragraph 3, the good behavior quip and the end of paragraph 5. It’s just weird. The facts could have been said in 2 paragraphs, with a little humor... But clearly, J. Henry is trying his hand at comedy as well... I suppose if the Ordinariate is suppressed, right? I think this is hinting at your “clique” suspicion... The campy tone of the whole letter is off putting... But than again, the Ordinariate does trend toward “camp” performance. Let’s not forget some sermons we have seen/heard, along with the rather weird pronunciations used when presiding over the Anglican communion ser... I mean Holy Mass....

I read that letter as part neediness and part power play. It is unfortunate that there has seemed to be no coordinated information release. All this goes to do is muddle the necessary information, which is His Excellency broke his leg/ankle, here’s how it happened. he has a few months to recover from surgery, he will be cancelling visits, here is who to contact in the meantime and pray for me and continue to pray for Himself (the Bishop) and the diocese.

Oh and J. Henry is not even listed on the ordinariate staff page. . . So. . .