You can find news about this on Google and such.

I'm very encouraged by this news. Through a friend of mine from the Diocese of Saginaw, I understand that most of its priests and members have all but capitulated to the culture of death, rampant individualism, anti-clericalism, mechanistic and modernistic thinking, and ideological convictions against the Church based on the lion's share of unquestioned assumptions about human nature, truth, and the world at large.

The only thing I know about Carlson is what is written about him in the news stories, and a few of his own essays on the Web, including one where he lays down the Church's teaching on abortion and the participation of Catholics in political life.

From all of this I gather two important and happy features of Bishop Carlson's values: (1) From the news stories, it seems that his primary interest is the good and the needs of the people of his Diocese. He's not going into Saginaw with fists swinging; rather, he goes in as a listener and a cooperator. Although some may disagree, I consider this very good news. Even understanding that Christ came to bring "division", and that his death and Resurrection are a 'stumbling block' and 'foolishness', and that the Gospel is a 'Contradiction'; moreover, that we want no "reed blowing in the wind"--even understanding this, I believe Carlson is doing the right thing by being so pastoral with his entry.

He is entering into the lion's den, to be sure, but it seems he does so in the manner of Christ himself; he combines Christ's two messages to the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you" and "Go and sin no more."

Notwithstanding the respectedness of the late Bishop Untner (may God rest his soul), I believe that Saginaw absolutely crumbled underneath his watch. Catholicism there has 'chameleoned', taking on every single feature and value of the surrounding left-wing ideologies, becomming virtually indistinguishable from the abortion-defending, commoditized, individualistic milieu around it.

That's why I also say that, (2) I'm happy that Carlson seems rock-solid in his own faith. He is ending Untner's previous practice of being a "vagrant", not having a home but rather moving from parish to parish, because he believes (rightly) that a bishop should be a sign of stability and unity within a Diocese.

He combines solid and unflinching Faith with obvious Love in a way that gives Hope for the future of the Diocese of Saginaw.

-- anon (ymous@god.bless), December 30, 2004

Answers

My prayers are with you young man, to become a very holy, orthodox, Catholic priest.

I think you have what it takes.

Keep praying!

-- + (..@....), January 23, 2005.