Roman Catholic Bishops

"Many people ask themselves: why did it happen? What is the meaning? Does it make sense? Is there an answer? After days of prayer and meditation on God's Word, we understand that an answer will always be partial and possible only starting from our faith. So we ask Catholics and all people of good will to remain firm in faith, to defend the values, proposing a culture of peace and harmony"

"An authoritative mission to teach is absolutely necessary, a man-given mission is not authoritative. Hence any concept of Apostolicity that excludes authoritative union with the Apostolic mission robs the ministry of its Divine character. Apostolicity, or Apostolic succession, then, means that the mission conferred by Jesus Christ upon the Apostles must pass from then to their legitimate successors, in an unbroken line, until the end of the world."

"Christians are taught that your neighbors is the most needy, in other words, the most vulnerable, irrespective of their social, ethnic and religious affiliation (see Luke 20, 25-37). Let religious leaders therefore unite and encourage voters to choose honest leader who will liberate our people from the corrupt leadership that has, unfortunately, led to chronic impunity in our Nation. For once, let the believers raise above social, ethnic and religious affiliation in the choice of political leaders."

"We find not only differences of sanctity and perfection in individuals, but also in different classes of Christians. The great practice of sanctity manifests itself in various ways, in different epochs and countries. To understand the reason of this, we must bear in mind that there is in humanity and in human society a twofold element: the natural and the supernatural; the former constituting the basis of the latter, one ascending from the earth, the other descending from above, and the union of the two constituting the union of the human with the divine. If we bear this twofold element in view, we shall never be scandalized by what will appear too human in the Church and its subordinate societies."

"The Catholic Church is very appreciated, the esteem and affection that surrounds us is enormous, people are grateful for the social activities we carry out in the various areas. The political authorities respect us, as do the various faith communities, because we promote peace. In fact, we are known for our peaceful coexistence with other religions. Whenever there is a small conflict, people prefer to call on Catholics as witnesses to reconcile the other groups."

"Our strength, the strength of our people, our vicariate and our diocese is faith. We have a very deep-rooted faith, people trust in God, they place their hope in God that the future holds something good for them."

"The reaction to my appointment was overwhelming. When the Nuncio asked me to meet him to tell me, I was overwhelmed because I would never have expected it. God wanted me to serve in this way and so I prayed and accepted his will."

"There is a need for dialogue between the government, the criminal group which rages in the area, sowing violence and destruction, the churches and the people in general on how to restore peace and order to Alotau. "Differences should be resolved peacefully and respect for the rights and dignity of every person should be restored. Above all, we need to pray and implore God's help and forgiveness. There is hope for a better tomorrow if we all act together."

"The family is at the heart of the worries of the Church in Zaire, because the family constitutes the vital core of human society. The quality of life in the society in general and in the Church in particular depends on the quality of familial life. Today, the family is the privileged target for negative ideologies and practices which denaturalise the meaning of human sexuality and conjugal love. Zaire faces, more and more, a crisis of the family under different imported forms."

"Vasco de Quiroga had displayed so much wisdom and disinterestedness in the affairs of Michoacan, that although not a churchman, the bishopric was offered to him as being the person most suitable for the position."

"As the proceedings of Guzman were fresh in everybody's mind, he heard of them, and at once went into the neighborhood of Tzintzuntzan to relieve, if possible, the condition of the people of Calzonzi. They had fled in terror from their homes, deserting the towns and hiding in the mountains. Quiroga, with great perseverance and gentleness, found them out, and prevailed at last upon the poor Tarascans, who came to love him with passionate devotion."

"One of the greatest missionaries to the Mexican aborigines."

"In spite of the avowed infidelity then prevalent in the schools, he remained proof against sophistry and ridicule."

"His reception by clergy and laity was most enthusiastic. Under his able administration great progress has been made in the material to well as in the spiritual upbuilding of the diocese."

"His missionary labors were so successful that the church couid not contain the numbers who came to hear him."

"He continued to promote the progress of the Church until his death."

"The complete results of Bishop Allen's pro sperous administration are best noticed by a comparison between the standing of the diocese when he assumed control and its existing admirable state."

"One cannot live a worthy life killing his brother."

"In carrying my remembrances back to those sad days, of which I am writing, I recognize that I never have thanked God, as I ought to have done, for those particular graces, by which he preserved me in the midst of so great madness and impiety. Those who were at the head of the irreligious frenzy which then devastated our France, presided forward with all the confidence of success. Every device of cruelty and malice was put in operation, to attain the end they had in view: to destroy the Catholic Religion, not only in France, but throughout the world. So far, as I am witness, did their detestable hopes of the complete final triumph over the Christian Faith extend. And yet, at that very moment, how strong and imperishable was its hold upon thousands of hearts; how fervently did every true Christian family pledge its love and life to our blessed Lord."

"Among the most distinguished prelates were Alonso de la Mota, a native of Mexico, who was an efficient protector of the Indians against Spanish usurpations."

"Worship, pastoral, charity, ecclesiastic personnel: are the four constitutive ends of the possession and use of ecclesial resources as such. The Church may possess resources only for these reasons. She may not legitimately possess resources for any other ends which do not stem from these four fundamental fields."

"His great influence on the entire church, his wonderful success in planning, financing, and carrying out necessary ecclesiastical reforms, and the constructive and executive ability he displayed in his diocese, make him one of the foremost Catholic emigrants to the United States."

"I believe that Jesus wants us to call everybody and everyone to come share with him in this table of His blessings."

"The Church has always supported the freedom of her children, wherever they are."

"Although he confirmed many Indians, he complained of the universal ignorance of Christian doctrine."

"Bishop Grimes held his office for twenty-seven years, during which period he made frequent visitations throughout his enormous diocese, which included some of the roughest country in New Zealand. He was indefatigable as an organiser, and was primarily responsible for the great number of Roman Catholic institutions which were established under efficient management during his long term as Bishop. He gained, and held to the end, the love and respect of his people, and has left, in the Cathedral, a lasting memorial of a singularly active life."

"Unity is secured by the hierarchical organization of the ministry and the due submission of inferiors to authority. On this point the teaching of the Apostolic Fathers seems to stand for a marked development in advance of the practice of the Apostolic period. But it is to be noted that the familiar tone in which episcopal authority is treated precludes the possibility of its being a novelty."

"The Catholic Church is concerned for the unity of the nation, and confirms its support to the Constitution and the principles of democracy. We must be strong and free of fear, in the face of truth and justice."

"Your generous response to go on a mission to a distant place fills us with joy at your decision and at your missionary spirit, which certainly is not without its sacrifices and privations, but the Lord is with you."

"He at once espoused the cause of workman in their difficulties with the employers in the furniture factories, skilfully averted a panic, and contributed much to bring about and agreement."

"With the joint effort of the priests, we will be able to do a good job in the Church and that we will be able to make our Church better. So I believe that this is one of the opportunities that our diocese - I hope - will take to heart. I also hope that our diocese, our faithful and our priests will take to heart the expectations of the Church, including the Pope and these authoritative Cardinals, and I hope that we can all work together to make our diocese better."

"Like his predecessor, he spent the whole of his priestly life in arduous missionary work in southern Texas, often helping to build churches with his own hands. He was consecrated 28 October, 1895, and d. 11 March, 1911, deeply loved and regretted by all classes."

"Nine years of hard labour, frequently interrupted by persecution and imprisonment, made him realize the necessity of native help."

"The Bible is the Word of God. It leads people to a blessed and serene life, because put in God's hands."

"It is the low-grade civilization of the steppes of Turkestan made permanent on the former site of supreme Hellenic refinement of life and of Christian sublimity of teaching and virtue. And it is universally admitted that only a recolonization from Europe can restore its original felicitous conditions."

"An indefatigable missionary, who had served long and unselfishly for the Church in Texas."

"He was a very ascetic man and tireless worker."

"The period of Bishop Foley's administration was for much of the Diocese of Chicago a new birth. He saw churches, convents, asylums, and schools, the work of years, wiped out in a few hours. He saw these for the most part replaced by structures more commodious."

"World Youth Day is always a wonderful opportunity for young people from around the world to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures."

"He was the poorest of the bishops, his annual stipend being only $6,000, and he received no share from tithes."

"This year, our call as Catholics to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free is more important than ever before."

"We must realise that wealth can be distributed with more equity, to enable everyone to live with dignity. The solution is to find a way to be a society of more equity. Chile appears to be one of world's countries with less equity and in this we must improve."

"The Eucharist as a simple meal without laughing after it we are facing a danger that has been a long time ago here and there which is the vision of the Holy Meeting of the Father through a person of his son who transformed into an imperfect manner into a club of friends who meet around one table and between us except love and affection."

"Every day new refugees return, like a drop of water in the ocean, as there are so many in need of aid."

"Bishop Beaven is an organizer. He has applied to the temporal affairs of the Church sound business principles. He has developed the charitable institutions of his diocese."

"Bishop Dosquet had to solve many difficulties that had arisen towards the close of the life of Bishop St. Vallier. He legislated wisely in behalf of the religious communities of women and was zealous for the suppression of the liquor traffic."

"Nor is it proper or safe that all the keys of the kingdom should hang at the girdle of a woman."

"He was a careful and conservative prelate, forecasting the future in his selection of church sites, and devoting himself actively to the expansion of the facilities for the practice of the Faith in his diocese and the spread of sound Catholic education."

"The bishop himself was a tireless worker and infused his own spirit into his priests."

"Bishop Manogue took a leading part in public affairs and was a successful arbitrator between the mine owners and the miners in their conflicts. He was of large stature, of a humorous turn of mind, and a good musician."