If he is guilty of the extravagances of which he is accused, this is the right move.
Pope Francis has ordered the German Roman Catholic prelate known as the “luxury bishop” for spending €31m(£26m) on a residence to leave his diocese for an unspecified period.
The move, just short of a resignation, was taken against Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg two days after he met the pope at the Vatican to discuss the scandal in the German church at a time when the pontiff is stressing the importance of humility and serving the poor.
October 23, 2013 at 6:09 pm
I wish the Vatican/Pope would do the same for all the liberal nuns running amok. Wrong behavior is wrong behavior- especially among the Religious. Clean the ENTIRE house, not just a few rooms. JMO
October 23, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Connecticut Catholic Corner @ 1:09 PM
"Clean the ENTIRE house, not just a few rooms."
Toooooouché!
So many souls may be lost because of false teaching and examples by our religious and clergy.
October 24, 2013 at 8:30 am
Quite frankly, I fail to see why this bishop is being singled out. A project, started by his predecessor, that was partially new construction, partially restoration.
Of course no one explains how the €5.5 million became 31 million. That would be the heart of the matter. I see nothing showing he lived a lavish lifestyle himself.
If all the facts are the ones I can find in English and German media, then by that logic most bishops should be canned. Heck even several saints.
I suspect there is more to it than what I can find. I have a hard time believing Francis would censure a bishop for spending money on Church buildings. Between the €5.5 and €31 million, something fishier than cost overruns must be suspected.
October 24, 2013 at 9:27 am
Pope Benedict was betrayed by his butler and an investigation revealed an operational perv ring spying on the Pope's office within the walls. No doubt a major cause of Pope Benedict's difficulties came from this quarter. I wish Pope Francis would deal with the pervs, the encrusted filth that so wounded Benedict XVI and continues to rot the Church. There is silence on this grave matter while small fish are being fried.
October 25, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Meanwhile, back on the Left Coast…
The Taj Mahony/Raj Mahal, anyone? Over half a billion dollar$ in pay-outs to victims of sexually deviant priests, and for a certain prelate [who, BTW, runs a blog with no place for readers to comment] to stay our of jail for the cover-up…
October 27, 2013 at 5:42 pm
The Pope should do the same for many of his Jesuit brethren