"Human nature always retains its spirtual character...If it were to lose this, it must lose itself and become the servant of lower powers, so that a secular civilization...inevitably leads to nihilism and to self destruction."

"IF we look at the world today in isolation from the past and the future, the focus of secularism may seem triumphant. This, however, is but a moment in the life of humanity, and it does not possess the promise of stability and permanence.

The Catholic Church promises Stability. It lends the opinion of GOD and not that of a secular society which will eventually burn itself out." (Dawson, The Formation of Christendom, 1937.)

Thank YOU Bishop Sample for being an outstanding example of what GOD would want for his children.

Michael T. Richards
Proud to be a sheep in the flock of Bishop sample.

I read the comments of so many of you spewing forth misguided, angry words about Bishop Sample, the Catholic Church, and Christianity.

Your words sometimes anger me and inside, a hatred for your comments (not you) boils and festers. I want to lash out. I want to shout you down and argue with you.

Then I remember what Christ has instructed all of His people. We are told to love our enemies as we love ourselves. We are told to turn the other cheek when we're wronged.

Instead of allowing anger, frustration and hate to bubble up inside me, I choose to, instead, say a prayer that God will soften your hearts to the truth of His words. That He will help you to see and understand that His way is the only way, and that your hatred, anger, and bitterness will melt away and allow you to experience all the amazing things that He has for you.

Thank you, Jerry, from Negaunee. You hit the nail on the head.

I looked up Bishop Gumbleton and yes he has been a prized voice about rights, war, and women being priests. So why did the Catholic Church allow him to be a priest and Bishop until his recent retirement?
Wow thats a lot of years to be teaching against the church and still remain active. So I would have to say that this Bishop isn't far from the truth. Because the Pope who sits in his gold and ivory towers has allowed Bishop Gumbleton to speak out for many many years.
I thought priests took a vow of poverty? For they sure walk around basked in a lot of wealth.

Hey Satan Among us,

Then you are free to start your own church, I'm sure you'll find plenty of followers!!

Wow.
So that's it. All Bishop Sample has to do is get with the times, right? Yes, these are the times we live in, similar to the times of Sodom and Gomorrah, our governments ok'ing same sex marriages,government funded abortions, government funded contraception. Hey, it's all good, right?

What is it about the word CATHOLIC you don't understand?

Please,know the religion before you post out of ignorance.

Bishop is right on.

Make the Main thing the Main Thing

Catholics and Non-Catholics it does matter, religion will Not get you to heaven. Seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s blessings will be yours. Choosing to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the most important decision you’ll ever make! This includes Catholics. God’s Word promises, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. (Roman 10:9, 10)
By His grace, God has already done everything to provide your salvation. Your part is simply to believe and receive. Pray out Loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for Saving Me Jesus”.
Now you are Born Again, there’s a brand new you! The very moment you commit your life to Jesus Christ, the truth of His Word instantly comes to pass in Your new Spirit.

I'm with Mike Richards! I support Bishop Sample as well!!!

Thank you Bishop Sample for standing up for What is right.

Those who think we live in a changing world really need to take a closer look at the history of the World.

I am proud to be a sheep in the flock of Bishop Sample.

In response to the prior commenter from Illinois: Yes, Bishop Gumbleton's, and our own first amendment rights were in fact violated by Sample's action. In the planned event at Peter White Public Library, Bishop Gumbleton was scheduled to discuss the abolition of Nuclear weapons. This topic, a neutral one by Roman Catholic Church Standards,deals nothing with the issues that Bishop Sample believes are at stake. Besides this, the event sponsored by the Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice, has no affiliation to the Catholic church to start with. Because of Sample's action we find that not only Gumbleton's right to free speech has been violated but our right to free assembly has been violated also. Sadly, it doesn't take a goverment to infringe upon your rights.

Bishop Sample is entrusted to bring people closer to God by leading them away from sin. He will not minimize God’s teaching for the sake of ‘getting with the times’ or to keep members. As he should, he stands firm against what he sees as aberrations of God’s Truth.

As other faiths and spiritual leaders cave on issues such as abortion to satisfy the desires of their members, I am most proud of the Catholic faith and leaders like Bishop Sample for being the firm rock of the Truth in a secular world.

Its no small wonder the Catholic church is losing members...guys like Samples are now controlling what others can hear. Samples doesn't agree with the guy so nobody else can hear what he has to say. Pretty darn sad...

Funny how non-Catholics are so judgemental about the original Christian faith. Especially when it comes to the alleged sexually abuses. They make it sound like Catholic priests are the ONLY ones being accused of this. What about Baptist ministers? Jewish rabbis? Muslim clerics? What about you? Are you a sinner? Aren't we all?

Thanks Paladin for Christ for your logical comment.

The Catholic Church has the most developed and systematic theological discipline of any other Christian community. It is the duty of the Bishop to make sure that the faithful under his care receive from the Church in his diocese this theological teaching purely and without defilement. The faithful have a right to expect this from their bishop.

Yes there have been bad priests. There have been bad bishops. There have been bad decisions in the government of the Church throughout history. That is not the point here. No one is arguing against this.

The bottom line is that Bishop Sample was not only within his rights to do what he did, but it was also his duty.

No one's first amendments rights were violated. The first amendment gives no one the 'right' to teach in the name of the Catholic Church at a Catholic Church event. Gumbleton is free to speak his mind (as he certainly does) in many other forums.

Reading many of the comments here, I wonder as I always do in such instances why Non-Catholics are so concerned about the inner workings of the Catholic Church. If you disagree with Catholic teachings, policies or whatever, then just move on and let those who have more sense than you "be church" as you might say! A commenter above noted the lack of comments about Indian politics...or the inner workings of the government of New Zealand...but when it is the Catholic Church condicting it's business, it becomes an issue of public concern suddenly. I just don't understand.

I suspect there is more behind such a "clinging" attitude on the part of some of those who call themselves "ex-Catholics"...it is a very hard path to be Catholic, and some just can't stand to be losers. That's why they sound so much like the "poor sports" at a Little League game...they are a bit jealous of those who are able to make the commitment to the game enough to win.

Gumbleton and his views and prelates and priests like him as well as the homosexual and pedophile bishops and priests are the real reason the churches are emptying all over the world. People want a serious, devout religion backed up by discipline that enforces the truth and the moral. Please Bishop Gumbleton, Hunthausen, etc., leave the Church or shut up.

I was born in the U.P., and now live in Southern California. How fortunate for Catholics in the diocese of Marquette to be led by such a wonderful and holy Bishop!!

So... Bishop Sample requires that Catholic doctrine (and not heterodox pet theories, opinions, and the like) be taught in his diocese, and a double-handful of commenters here start talking about such things as pedophilia, collection plates, the inquisition, and other things that are about as relevant to the point as the current price of alfalfa.

If you think Bishop Gumbleton is so excellent a speaker, and in such harmony with your views, then why not invite him to speak at your next non-Catholic event, and let the Church handle Her own affairs? Since you're not Catholic, the internal policies and protocols of the Church really shouldn't worry you, should they? (I doubt you get so worked up over the inner workings of the government of, say, India...)

just because popular culture believes something to be true or popular culture has distorted something to be true doesn't mean that it is true. the Catholic Church is with God, not with the popular culture. Bishop Sample is speaking truthfully by not allowing Bishop Gumbleton to speak in his diocese. Gumbleton made his position known long ago that he is in tune with the popular culture and not the Church. why he is bishop i have no clue. do priests and bishops make mistakes? do they sin? sure they do, just like all of the rest of us make mistakes and sin. i'm sorry to hear so many people are angry at Bishop Sample's decision, but he is correct. Catholics that choose to follow the teachings of good bishops like Bishop Sample are not dumb, blind sheep. These Catholics choose to follow the truth.

I now understand why many of the priests of this diocese are judgemental, opinionated, and heartless, they get it from their leader...the bishop. I am Catholic, and I claim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but shame shame on the leaders of the Catholic Church. I do not believe for one minute my God has ever turned his back on me, but the Catholic Church has. I even wrote to Bishop Sample regarding what had happened, but he didn't have the courtesy to even respond to me. I gave of my time and talents for many years, only to be crucified by those self rightous hypocrits.

If I read this correctly, this person was not allowed to speak in Marquette because someone didn't agree with his views? Wow, now I know why I use to be a catholic.

This Bishop and this Pope do not speak for me, for other Catholics I know and for you. They do not care about you. They care about your money, your pre-pubescent offspring and your silence. Good for you for being a sheep. I choose to question why Alex Sample was chosen to to bring the immigrant priest in from india, Vietnam and latin american as the quasi-shepherds then dumb down the local "townies" with his censorship. This church will loose more and more until it wakes up and understands humanity, science and God. Money is what he and they understand. Stop giving and the 'charity' the pretend to 'administer' will dry up. As it should. Fruit of a poisonous tree.

I am pleased with the work that our Bishop, Alex Sample has done for all of us in the Upper Peninsula. He has, so far, served with integrity and humility and deserves our respect, just as the rules of the Church deserve respect by those who participate.

The Bishop Emeritus knows the proper Church procedure, and had he followed the rules, there wouldn't have been a problem. If he still wishes to speak in Marquette, I'm sure it won't be an issue, if he has the courtesy to inform OUR Bishop of his intentions beforehand.

As for the "pass the plate" comments. The Diocese of Marquette uses that money people give to follow God's commands. They selflessly provide services that benefit the poor and indigent, they help people who have gotten hooked on drugs & alcohol to pay for (expensive) inpatient/outpatient treatment services, provide food & shelter for the homeless, and so much more. I thank God that they put their money where their mouths are and do what Jesus himself has told us all to do. When the funds don't come in from the parishoners, these programs are put into jeapordy.

If you're not Catholic, that's fine, and you have the right to your own opinion, but before you spew venoumous hatred for the Church again, I hope you'll do some investigating into all the GOOD the Church does for Catholics & non-Catholics alike in the name of God.

If you are Catholic and have a problem with the rules of the Church, maybe you should investigate a denomination that is more in line with your philosophy. There's no shortage of denominations out there. I'm sure you can find a group of like-minded people to worship with.

The role of a bishop is quite broad and he only answers to his boss the Pope. Bishop Sample is not to blame, Gumbleton is. Gumbleton has been a maverick and an embarassment to the Detroit Archdiocese for years and now that he is retired still can't keep his radicals views to himself. The Catholic church can only survive if it sticks to rock solid dogma and steers clear of secular politics. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's.

A number of people in the Catholic community consider Bishop Gumbleton a heretic. I don’t know what Bishop Sample’s personal views are regarding Gumbleton’s personal convictions. The Church is very clear. Basically, Sample is towing the party line, which is what one would expect from an Archbishop. Someone else said he is out of touch with the world of science, which is a peculiar statement considering he has a metallurgical degree from MTU.

Pope Benedict XVI has clearly stated that relativism has no place in the Church. Benedict lacks the charisma of John Paul, but Church policy is bigger than the pope. The source of closed-mindedness is the organization as a whole. The flock is to obey. The Church did not permit the teaching of Galeleo’s assertion that the earth revolves around the sun until 1822, did not officially recognize it as fact until 1992, and waited until 2000 to apologize for actions taken against Galileo, which included putting him under house arrest. Galileo died in 1642. This is one of the more benign examples of the intolerance exhibited by the Catholic Church. Vatican II embraced certain changes in the church, but has not eased the stubbornness.

Sample's response to this matter is just another reason why the Catholic diocese, not only in Marquette but nationwide, will continue to lose parishoners.

His archaeic beliefs only ensure a dim outlook for his "flock" that he wants to shepard. What he fails to realize is the "younger" generation is open to change or at least communication. It is he and his fellow leaders that need to understand communication is two fold. Talking and listening.

So please, continue on your staunch mission of educating the lambs. Don't be surprised when these lambs decide to wander away from your flock. Don't get me wrong.........they'll still converse with and keep the Lord in their lives as good Christians do. They won't however by hypocritical like you and your fellow "shepherds" who historically and continually bury your head in the sand and try to hide the issues that exist in diocese across the nation and world.

As a Catholic father, I refuse to encourage my children to follow the diatribe you spew all the while covering up and not realizing how hypocritical you are!!

What are you trying to prove by not allowing a fellow Bishop to speak? Wait.......oh ya....I just checked the calendar. It's 2009.

Wake up. Ordain women and allow priests to marry. That's the first step.

May God guide you in your effort to do his work.

"naturally the Catholic Church has a long stand in favor of peace and justice." Dating back to when? Cortez? The Crusades?

Sad that Bishop Sample isn't with the times as is this 70+ year old Bishop, with his views on letting women into the priesthood as well as his other views. Does Bishop Sample think that he is a little Hitler and can control peoples views. For being such a young age, its sad that he feels this way. Get with the times. Can you imagine how many good candidates that the Catholic Church would probably get for the priesthood if they allowed priests to marry and would allow women to become priests.

One would think a Catholic bishop speaking about peace and love for humanity would coincide with the teachings of the local diocese. Sadly this isn't the case. After reading this article, I fell this action represents a gross insult to first amendment rights. Unfortunately these choices by Marquette's Catholic bishop seem to reflect a disregard for independent thought and civic discourse. Marquette citizens are smart enough to make up their own minds on these matters. And this can only happen if, and when, they are given the different and diverse viewpoints to make this possible. Bishop Sample's choice to stifle Bishop Gumbleton's message casts our community as close-minded and, what some would call, ignorant. Pray to God that we defy that image.

This actually seems childish

"between 1950 and 2002, a total of 10,667 individuals had made allegations of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Of these, the dioceses had been able to substantiate 6,700 accusations against 4,392 priests."
Source: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/?p=15760

What does the Catholic church do? Sends old Catholic ladies letters informing them if they've tithed enough to the church.

Many years ago during a blizzard when my car wouldn't start, I walked through the blizzard to the convenience store for supplies.

The store attendant was out at the gas islands changing garbage with bitter winds whipping him terribly.

At the counter, waiting for him was a Catholic priest. He looked at me (I was near froze) and said "you know, YOU could be out there helping that man".

I said "(swear word) so could YOU".

But he didn't help.

Praise the Lord and pass the money plate.

The support group "Mended Wings" meeting, those sexually abused by those whom minstered, will be meeting with Bishop Gumbleton as planned October 12, 2009 in a RSVP only, closed to public meeting, in Marquette. This meeting is for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse, their famly members, and supporters.

Alex:
I know Vegas is far different than the U.P. But, as one of those 'Catholics' you are charged with 'shepherding'. Get real! Get Global. Get a clue!
You are so out of touch with the Catholics in the U.P. It is laughable. You are so out of touch with the world and science it is embarrassing for you and the church. I'll be at communion and confession this week end. Will you?