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Father James Martin, S.J., spoke at St. Joseph’s University earlier this week (Tuesday, September 17) on themes related to his book Building A Bridge. And as I expected, quite a few emails arrived in my inbox questioning his teaching on same-sex related issues and urging me to prevent his appearance. A local bishop is typically unable to do that, since most Catholic universities operate under the authority of the religious community that sponsors them. Father Martin has also, at times, been the target of bitter personal attacks. As I’ve said previously, such attacks are inexcusable and unChristian.

On July 5, 2019, the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma (“Diocese”) announced that Father Joe Townsend, a priest of the Diocese, had been placed on administrative leave due to a non-frivolous allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor. After several weeks, the still ongoing third-party investigation has provided the Diocese with a better understanding of the allegation lodged against Father Townsend and what needs to be done to proceed with the investigation.

At 3pm today, Harrison Garlick, Chancellor & In-House Counsel for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma released the following memo: As the head of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma ("Diocese"), Bishop Konderla is fully committed to the Policies & Procedures for the Protection of Children & Young People ("Policies"). As part of that commitment, Bishop Konderla has placed Father Joe Townsend, a priest of the Diocese, on administrative leave due to a non-frivolous allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Bishop David Konderla announces second round of new priest assignments as well as the reestablisment of vicariates and the according assignments of priests to serve as Vicars Forane in addition to their present duties.

Today, Bishop David Konderla announced the following priest assignments to be effective on July 15, 2019:

Cada año, a través de la Madre Iglesia, Dios «concede a sus hijos anhelar, con el gozo de habernos purificado, la solemnidad de la Pascua, para que […] por la celebración de los misterios que nos dieron nueva vida, lleguemos a ser con plenitud hijos de Dios» (Prefacio I de Cuaresma). De este modo podemos caminar, de Pascua en Pascua, hacia el cumplimiento de aquella salvación que ya hemos recibido gracias al misterio pascual de Cristo: «Pues hemos sido salvados en esperanza» (Rm 8,24). Este misterio de salvación, que ya obra en nosotros durante la vida terrena, es un proceso dinámico que incluye también a la historia y a toda la creación. San Pablo llega a decir: «La creación, expectante, está aguardando la manifestación de los hijos de Dios» (Rm 8,19). Desde esta perspectiva querría sugerir algunos puntos de reflexión, que acompañen nuestro camino de conversión en la próxima Cuaresma.

Each year, through Mother Church, God “gives us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed… as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ” (Preface of Lent I). We can thus journey from Easter to Easter towards the fulfilment of the salvation we have already received as a result of Christ’s paschal mystery – “for in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation. As Saint Paul says, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). In this perspective, I would like to offer a few reflections to accompany our journey of conversion this coming Lent.

In a Feb. 5 letter to his brother priests, Bishop David Konderla introduced a new vicariate structure for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. A vicariate is a group of parishes within the Diocese that are defined by geographic region for the purposes of support and administration.

Now that some days have passed since the November meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, I want to share some of my personal thoughts on our deliberations and what I think it means for the Church going forward. I believe that the work of the bishops and the issue of clerical abuse is unfolding between the two poles of fatalism and faith. The fatalism was aptly represented by one of the many emails that came to me during the week of the bishop’s meeting. It read: “Proud of yourself and the papacy? Did fine work this week. God ____ you all. Resign

Bishop David Konderla issued letters to the clergy and to all parishioners of the diocese announcing that he is joining the U.S. bishops in Seven Days of Prayer and Reparation in response to the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse in the Church.

As the annual celebration of Halloween approaches, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining the Catholic meaning and purpose of all holy days, especially those which have been adopted and adapted by the culture around us. Over time, popular culture has made it difficult to discern the authentic spirit of this great feast, an important time when we, God's pilgrim church on earth, rejoice in the lives of all God's saints whom we wish to follow into eternal life.

Earlier this year, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George (FSGM) from St. Catherine School and Parish were selected by Bishop David Konderla to be the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma’s 2018 Lumen Christi “Light of Christ” nominee. Today, Catholic Extension announced that the Sisters were selected as one of eight finalists out of 47 nominees from 87 mission dioceses across the country.

It was during the "long Lent of 2002," that the Church in America was forced to acknowledge both the fact of sexual abuse within the Church's clergy, and the systematic attempt, extending back over decades, to hide this abuse.

On Sunday, August 26, 2018, the Most. Rev. David A. Konderla, Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma, commented on his personal Facebook page concerning the eleven-page testimony given by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. The full statement, which included a link to the testimony, follows:

On August 22, 2018, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City released a statement that they had received an allegation of sexual abuse against a former priest, Ben Zoeller. The alleged abuse took place in 1985. The Archdiocese stated, “Archbishop Coakley expressed profound sadness upon receiving the letter and apologized for the abuse suffered at the hands of a former priest,” and confirmed they are working with local authorities.

Two short weeks after accusations of sexual abuse against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick were made public, the Catholic Church in the U.S. faces another profound crisis. The Grand Jury Report in Pennsylvania has brought to light allegations of horrific, depraved, and inhuman offenses committed by some of the priests and bishops in the church against the most vulnerable in our care, our children.

The recent accusations of decades of sexual abuse made against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick reveal a serious and concerning problem in the Church. Such behavior cannot be tolerated in the Body of Christ. Please know that the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma is committed to protecting our children, youth, and vulnerable adults. It is a sacred obligation that I take seriously and, as your bishop, I want to make sure that everyone in the flock is safe.

Bishop Konderla recently received a letter of gratitude from the National Religious Retirement Office for our diocese's contribution of $66,953 in support of the Retirement Fund for Religious collection.

On May 21, the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma (“Diocese”) was made aware of criminal charges filed in Evanston, Illinois, against Kenneth Lewis, who was arrested on May 9, 2018 and is currently free on bond. The charges stem from an allegation of sexual misconduct that took place in 2001 in Evanston, while Lewis was a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa.

In early March, Robert Cardinal Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome, approved a request by Bishop David Konderla to add a memorial for Blessed Father Stanley Rother to the Liturgical Calendar in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. As is the case already in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Little Rock, Father Rother’s optional memorial will be celebrated on July 28, the anniversary date of his martyrdom.