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Published: October 4, 2007
Rope dancing at the offertory
Retired bishop of Sacramento returns to diocese
 A bishop who said he has been “addicted to the desert” is leaving it. Francis A. Quinn, retired bishop of Sacramento, is returning to Sacramento, according to an Oct. 1 diocesan news release.
Quinn, 86, has spent the last 13 years working with the Yaqui and Tohono O’odham Indian nations in the deserts of southern Arizona. He was a priest of the San Francisco archdiocese for 33 years before becoming bishop of Sacramento in 1979. He retired in 1993. In 1994, he moved to Arizona at the invitation of then-Bishop Manuel Moreno of Tucson.
Quinn spoke about his work with the Indians in a story published in 2005 in Sacramento’s diocesan newspaper The Catholic Herald. While living in a motor home behind the Tucson bishop’s residence for several years, Quinn worked with two Trinitarian priests, visiting seven churches on the Yaqui Reservation -- most of the church buildings being lean-tos. He worked as well on the Papago reservation and said Mass for a group of religious sisters.
The Yaquis, said Quinn, “are Roman Catholic to the core.” Their liturgies have been inculturated, including rope dancing at the offertory, he said, and “doing smoke blessings in the four directions instead of the penitential rite.” He noted, “It’s amazing that, out of a church of 200 people, about 150 will go to confession.”
Quinn said his spiritual life developed in working with the Indians. He used to find the Liturgy of the Hours “more of a burden,” but “now I get something out of reading it” -- even at night, when he normally would be reading Robert Ludlum or John Grisham. “The Mass means more to me now,” he said. “I don’t know why it takes so long truly to appreciate what the Mass is.”
Quinn said he thought lay involvement in the Church “a beautiful development.” “I think God has allowed this shortage of clergy and religious for a reason,” he said. “We can learn so much from laypeople.”
Quinn said, as bishop, he tried to encourage Catholic politicians, not to “just dodge” moral issues such as abortion and capital punishment, but to speak about and promote their “faith conviction” about them. As for giving communion to politicians who are pro-abortion, “in most cases,” he said, “you should not deny Communion publicly to anyone who comes to the Communion rail, because you do not know the present state of their conscience…” When, in 1989, San Diego’s Bishop Leo Maher refused communion to pro-abortion Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, Quinn welcomed her to communion. "No priest in this diocese will ever refuse to give you communion," he said at the time.
In 2005, Quinn was listed as a member of the advisory board for Priests for Life.
For 30 years, Quinn said he has carried in his wallet the words, “good, guts, wise and true.” “They are not in my character,” he told the Herald. “I suspect they are the pillars on which a bishop (or any person) can live an effective, moral life. It’s easy enough to say the four words, but to do them is another thing.”
Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 7:38 AM By PreVatII
Thank God this man is retired! His type of bishop belongs in the Episcopal church, not the One, True Faith!
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 11:11 AM By Gregorian
It's encouraging at least to hear some honesty out of the old Bishop concerning the Mass and the liturgy of the hours. There's something healing about working with the extreme poor, especially when they are of deep faith, rope dancing and smoke ceremonies notwithstanding. Yes, I'm glad he's no longer the prelate of Sacramento, I'm also glad he seems to have grown closer to God.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 11:34 AM By matt
Looking through old issues of the "Moniter", the S.F. Archdiocese Newspaper of old, reveals that Father Francis Quinn had little understanding of the mass then. He was anticipating the Novus Ordo and lay envolvement before there even was any shortage of priests. Pray for this man as his is so deluted. He cannot see the destruction his ideas have wrought. He still believes that these initiatives of the Sixties have bourne fruit for the Church. He has embraced eco-feminism with Mercy Sisters and pagan rituals with Indians. He should have joined the Episcopal church a long time ago. He always supported dissenters, homos and the like. While he is a likeable fellow, he is deeply troubled and conflicted with his faith.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 11:56 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Pray for the Yaquis who have been infected with modernism ala Quinn and Moreno!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
www.crcoa.com
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 1:06 PM By Frank
Thank God Bishop Quinn is coming back from retirement! His type of bishop reminds us that the One True Faith transcends denominational affiliation, culture and politics. See, for example, 1Cor 1:10-15
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 2:58 PM By matt
Frank, The One True Faith is found only in Jesus Christ through the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church. Frank Quinn is a kind and gentle man who has a real love for the poor. I am not disputing this. He is, however, heavily affected by modernist theology. There is no One True Faith without the doctrines of God's Church revealed through Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition. Social Justice, feminism, eco-friendly, Native American Pagan Pantheism and permissive sexual theology is not enough to cut it. Sorry. Nice try. Again, pray for Frank Quinn as he is really lost.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 3:04 PM By John
Very commendable that this good man has done so much work with the poor. His personal adherence to doctrine...? Well, that's another story. God bless him none the less.
Frank, no disrespect, but "the One True Faith transcends denominational affiliation" is rather like saying "Canada is not limited by national borders." It's very definition implies something particular: a particular country or a particular denomination comprised of defined doctrines (or 'set of beliefs') which, in this case, is the Catholic Church.
In Corinthians, Paul is addressing the adherents of one denomination, i.e., those who had been baptized by different people but into the one Church.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 3:33 PM By Francis
I think all those who have been negative about Bishop Quinn should go to confession. When you are Bishop then you make the decisions. How can you judge another person not knowing them. I think there is a need for humility and prayerful support for our bishops and priests in this difficult time instead of this insessant criticism. Remember: Criticism and complaining kept the children of Israel out of the promised land.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 8:30 PM By JPeterman
Wow.. sounds like this Bishop opened the cafeteria. If he leads or has lead the flock astray he will have to repent and repay and no Francis, we're not judging the man, we're judging the man's actions and words which as faithful Catholics we can and should do. Errors are errors no matter who propagates them.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:44 PM By John L. Sillasen
Rope dancing would be interesting. Its movement mimics a wave. Nature is seen as moving in waves. This, therefore, is an element of nature religion. But, what does that mean? Nature, after all, is God's creation. The dynamics of nature, wavelike, are fundamentally important to many people who do not spend their lives in offices or on couches watching TV. Obviously these Indians are offering God their lives in the natural setting. Someone explain why this is a problem, please. As for pagan idols, all you have to do is look at a TV, movie, magazine, shopping mall and you will see more idols than the Indians ever imagined could exist. Modern man lives daily in an idol infested world of his own making. The bishop was probably making his best judgment on where to draw the line. Notice three out of four Indians there go to confession? Christianity is not, as far as it goes in this world, an even/or matter; it is, rather, a progression from glory to glory, as St Paul informs us. One is baptized, not into the Catholic Church, but into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This can be done in a protestant church or by a pagan or Jew, and even so the one baptized then enters the fold of Christ. One can be born in a devout Catholic family of nothing but saints, and yet blow away his or her life in sin. It is one's action towards God that matters; the spiritual resources of the Church aid this movement greatly. But a soul, through no fault of its own, not in communion with the Church, is able to move towards God. Maybe the bishop has been a man of little faith, but enough to make a steady movement towards God. Didn't Jesus tell his apostles, "O men of little faith?" The bishop was among the Indians ... notice that not many other ministers were there? Where were you?
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:59 PM By John L. Sillasen
The word "faith" is being used in this thread in two ways, and they are being confused. The Church has the faith, the whole faith, and nothing but the faith. Men have the faith. Same word, two meanings. The faith that a man has is not as complete as that which the Church has. Your faith is not the same as anyone else's faith. We are meant to develop our faith, not only whatever "amount" of faith we are created with or given, but that which we develop. We are not allowed to rest on any level of faith we might be situated with. We are called to constantly water and tend to the garden of our personal faith. "Personal" meaning not different but not full as possible. A protestant who is baptized has the true faith ... but, again, faith has the properties of both quality and quantity. A Catholic may or may not have a whole lot of faith and yet remain a Catholic. Faith begins very tiny, but can be developed into something great ... when this is undertaken by protestants or pagans, at some point they will recognize the need to enter the full communion of the Church. Oh ye of little reading time, open thy Gospels and read, read the OT, read the saints, pray for understanding. If you think you know something, then you're in big trouble. When you realize you know very little, then God has a soul He can work with.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 11:03 PM By Beau Zeau
Former Archbishop Quinn had to be a bit of a grandstander and supreme egotist to offer communion to the pro-abort assemblywoman who was rightly refused communion by her own Bishop in San Diego. Notice he also threatens the priests who served under him should they follow the lead of Bp.Mahler in San Diego. Apparently the concept of political support for abortion constituting formal complicity in the sin of abortion somehow escaped him.
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Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 11:03 PM By Diane
No, Bishop Quinn,God did not allow this shortage of clergy and religious.....you depraved bishops did it!!! And worse yet, you blame everyone else for your weaknesses. Perhaps you should spend the rest of your life on your knees in reparation for your sins against our beloved Church!
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 12:19 AM By Tony
I first met Bishop Quinn when he landed at Sts Peter and Paul church in Tucson.
I was real glad to leave there while he stayed on
8-)
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 2:32 AM By Maria Martinez
Good grief, another phony bishop to bad he could not have stayed in the desert!!! Dominus Vobiscum
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 6:33 AM By John L. Sillasen
Well, I thought I'd try to defend this bishop, but it isn't working very well. Sparing a lot of words, as I reflect on it, what it boils down to is the puzzle of culture of death vs culture of life clergy. The polarized pattern of liberal clergy working with the poor and conservative clergy advocating pro-life seems to be the refrain. Are these issues and people reduced to commodities to be bickered over by Church officials?
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 9:45 AM By Margie
Dear people of God, now is the time to pray for the coming coadjuticator Bishop who will serve the Diocese of Sacramento. Yesterday, at Christ the King, I offered a prayer of the faithful that the selected bishop be holy, humble and wise. I prayed similarly before the selection of Bishop Weigand. I asked the Lord not to send us a bishop until He could find a prolife bishop.
Let us all pray and make sacrifice and lift up our hands to the Lord that He will favor Sacramento with a wonderful man of God. Incidentally, that bishop will soon lead the Diocese when Bishop Weigand retires.
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 9:50 AM By Valentine
God bless Bishop Quinn. He's a champion for the majority of us Catholics who believe our church should be inclusive, not exclusive. His work with the Yaquis should be commended not condemned.
He is indeed a man of great faith and conviction.
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 11:22 AM By Nancy Cho-Kwong
Oh please Valentine would you like him to also bring back the Aztec practice of cutting out of the hearts of "live" captives on top of Aztec pyrimids??? These "bishops" thank the Lord are mostly Vatican 2 "fanatics" and most are going to be leaving this world soon. Having said that I put my faith in "real" Roman Catholic bishops who teach the faith i.e. Burke of St. Louis, Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Finn of Kansas City. All three are promoters of the "one" true faith and very supportive of the Mass of 1962!!!! Pray for the F.S.S.P. and The Institute of Christ the King for these holy priests will return the Church to its glory!!!! Pax Vobiscum
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 12:39 PM By Valentine
What I would like is to see less hyperbole. And you talk about Vatican 2 like it's a bad thing. It certainly brought me closer with my God.
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 12:59 PM By Peter
Thought provoking quote from an Iroquois Elder:
“If you put the Christian Bible outside, eventually the wind and the rain will destroy it. My bible is the wind and the rain.
So when I step into the wind, and smile in the rain, I pray in secret. Always in my mind, and it is always two words 'Thank you.'"
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 4:23 PM By John L. Sillasen
"who believe our church should be inclusive, not exclusive"? God has given us what to believe; it is not a matter of voting on what true faith is or isn't. Get Catholic; follow what the Church teaches, instead of what you prefer.
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Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 4:30 PM By John L. Sillasen
less hyperbole": Valentine, what you mistake for hyperbole is actually reasoned out thought. It takes a bit more practice and experience in reading to understand it; you don't begin by calling it trash, but by digging in and seeing what the ideas are.
Peter: That is good stuff you say, but you omit the crux, which is the revealed knowledge which is not available from the natural world of wind and rain. But we certainly cannot dismiss the natural elements, either. The hard part is imitating Christ in what He did, namely integrating both creation and Creator in one man. This is what the Church is, and it is up to us to join it, with all our being, not with only nature or only intellect or only heart or only soul ... but totally. The poor, the natural elements, and Divine Revelation are all part of the Catholic domain; a bishop who ignores or defies part of it yet nobly engages another part can only be part Catholic ... and such a thing does not exist; therefore, it's either going whole hog or missing the boat.
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Posted Saturday, October 06, 2007 7:33 PM By Charles
Wow! What a reaction the Quinn story provoked! I came into the story feeling guilty about previously criticizing him. The best advice was from Margie: "Dear people of God, now is the time to pray for the coming coadjuticator Bishop who will serve the Diocese of Sacramento. Yesterday, at Christ the King, I offered a prayer of the faithful that the selected bishop be holy, humble and wise. I prayed similarly before the selection of Bishop Weigand. I asked the Lord not to send us a bishop until He could find a prolife bishop. Let us all pray and make sacrifice and lift up our hands to the Lord that He will favor Sacramento with a wonderful man of God. Incidentally, that bishop will soon lead the Diocese when Bishop Weigand retires." Prayer is the only thing that will help. God will purify His priests.
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Posted Sunday, October 07, 2007 10:10 PM By ej
I know Bishop Quinn. He is a strong man of God. Perhaps, some rope dancing at a Traditional Latin Mass could bring more lapsed Catholics back to the Church
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Posted Sunday, October 07, 2007 11:45 PM By matt
Knock off all the talk about inclusive and exclusive. Inclusivity is code speak to liscense homosexuality and tolerate what is intolerable. Look for inclusive in the Scriptures or Tradition. It's NOT Catholic!
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Posted Monday, October 08, 2007 3:14 AM By Juliette Martinez
Nicely put Matt!! God Bless
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Posted Monday, October 08, 2007 3:17 PM By John L. Sillasen
ej: Then it wouldn't be a traditional Latin Mass, would it? The issue, ej, is the natural realm and the supernatural realm; rope dancing is natural, and when it is ritualized becomes part of a nature religion. The Mass is a supernatural event, revealed to us by God, and not something we could have come up with on our own. Worship is about the supernatural, not the natural. But Christ consists of both supernatural and natural via His incarnation. Rope does not become supernatural, nor do people who participate in rope rituals. To gain entrance into the supernatural, one needs the Sacraments. But natural elements and rituals are not bad in themselves; they can be like prayers, or statements of prophetic hope that the mercy of God will bring supernatural graces to those making the prayers or rope rituals. Such a thing is superfluous in the Mass, because the Church has already included all the comprehensive prayer needed. You might benefit by reading the prayers in the traditional liturgy, and then see if there is any prayer which is missing. Let me know. Further, you don't want to worship ropes or the motions of ropes, because of the mimicry they have of serpents and the motion of serpents. Study of this, or adoration of God for such wonderful creatures, yes, but worship no.
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Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2007 2:29 PM By Rudy
The good Bishop is very wise, one can not judge another! While Bishop of Sacramento, this man was known to walks the streets and visit with the people, giving money from his wallet. The people of Sacramento for the most part would be angered by the comments in this peridoical and comments by the public. I am angered by the comments made in this webiste against this good man. Pleople in glass houses should not throw stones.
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