FROM THE EDITOR
"Silencing" the Opposition
Covington bishop censures leader of renovation resistance group
(May/June 2000)

BY MICHAEL S. ROSE

THIS JOURNAL HAS DETAILED the renovation process of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Ky., for nine months now. Presently, the 30-man renovation Steering Committee has made its recommendations to Bishop Robert W. Muench, and His Excellency has hinted that he will accept their recommendations, which—after much ado by local Catholics—are slightly more conservative than the architect’s original plans. Most notably the steering committee recommended that the 40’ wooden baldachino that surmounts the high altar be allowed to remain. Bishop Muench and his architect had been advocating that the baldachino, the primary artistic treasure of the church, be dismantled.

Initially, the Bishop of Covington promoted an amenable plan calling for a noble "restoration" (not remodeling) followed by public input sessions designed to make lay members of the diocese feel as if they played an essential role in the project. A pre-ordained plan, designed by veteran church renovator Bill Brown, was trotted out to be ratified by public opinion. But that’s not what happened—no ratification was forthcoming. When parishioners and other members of the diocese voiced their strong objections to the architect’s proposals to modernize the Basilica, the next public meeting was canceled. When rescheduled, the public meeting took on a different format, one that prevented anyone from making his thoughts and opinions public. Instead, they were asked to write their comments down on 3x5 note cards.

It was obvious that, in the eyes of the diocese, the public was not giving the input they wanted to hear. For this, they were silenced—all the while the diocesan machinery continued to praise Bishop Muench for giving such a generous hearing to his flock. Responding to this silentio, members of the diocese, led by Dr. Arthur M. Kunath, a Fort Thomas physician, formed the Ad Hoc Committee to Save the Basilica. They held an open forum of their own to let the public speak, and they collected nearly 3000 signatures on a petition asking the bishop to honor his advertised proposal to "restore" the historic cathedral—repairing mosaics, murals, and stained glass; improving the lighting and sound system; and restoring the kneelers to the pews. They also specifically objected to the archi-liturgical remodeling changes such as elimination of the present sanctuary, rearrangement of the pews, moving the altar out of the present sanctuary, and constructing a baptismal pool at the church entrance. These controversial changes—the standard fare—were introduced only after Covington Catholics had made financial contributions and pledges. It’s the old "bait-and-switch" stratagem.

The petition drive was followed a few weeks later by a prayer vigil on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica. Kunath remarked to the gathered crowd, as well as to the press assembled there that evening, that the Ad Hoc Committee did not view the assembly as a "protest" but as a prayer vigil. The rosary was publicly prayed on the sidewalk outside the bishop’s cathedral. There was no antagonism; there was no screaming or moaning about the bishop and his decisions thus far. Rather, Kunath spoke of the efficacy of prayer. He stated clearly that the objective of the prayer vigil was to pray for the bishop, that he may open himself to the graces of his office, and that in the end God’s will be done!

The following week, Kunath, representing the 3000 petitioners supporting the goals of the Ad Hoc Committee, delivered the petition to Bishop Muench, who graciously agreed to meet with him. But rather than simply accepting the petition, the bishop verbally ordered Dr. Kunath to cease discussing the subject of the Basilica renovation in public. According to other directors of the Ad Hoc Committee, Dr. Kunath, who had given several interviews to the local media, was effectively "silenced" because Bishop Muench feels he is "a source of division in the Body of Christ." In accordance with the wishes of his bishop, Dr. Kunath — even though he is on SCR’s Advisory Board — would not agree to discuss the meeting on the record with this editor! "Until the bishop’s restrictions on me have been clarified," he told SCR, "I have no comment."

One wonders how many laymen the good bishop has silenced in his career. And now, to take the step of censuring the president of the local chapter of Catholics United for the Faith for making known the needs and desires of Covington Catholics in such a measured manner (and in accord with canon law), is inexplicable, unless, of course, the bishop feels that Kunath, being an effective spokesmen for disaffected Catholics, has interfered too much with the diocesan fundraising machine.

The issue of the cathedral renovation seems to have escalated to another level. It seems no longer to be about church design ideologies, follies, and fashions, but about authority, manipulation, and abuse. Let’s face it: the bishop’s stock is low in his diocese. People have said, if we can’t trust him on this (in a relatively small matter) what can we trust him with? This is a most unfortunate state of affairs. When a flock loses its trust in its shepherd, the shepherd’s right authority is undermined. Sadly, in this case, the bishop seems to have undermined his own authority.

While the incessant and familiar appeal to the "spirit of Vatican II" rings so loud and clear, this appeal can now be seen as it truly is: hollow rhetoric employed to accomplish the whims of its ringers. Now the bell has really tolled. When the laity speak up, when they speak out against blatant abuses of power and object to the arrogance and misinformation proffered by Church officials, then the "spirit of Vatican II" is conveniently dismissed. Truly it is a shame and a scandal that incidents of this sort threaten to overshadow much of the good and faithful work that we trust Bishop Muench has done and will do for his diocese.

[ St. Catherine Review ]