OFFICIAL NOTICE
Regarding Father Robert M. Timchak

Recent articles in the public press about Father Robert M. Timchak, his relationship with the Diocese of Scranton and about Catholic Church teaching contain many misrepresentations, inaccuracies, and falsehoods. Both the clergy and laity of the Diocese deserve to be informed of the truth about these sensitive matters.

     • A claim has been made that no concern was shown to Father Timchak. It is pointed out that Bishop Joseph Martino and a number of Diocesan officials met with Father Timchak over the past several months. For example, Bishop Martino met with Father on February 7, 2005, and April 19, 2006. Bishop John Dougherty met with Father on January 9, 2006. Father Richard Loch, while serving as Regional Episcopal Vicar, had a lengthy meeting with Father on March 15, 2006. Father Joseph Kopacz, while serving as Diocesan Secretary for Priests, met with Father on April 30, 2006. All those who met with Father Timchak report they made every effort to assist him in any way possible. On May 19, 2006, Father Timchak wrote the following to Bishop Martino: “Thank you so much for meeting with me a few weeks ago and for your continuous support and concern. I appreciate your kindness; it has been very encouraging during this difficult time in my life.”

     • In response to Father Timchak’s reportedly calling “silly” and choosing for the most part to ignore Bishop Martino’s directive about the number of Masses a priest may offer each day, canon 905 of the Code of Canon Law should be consulted. The priest’s obligation in this matter is not derived from a recent mandate of the Church’s hierarchy. It is the universal law of the Catholic Church binding all priests and bishops. Bishop Martino structured for a one-year time period a means to accommodate all priests in their efforts to conform to this law. For this reason the Episcopal Vicars were given special faculties to dispense.

     • Father Timchak is reported to have said the Church should open debate about ordaining female priests and letting priests marry. The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers both of these issues as settled teaching and discipline. Paragraphs 1577 and 1579 in the Catechism should be noted together with their references to Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women and the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, no. 16. In addition, the Apostolic Letter, Priestly Ordination, from Pope John Paul II states, “I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.”

     • In the secular media, attention has a number of times been turned to Father Timchak’s financial concerns arising from his leave of absence. The impression is given that the Diocese of Scranton acted unfairly or unjustly in his regard. Bishop Martino readily agreed that Father Timchak needed a rest. The Bishop, knowing how hard it was for Father to see his parish school close, offered him a sabbatical with full salary and health benefits, several months vacation, an educational opportunity in the City of Rome to be followed afterwards by more time for rest if needed. Father refused this offer and insisted on a leave of absence. The Policy Handbook for Priests of the Diocese of Scranton (p. 4.26) allows no payment to one choosing such a leave unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise. Two efforts prior to the beginning of Father Timchak’s leave on July 6, 2006, by the Diocesan Secretary for Priests to obtain from Father some understanding of his leave and possibly, at the discretion of the Bishop, to provide some assistance to Father went unanswered.

His Excellency, our Most Reverend Bishop, wants it understood that this notice is hereby published only because of the untruths that have circulated in the public on the occasion of Father Timchak’s leave of absence.

James B. Earley
Chancellor
Diocese of Scranton