Switzerland: Bishop Huonder’s Term Renewed by the Pope

“After examining all the circumstances, Pope Francis has decided to extend the bishop’s mandate two more years, until Easter 2019”, explained the diocese of Chur in a statement whose substance was relayed by cath.ch and lenouvelliste.ch, on May 4, 2017. “This means that Bishop Huonder remains the bishop of the diocese with all rights and duties for the next two years. The nomination of a new bishop will come after.”

“This decision,” commented the Swiss prelate, “is an opportunity for me to pursue and accompany tasks that have not yet been finished.” Among his ongoing projects, the bishop of Chur mentioned the implementation of the Synod on the Family, and particularly the interpretation of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. He plans to publish his pastoral priorities before summer.

Bishop Huonder also expressed his “gratitude” to the Holy Father in a letter sent to his collaborators and echoed by cath.ch. He says he was “touched and filled with great gratitude” by the pope’s “mark of trust”. The pope, he adds, is banking on “continuity for our bishopric”. In a long interview with the local newspaper Luzerner Zeitung, republished by cath.ch on May 4, 2017, Bishop Huonder pointed out that the sovereign pontiff “greatly values the loyalty of his collaborators. But in return, he is a man who is loyal to his bishops.”

The Swiss Bishops’ Conference briefly reacted to this news with a word from its president, Bishop Charles Morerod. As cath.ch remarked on May 4, 2017, the statement is “laconic”: “We have learned of this decision and we of course respect it.”

It must be said that the retention of Bishop Huonder has many people grinding their teeth: seen as a part of the most conservative wing of the Swiss clergy, the prelate is far from being opposed to the traditional liturgy that he even celebrates occasionally. For the past several years, associations like Pfarrei – Initiative have regularly demanded the resignation of the bishop, who is known for his defense of the Catholic Church’s traditional positions on the family or “marriage for all”.

When asked if he is uncomfortable with being the most controversial bishop in Switzerland, Bishop Huonder answered self-assuredly:

I do nothing but what I promised at my episcopal consecration. I remain faithful to the teaching of the Church. That is my joy. All I represent is the patrimony of the Faith of the universal Church. If that sounds like a provocation for a part of society, I can’t help that. In Jesus’ time, the Faith was already a provocation.

Sources: cath.ch/lenouvelliste.ch – FSSPX.News 5/8/17