Gilbert: 'He made me rethink the faith': Bishop Blaire's impact reached many

By Lori Gilbert
Record
December 25, 2016

http://www.recordnet.com/entertainmentlife/20161224/gilbert-he-made-me-rethink-faith-bishop-blaires-impact-reached-many

It may take up to two years for Pope Francis to act, but I'm sad nonetheless that the tenure of Bishop Stephen Blaire, who has led the Diocese of Stockton since 1999, is coming to an end.

Knowing him has made me rethink the faith in which I was raised. It's not easy to be a Catholic woman in the 21st century, or in the 20th or any other century for that matter. It's a patriarchal faith and its position on some issues, such as an opposition to birth control, makes my blood boil.

But Bishop Blaire has made me want to be more than a Christmas and Easter Catholic.

He's a model of what a good Catholic ought to be. It's not so much about policies, but about people, and he is one of the kindest people I've ever met. His concern for the least of our brothers makes me put aside my ideological differences and focus on the humanity that should be at the heart of any faith.

I've watched him demonstrate his true affection for people, whether by attending the small Pentecostal church where his gardener, Vernal Warren, is the pastor, renewing the wedding vows of Occeletta and Bill Briggs on their 40th anniversary or spending time with seniors at Sister Ann Venita Britto's holiday lunches.

Actions speak louder than words, but his words also exemplify his compassion.

Earlier this month, at the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, Bishop Blaire addressed fears stirred by the presidential election.

"The world does not need any more walls. It needs bridges of compassion and mutual understanding. Yes, proper respect for borders or boundaries, but not barriers of hostility and division. Let there be peace at our borders.

"The world must not tolerate racism. It needs to honor the diversity of God's human family by building a unity which embraces and respects all races on the face of the Earth."

His record on behalf of Mexican-Americans, of farmworkers and other immigrants is long and rich. While stationed in Los Angeles, he lobbied in Washington on behalf of Guatemalan and Salvadoran refugees. He has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and when a 17-year-old pregnant farmworker died from heat stroke in Lodi, he marched with others for better working conditions.

At the same time, he respects the efforts of some local farmers who have done much to help their workers. He's a good listener and wants to know both sides of an issue. He's thoughtful and, although you may not agree with his positions, you have to respect his sincerity. His arguments are cogent, well thought out.

He's true to the Catholic Church's position on the sanctity of life. He's been verbal in his opposition to abortion, and eloquently wrote an open letter in opposition to Assemblywoman Susan Eggman's right-to-die bill. What was so typical of that public position is that he commended Eggman on her good works, and only expressed his concerns about a law that would allow the taking of a life.

He opposes same-sex marriage, too, but like Pope Francis, isn't afraid to embrace the LGBT community.

It's ironic that his letter of retirement has been submitted to Pope Francis, because Bishop Blaire seems so much like this pontiff. Both seem to have hearts for those who most need help. They're against injustice. They embrace all cultures, all people and have demonstrated respect for other faiths.

"The only thing I wish is that Pope Francis would have been around sooner," Blaire said. "He's 80 years old himself. He sent in his letter of retirement at 75 and they made him pope. I love being under his papacy. He's a man after my own heart."

Bishop Blaire's heart is big. Even as he dealt with the financial woes and loss of trust brought on by the sexual abuse scandal that his predecessors failed to stop, Blaire always appeared upbeat and unflappable. He had to make tough calls, including declaring bankruptcy in 2014. As he struggled with all that unpleasantness, he was never anything but pleasant and kind to others.

Even after he cleaned up the mess left by some predecessors who turned a blind eye to sexual abuse, Blaire was betrayed by priests on his watch. Dean McFalls left after announcing he had fathered a child. Lawrence McGovern was charged with sexual harassment after allegedly sending sexually explicit photos of himself to a gardener and firing him when his advances were rejected.

The shame is their own, but Blaire no doubt is weighed down by their sins, by their behavior that further erodes trust in the church, a church that the bishop loves.

He has served that church admirably. We know him as a bishop, but he said one of his favorite assignments was leading a church of mostly black members in Baldwin Hills. He laughs that it wasn't his choice to go there. In fact, he said, he's never had to make big choices. He just followed orders given him by the church.

Of course, he chose to be the caring, thoughtful man he is, characteristics that have served him well.

Blaire hasn't reflected on what his legacy will be as the Stockton bishop; he didn't even act as though having a legacy much matters.

Mostly, he wants to be remembered as a good priest. That's a role he will continue to fill once he finally "retires." He'll stay in the region and help where he's needed at different churches.

There's comfort in knowing that this wonderful leader will still be here for us.