Roman Bishop is "Shocked"

Anton Zgoznik, former accountant for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio is presently on trial for being involved with kickback schemes. The former chief financial officer of the diocese, Joseph Smith, will go on trial later this year.

Also under investigation is former Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla who conveniently retired shortly after all this came out in 2004.

Pilla had to testify in court last week at the Zgoznik trail. When asked by the US attorney to his reaction in 2004 when this kickback scheme was made public, Pilla said he was:

“Shocked. Shocked. I had complete trust in Mr Smith.” (The Plain Dealer, Aug 30, 2007, “Former Bishop Pilla Testifies in Kickback Trial.”)

Comment – I had to laugh when I read this!! It reminded me the movie Casablanca, and the French Captain Louis Renault (played by actor Claude Rains) who, when he had to find a phony reason to shut down Rick’s café piously exclaimed:

“I’m shocked, shocked to find that there is gambling going on here!”

Yeah, Pilla was probably as “shocked” as Captain Renault!

Actually, Captain Renault had a few other lines in the movie that would fit Tony Pilla (or any Catholic bishop) perfectly:

1. “I have no convictions, if that’s what you mean. I blow with the wind.”

2. “I’m only a poor, corrupt official.”

As this trial unfolds, may it show Catholics they belong to a corrupt church. Please pray the Spirit of God grants many Catholics repentance from Rome and faith ALONE in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, no Catholic priests needed!