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Madison Catholic Bishop Robert C. Morlino died Saturday night, three days after suffering a "cardiac event" in planned medical tests, the Madison Catholic Diocese said. He was 71 years old.
Morlino died at 9:15 pm at St. Mary's Hospital, the diocese said in a statement asking the faithful to "pray for the rest of his soul, for his friends and colleagues, as well as for all the faithful of the diocese of Madison ".
This announcement followed a series of increasingly urgent messages over the weekend on Facebook and elsewhere for prayers after Morlino suffered a heart attack while he was undergoing medical tests.
At the bishop's request, spokesman Brent King said Friday night: "The decision was made not to disturb people for Thanksgiving day, but it is now timely to inform the faithful and all people of good will and ask for your prayers. "
In the early evening, however, the diocese sought "urgent prayers" for Morlino, adding that "our hope was a miracle" for the recovery of the bishop.
"While yesterday morning contained a number of good reasons to hope for the recovery of the bishop, many disappointments were recorded in this regard," said the Vicar General of the Diocese, Mgr. James Bartylla, said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
"Unfortunately, things have continued to turn out for the worst and it is likely that our hope lies in a miracle at this point," Bartylla said, adding, "I would ask that in addition to prayers for a miracle, you Also ask if and when the time comes, the bishop would receive the grace of a happy death and soon look at the face of our God. "
A vigil of prayer all night of Adoration had been convened Saturday night in the morning of Sunday at Holy Name Heights. After the announcement of Morlino's death, the vigil continued, "now for the rest of his soul," said the diocese.
Morlino was installed on August 1, 2003 as the fourth bishop of Madison. He quickly became a force of polarization, defending conservative Church teachings that were often at odds with the more liberal flock he was leading.
A fervent traditionalist beloved of Catholics looking for a strong advocate of church doctrine, Morlino has forged a national reputation in vigorously opposing abortion. and homosexual unions.
Under his mandate, more and more young men were studying to become priests, Latin masses returned to certain regions and priests were encouraged to use only boys and seminarians as altar servers – changes which have attracted the praise of traditionalists. In his messages to the faithful, Morlino has repeatedly emphasized the church's opposition to abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage.
But some parishioners, especially women and homosexuals, have said they feel obliged to drop Morlino's rhetoric and actions, although the number of churches is declining nationally, across many denominations.
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