Pastoral letters and public statements
As Bishop of Tulsa, Konderla has issued pastoral letters and public statements addressing Catholic teaching, diocesan life, and social issues, often aligning with national Catholic priorities while addressing local concerns. These writings and statements, reflect Konderla’s focus on orthodox teaching, social justice, and civic engagement.
In 2018, Konderla promulgated Sent to Proclaim Good News, a pastoral letter emphasizing evangelization and the New Evangelization in the Diocese of Tulsa, drawing on Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium . The letter called for renewed missionary zeal in response to declining sacramental participation, outlining initiatives such as formation programs for lay leaders and parish revitalization efforts. [7]
In October 2019, Konderla released a list of nine priests and two deacons from the diocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse of children. [8]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Konderla suspended public Masses, emphasizing spiritual communion and charity toward vulnerable populations. In May 2020, he commended vaccine development but raised ethical concerns about fetal cell lines in research, urging support for alternatives. [9] In June 2020, following the death of George Floyd, Konderla issued a statement expressing solidarity with Black Catholics, condemning systemic racism, and calling for prayer, education, and action to address inequalities, referencing the U.S. bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter Open Wide Our Hearts . He hosted diocesan listening sessions on racial justice. [10]
In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Konderla echoed the USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship , highlighting abortion as a priority issue while urging consideration of immigration, poverty, and family policies. [11] In October 2020, Konderla withdrew the diocese from the Oklahoma Conference of Churches. The conference director, Reverend Shannon Fleck, stated that Konderla objected to the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in a statement against discrimination; Konderla clarified in November 2020 that his reason was the conference’s failure to address discrimination against "unborn children". [12]
In 2021, Konderla released This Is My Body: A Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist, amid U.S. bishops’ discussions on Eucharistic coherence. The letter explored the theology of the Real Presence, addressed misunderstandings, and promoted reverence in liturgical practices, launching annual diocesan Eucharistic revival events, including processions and congresses, starting in 2022. [13] Also in 2021, Konderla testified before the Oklahoma Legislature in support of school choice and voucher programs for Catholic schools. [14]
In February 2022, Konderla joined a vigil outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma, to protest the upcoming execution of Gilbert Postelle, who had been convicted of four murders in 2005. Postelle was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2022. [15] [16] In 2022, Konderla supported the USCCB’s response to the Synod on Synodality , affirming traditional teachings on marriage while welcoming dialogue. [17]
In 2023, Konderla issued a pastoral note cautioning against gender-affirming care for minors, citing Church teachings on human dignity, and criticized federal Title IX revisions, arguing they undermined religious liberty in schools. [18] [19]
In 2024, Konderla issued Stewards of Creation: A Call to Ecological Conversion, inspired by Pope Francis’s Laudato Si'. The letter connected Catholic social teaching to local issues like Oklahoma’s water scarcity and energy production, encouraging parishes to adopt sustainable practices and advocate for environmental policies. [20] Ahead of the 2024 midterm elections, he reiterated his 2020 election guidance, advocating protections for the unborn and migrants. [21]
