There are a lot of bishops floating around this country, and every now and then I stumble across one I haven’t heard of before: someone who is quietly but diligently tending his flock, in a far-flung corner that doesn’t get as much attention as, say, New York or Washington or Los Angeles.

This bishop is one of those, and he’s generated a fair amount of controversy:

Bishop Robert Vasa, the Catholic leader who oversees parishes and missions in the 66,000-square-mile Diocese of Baker, understands the paradox of how people view him.

Is he a heartless ogre who pursues his conservative agenda with no regard to its effect on others, Vasa asked rhetorically, or is he “a humble, generous, kindhearted servant of God?”

Vasa, 56, is the spiritual leader for Catholics in the diocese, which covers all of Central and Eastern Oregon and is headquartered in Bend. He acknowledges that his decisions in the diocese since his ordination as bishop in 2000 have stirred controversy. He has been a tireless voice on the pro-life front, both religiously and politically. He has denounced groups such as Call To Action, which wants to reform the Catholic church to allow female clergy, let local parishes have a voice in appointing bishops and revise the church’s teachings on sexuality, among other changes. And, Vasa has required church leaders in his diocese to affirm certain tenets of the Catholic doctrine, or they are not allowed to hold their leadership positions.

“Really, the only way to avoid criticism or contention is to do absolutely nothing,” he said.

But that’s not in his nature, he said. “I have a bias for action.”

Vasa’s actions during the past seven years have led to some families stepping away from the Catholic Church and some former church leaders stepping down from their roles as cantors, ministers of Holy Communion or liturgical readers. But they have also earned him praise from hundreds of supportive Catholics in his diocese and across the country.

Vasa is unapologetic about his traditional stance on Catholic doctrine.

“I as a teacher have an obligation to say these are not opinion, they are our teachings and are part and parcel of the Catholic Church,” he said. “These are things which stem directly from God himself.”

Continue with the rest for more on his background and some thoughts from people in his flock.

Photo: by Andy Tullis, The Bend Bulletin