In Memoriam—We Remember

Bishop Tom Gumbleton (1930–2024)

The Elephants remember and celebrate Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who, for over nine decades, bore faithful and prophetic witness to the living Christ in word and deed.

Bishop Thomas "Tom" Gumbleton was a beacon of hope to so many around the world. He was a man whose life was a testament to the power of faith and an example of unwavering commitment to justice.

View the Bishop Tom Gumbleton Memorial Video

Born on January 26,1930, in the family home on Manor in Detroit, Tom leaves a legacy of love and service. He passed away on April 4, 2024. Son of the late Helen and Vincent Gumbleton, and brother to Sr. Irene Gumbleton, IHM, Tom was a cherished sibling in a vibrant family that included his late sister Loretta Grace and late brothers Vincent, Gerrard, Raymond, John, James, and Daniel.

His life was further enriched by the affection of numerous devoted nieces and nephews who looked up to their Uncle Tom as a source of wisdom and kindness.

Tom's journey of learning and spiritual growth began at Epiphany Grade School and continued through Sacred Heart Seminary for high school and college. He studied theology at St. John Major Seminary and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1956. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Italy. This foundation of education prepared him for his nearly 70 years of ministry.

He began as a parish priest, served as Assistant Chancellor and then Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and, in 1968, became the youngest bishop in the United States at age 38. After service in several parishes, he concluded his role as pastor with nearly 24 years at St. Leo Church in Detroit.

In addition to parish ministry and service as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Tom travelled throughout the world responding to requests to accompany people in crisis, especially in situations calling for human rights advocacy, nonviolence, and justice. His passion for justice led him to serve as a co-founder, board member or advisory committee member of over 50 organizations in Detroit, the US and abroad.

Throughout his decades of ministry, he responded to the cries of the poor, the ostracized, the disenfranchised, and the suffering. In doing so, he experienced his own transformation. Beyond his formal responsibilities, Tom had many other interests. Known as a competitive and determined athlete, particularly during his hockey and tennis-playing days, he also had a deep love for reading—a hobby that nourished his mind and soul. A true Detroit sports fan, he celebrated and commiserated with the highs and lows of his beloved teams, especially the Tigers. It was in his pastoral role, however, that he is best remembered for touching lives through his homilies and pastoral care. Tom inspired those around him to recognize their own call to love one another as God has first loved us. He challenged each person to build a world where all will feel at home, a belief encapsulated by the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Tom was indeed that change.

His legacy is not merely a list of accomplishments or positions held, but rather the countless hearts he touched and the minds he encouraged to think deeply about faith, justice, and love. Bishop Gumbleton lived a life that responded to the Gospel call: to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

As we remember Tom, let us not dwell on the loss, but celebrate the inspiring life of a man who walked among us as a living example of how to serve others with humility and strength. His spirit will continue to guide us, urging us toward greater compassion and understanding in a world that deeply needs it.

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton's journey on earth has ended, but his legacy endures in the lives of those he inspired. May we honor his memory by carrying forward the torch of hope, peace, and human dignity that he bore so gracefully throughout his remarkable life. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.

In keeping with Bishop Gumbleton's legacy, the Gumbleton family would appreciate memorial contributions be made in his honor to: The Solanus Casey Center, St. Leo's Soup Kitchen, IHM Sisters, or Kay Lasante Clinic and select health care/Kay Lasante. Donations by check can be sent to: What If Foundation. 1569 Solano Ave. #192 Berkeley, CA 94707. Memo Line: Designate your donation to Kay Lasante Clinic.

Arrangements were entrusted to Chas. Verheyden, Inc.—Grosse Pointe Park, MI

We shall miss him as a friend, mentor, gently delightful prophet and irreplaceable gift from God in our midst.

Rev. Joseph Martos (1943–2020)

Our brother and fellow Elephant, Father Joseph Martos, passed from this life on March 25, 2020. He spoke before us Dec. 13, 2016 on "How We Got Into This Mess (Why Sacraments Don't Work the Way They Are Supposed To)"

Joseph Martos was a retired professor of religion and philosophy living in Louisville, Kentucky, where he divided his time between writing, social activism, and public speaking.

He has held full-time teaching positions in Louisville KY, Allentown PA, Cincinnati OH, and Sioux City IA, and he has taught summer courses in over a dozen universities in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Earlier in his career, he was a high school teacher and, before that, a parish religious education director.

He did graduate study in philosophy and theology at Gregorian University and Boston College, and he earned a doctorate from DePaul University in Chicago, writing a dissertation on Bernard Lonergan's theory of transcendent knowledge.

Dr. Martos has written seven books on the sacraments, the most popular of which is "Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church".

He has also co-authored four books on spirituality with Fr. Richard Rohr, and he has co-edited two books on Christian history and church practices with sociologist Pierre Hegy.

His book, The Sacraments: An Interdisciplinary and Interactive Study, has an accompanying website.

"Deconstructing Sacramental Theology and Reconstructing Catholic Ritual", written for an academic audience and published in 2015, documents the historical development of Roman Catholic doctrines about the sacraments, proves that they are based on misinterpretations of biblical and early church texts, and shows why they have become disconnected from the lives of Catholics today.

"Honest Rituals, Honest Sacraments: Letting Go of Doctrines and Celebrating What's Real", published in 2017, makes the same argument for the general reader, using less technical language and suggesting ways to develop authentic sacramental practices in the future.

Dr. Martos had a continuing interest in world peace, social responsibility, and ecology. He has taught courses on Christian ethics and he has been a member of local and national organizations such as Pax Christi, Bread for the World, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Amnesty International.

As a member of his parish’s social justice committee, he has visited Nicaragua and reported on conditions there, and he has also made trips to rebuild hurricane-damaged homes.

He was an avid news reader and distributed internet articles daily to people interested in national and world affairs through his free news service, NewsLinks.

Dr. Martos lived with his wife Arden in a Victorian house in Old Louisville, where they are active members of the neighborhood association. Both remarried, between them they have eight children, fourteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Eternal rest grant to Joseph, O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon him.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Rev. Larry Pettke (1945–2019)

Our brother and fellow Elephant, Father Lawrence Anthony Pettke, passed from this life on November 9, 2019 at the age of 74

Father Pettke was born July 28, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan, and was ordained a priest on January 17, 1981 in Detroit, Michigan.

Father Pettke served as Pastor of St. Louis Parish, Clinton Township and St. Bede Parish, Southfield. He also served as Administrator of St. Valerie of Ravenna Parish, Clinton Township; and as Parochial Vicar of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Harper Woods; St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Melvindale; and St. Michael Parish, Monroe.

Visitation for Father Pettke will take place at St. Louis Catholic Church, 24415 Crocker Blvd. (at Harper Ave.), Clinton Township, Michigan 48036 on Thursday, November 14 from 2–8 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Father Pettke will lie in repose on Friday, November 15 from 10:00 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. The family will have a private interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Father Pettke was predeceased by his parents, August and Jessie Pettke. He is survived by many loving cousins, including Sr. Beverly Pettke, O.S.M.

Rev. Dr. Anthony ("Tony") Kosnik
(1930–2019)

Anthony Raymond ('Tony') Kosnik was the sixth of thirteen children born to Anastazy and Angeline (Gorzenski) Kosnik. He was born at home, 17928 Norwood, in Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday, June 21, 1930. Tony grew up in Detroit, and attended Corpus Christi School through the eighth grade. At age 13, he went to St. Mary's Preparatory School at Orchard Lake, Michigan. He graduated in 1947 and went on for seminary training, first at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, and then St. John Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan.

Tony was ordained at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit on June 4, 1955. He was assigned to Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish on Detroit's east side at that time. In 1958, he was sent to teach at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. Before he began teaching, he was sent to study in Rome, where he completed a Doctorate in Morality at Angelicum University in 1960. He spent the next year at the Gregorian University in Rome, and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Canon Law. Tony was in Rome for Vatican II.

Tony returned to Orchard Lake in 1961, where he began teaching first-year algebra and religion in the high school. He was soon "double promoted" to the Seminary Faculty and began teaching moral theology. He served as Dean of the Seminary from 1968 to 1983. Tony gave many workshops and seminars for priests on topics related to sexual morality, divorce and remarriage, and social justice. In 1974, he was invited by the President of the Catholic Theological Society ofAmerica to direct a study of Human Sexuality, in order to provide guidance and support for priests and counselors in this area. Human Sexuality was published in book form by Paulist Press in 1977.

As a result of very strong opposition to the book by conservative elements of the Catholic Church, and his refusal to recant, Tony's contract at SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary was not renewed for the 1981-82 academic year. This led to strong student and faculty protest, as well as confrontation with the Archbishop, and eventually resulted in his appointment to the faculty of Marygrove College, in Detroit. Tony directed the M.A. Program in Pastoral Ministry at Marygrove from 1983 until the time of his retirement in 2000. He also served on the faculty of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary from 1986 to 2000. He directed the Doctor of Ministry Program at ETS from 1996 to 1998. At the time of his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus at both Marygrove and ETS.

Tony served as weekend associate at St. John the Baptist Church, De�troit, from 1961 to 1980, and at St. Colman and St. Clare Catholic Churches in Farmington Hills, from 1981 to 2002. He served as a judge for the Marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and as an ethical consultant for Mercy Health System, Daughters of Charity, General Motors Corporation, and other hospital systems.

In 2002, after forty-seven years of priestly ministry and much prayer, reflection and consultation, Tony made a decision to give up his public priestly ministry and enter marriage. On May 25, 2002, Tony married Dr. Peggy Stack, with whom he had been friends for 20 years. He noted at that time that he continued to have difficulty defending the official teachings of the Catholic Church in the areas of reproductive technology, homosexuality, marriage and divorce, the ordination of women, and mandatory celibacy for priests. After leaving active ministry, he con�tinued to be involved in groups dedicated to Church reform (Elephants in the Living Room) and political reform (Catholics for the Common Good).

Rev. Rev. Ed Scheuerman (1925–2017)

Father Scheuerman was one of the original members of the Elephants in the Living Room, having participated in our founding meeting at St. James in Ferndale in 2003. He was one of the members of the original "Cockroaches", as a vexed Edmund Szoka termed them. All who knew him marveled at his outsized heart, which was matched only by his incisive mind and wonderful sense of humor.

During his 67 years as a Catholic priest, Fr. Scheuerman served our Lord and His Church with faith, hope, and unbounded love. He served as assistant pastor at St. Bartholomew Parish, Detroit (1950-54), then was appointed to the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary in 1954.

In 1966 he was named principal of Aquinas High School in Southgate, moving in 1970 to the faculty of Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods. He continued to serve as priest counselor at Bishop Gallagher after he became pastor of St. Martin of Tours Parish, Detroit, in 1971. While at St. Martin, he served (1971-77) as vicar of the Detroit-Grosse Pointe Vicariate.

Fr. Scheuerman was appointed pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Wyandotte (1981-94), then administrator of St. Charles Borromeo, Newport (1994-95).

He was granted senior priest status in 1995, but undertook several brief assignments after that: as parochial administrator of St. Mark Parish, Warren (1995), and in 1999 as temporary administrator of Christ the King Parish, Detroit, and then at Presentation/Our Lady of Victory Parish, Detroit.

In 1998, he edited a book, "Recollections of Vocation and Priestly Ministry by Priests who Served the People of God in the Archdiocese of Detroit", and his own words in the Preface sum up his approach: "This work is a composite of many minds who answered an invitation to participate by sharing their thoughts and experiences. A letter was sent to all retired priests, those who are active as clergymen as well as those who left the ministry before retirement. It is hoped that the recollections may be helpful to future readers and stimulate some catalytic response through the Holy Spirit by future potential ministers for the Church of Detroit."

Joann Vasely (1950–2017)

Joann Vasely, membership chairperson of the Elephants in the Living Room for ten years, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017. She oversaw the registration table at educational forums as well as the distribution of food. In addition, Joann was a member of SS. Simon & Jude Parish, Westland, MI, where she was chairperson of the Worship Commission, parish representative on the Vicariate Commission, and pastoral minister for funerals.

She was born Joann Gilbert on March 5, 1950 in White Plains, NY. She leaves behind Tom Kyle, her husband; a brother, William Gilbert, in Florida; three daughters: Christine, Marybeth and Jessica; and three grandchildren: Samantha, McKenna and Harley.

She attended Schoolcraft College, Madonna University and Sacred Heart Major Seminary. She served her church well throughout her life; but what she will be remembered mostly is: she gave her life so that her grandchildren could have a life. Her last strength was providing a home and security for them.

Father Bob Wurm (1934–2016)

This is a tribute to Fr. Robert L. Wurm from the Elephants in the Living Room. Fr. Wurm went to the Kingdom on July 25, (appropriately, the feast of St. James—the parish he served so well as Pastor for 19 years). He was a founding member of the Elephants in the Living Room. In fact, the first meeting of the Elephants took place in St. James rectory in November 2003. There were twelve priests and eight laypersons; and we discussed the sexual abuse crisis. Today the membership has grown to over 1800 members, mostly around Detroit, but also throughout the United States. Fr. Wurm was a board member of the Elephants in the Living Room from its beginning until he was admitted into American House, a geriatric home in 2011.

Fr. Wurm grew up in Detroit. When he entered Sacred Heart Seminary in 1950 as a day student, he rode to the seminary daily on his bicycle. He was the student organist for seminary liturgies. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1960. In addition to serving as pastor of St. James Parish, Ferndale (1985-2004) and St. Stephen Parish, Port Huron (1976-1985), he also served as associate pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Southgate (1960-1964); St. Bartholomew Parish, Detroit (1964-1968); St. Hilary Parish, Redford (1968); Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Harper Woods (1968-1975) and St. Linus, Dearborn Heights (1976).

Endowed with a deep love for music, liturgy and scripture, he went back to school early in his ministry and earned the B. Mus. from the Pius X Institute at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. He later earned a Masters in Liturgy at what is now St. John's University and Abbey, Collegeville, MN. He served as Chaplain to the Detroit Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and also earned their coveted Ch. M. (Choir Master) Professional Certification.

Fr. Wurm attended the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for several years until he could no longer travel. He was a mentor of young people. He empowered those around him and watched with satisfaction as they grew in stature and responsibility. He was a lover of nature and planted several hundred trees in his lifetime at his beloved Pater Noster Club near Tilbury, Ontario. He was known for his hospitality and love of liturgy. He also served as an advocate for good organs in Archdiocesan churches, and consulted on many such projects.

I was fortunate enough to have the great gift of his friendship for over 53 years, and worked with him at St. Stephen Parish (Port Huron) and St. James, Ferndale, for 22 years. He proclaimed—and lived— three great themes throughout that time: "All are welcome!"; "We are continually dying and rising in and with the Lord", and "Trust in the Father!"

As Pastor at St. James, he worked tirelessly with parishioners to build Block Clubs to revivify the neighborhoods, invited in and worked with Habitat for Humanity, established a highly successful LOGOS Youth Program, organized parties to regularly take in performances at the Opera (in the stratospheric seats, of course), and printed Mass Leaflets for every Sunday liturgy in his tenure as Pastor with excellent artwork, wonderful settings of the psalms, commentary on the day's Scriptures, etc. He also helped organize and sustain an effective Ecumenical Council of area ministers. Parishioners well remember how on one Good Friday he led an outdoor ecumenical Stations of the Cross up Woodward, including picketing a local Strip Club and later driving it out of the area. When the Hertel organization wanted to turn the State Fair Grounds into an outdoor auto racing track over the objections of the neighborhoods around it, he led the protests and attended hearings that resulted in the defeat of the proposed project.

He devoted an enormous amount of time to researching, reflecting upon and studying the Sunday Scripture Readings, planning Sunday Celebration months in advance. He also created a listing of Sundays where the Scriptures supported Stewardship, and freely shared this with other clergy. He was a great champion of Morning and Evening Prayer, purchasing many copies of the Chicago LTP books of the same name, and encouraging celebration of these Offices, He adapted and produced a booklet, Evening Prayer for the Dead, and regularly used it for wakes in the parish; this same booklet was used for his own wake service held in St. James Church.

Dearest to his heart was the organ project at St. James. In 1986 he persuaded the "Moonies" at the old Fisher Mansion to donate their Aeolian pipe organ to St. James. Then in 1993 he was approached by a wealthy dentist and organ buff who ran a Wedding Chapel down the road from Ann Arbor. The dentist had a 1910 Austin Pipe organ he wanted to give away when he moved to a retirement home in Florida. The pipe work and console from the Austin was combined with the Aeolian pipe work, and Fr. Wurm asked the great Charles McManis (an organbuilder from Waterbury, CT whom he knew) to fly in and tonally "finish" the combined instrument. In addition, Fr. Wurm purchased out of his own funds a small "Portativ" pipe organ by Dobson which was used down in the front of the church to support appearances by visiting choirs in concerts he organized for the parish each year, and to support the singing of the Passion each Palm Sunday and Good Friday in Gregorian chant by the ministers and congregation.

One of the final highlights of Fr. Wurm's priestly ministry was to preside at the liturgy of the American Catholic Council at Cobo Hall, Detroit in June 2010, attended by approximately 1,000 clergy and laity. The photo at the upper left is from that Mass.

He had many gifts and he shared them abundantly. There aren't many like him; and we will deeply miss he presence and friendship.

In fulfillment of his wish, his cremains are interred in the Columbarium of St. James Church, Ferndale, where he served so ardently and well for 18 years.

—G. Furi

Robert Blair Kaiser (1932–2015)

Robert Blair Kaiser came into prominence is 1960, when Clare Booth Luce, wife of Henry Luce, owner of Life Magazine and Time Magazine, helped Bob to become Time's correspondent at the Vatican. He not only covered and reported on events there, he held Sunday soirees for bishops and important guests at Time' rented villa; but he had such notable theologians, such as Hans Kung, who were helping bishops in the back rooms of the villa prepare presentations in Latin for the upcoming week. These presentations laid the groundwork for many of the sixteen documents of Vatican II.

Although the bishops were sworn to secrecy not to discuss the goings on inside Vatican II, a few drinks from Bob's hospitality loosened some tongues. Bob continued as Time' correspondent for some time after Vatican II.

He returned to his home in Phoenix, AZ where he earned his income as a religious writer, on Vatican II and other subjects. Newsweek hired him to cover the conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger Benedict XVI. He was an organizer and president of JAZZ, a social organization of Jesuit priests and former Jesuit seminarians. At the time of his death, he was the co-founder and leader of Catholic Church Reform International. He belonged to Call to Action and was an organizer of the American Catholic Conference, which held its national conference in Detroit in June 2011. He was a member of the Elephants in the Living Room and delivered an educational forum to the Elephants on October 27, 2006. His talk was entitled, Making Our Church a Peoples' Church.

I am proud to have known Robert Blair Kaiser for the last fifteen years. I have stayed at his home in Phoenix, have shared numerous meals and conversations with him at various national conventions, such as Voice of the Faithful and Call to Action. These I will always cherish. I also assisted Bob in promoting one of his books, Cardinal Mahoney. I consider his passing a loss not only to me, but to the Catholic Church. Bon voyage, Bob.

Eugene Cullen Kennedy (1928–2015)

Eugene Cullen Kennedy, a writer, psychologist, and former Maryknoll priest transformed into a lay Catholic activist, died Wednesday. He was 86. Kennedy died in Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI., with his wife, Sara, beside him and surrounded by family.

Kennedy, retired psychology professor at Loyola University Chicago, was comfortable both inside powerful church circles—he was a confidante to the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and authored books about his friend -- and on the outside, lobbying for changes about how the hierarchy handled sex abuse and other issues. Much of his retirement was spent talking to groups such as Voice of the Faithful, galvanizing lay action on church issues.

"In many ways, he was right in the middle of the church and he looked around. He also stepped to the edge and looked deeper at some aspects of the church," said Msgr. Ken Velo, a Chicago priest, former aide to Bernardin, and friend of Kennedy's

In an essay for NCR, posted online in June 2002, soon before the bishops met in Dallas to chart a response to the sex abuse crisis, Kennedy blamed the scandal on the "characteristic passivity of American bishops" and warned against the secretiveness of clerical culture. He castigated what he called a "Pontius Pilate Syndrome" in the hierarchy, a "getting along by going along."

Tom Fox, writing in NCR, gave a beautiful appreciation of Kennedy's life and impact.

Robert McClory d. April 3, 2015

Bob McClory, I remember, was an early leader on the development of Call to Action in Chicago. He was a long time member of the Board of Directors and believed that the concepts of Vatican II should be applied and implemented in parishes across the United States. He was a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition, Bob served on the faculty of Northwestern in the School of Journalism. When the U.S. bishops turned away from Vatican II, Bob became a consummate dissenter. To that end he wrote a book on Faithful Dissent and spoke to the Elephants at an educational forum in Detroit on September 10, 2009, Faithful Dissenters.

I remember his talk was interrupted several time with applause from the audience. I also remember receiving a personal phone call from Msgr. Robert McClory, Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Detroit, complaining that he was receiving phone calls from certain Catholics asking why he was delivering a talk on dissent.

I believe the Robert McClory of the School of Journalism at Northwestern served his Church well. I hope that the issues he championed will come about. Good and faithful servant.