Bishop Banks says goodbye to a much-loved community Bishop Banks (file photo by H. Marc Larson). Scandals won't overshadow a good career By Monique Balas News-Chronicle As Bishop Robert Banks gave a farewell to Green Bay's media on Tuesday afternoon, he made it clear that his career won't end when his role as bishop does. He also made clear he doesn't intend to let his last year, when he was dogged by scandal, ruin his long career. Banks' 51 years of service for the Catholic Church will be officially over Dec. 12, when the Rev. David Zubik of Pittsburgh will take over as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay. Banks became bishop Dec. 5, 1990. "He (Zubik) said he wants to learn from my wisdom," he said. "Well, I think my wisdom is, come on in and find a good church and enjoy shepherding a good church." He said he would have liked to increase Catholic school enrollment and do more to help with the priest shortage in the Green Bay area, which he hopes Zubik will improve. "It's going to be necessary to raise the money and to keep the enrollment even stronger in the next few years," he said of the schools. Some of his most memorable moments include Renew 2000, a millennium event that drew 20,000 people from nearly all the parishes in the Diocese's 16-county region, and Emmaus, a spiritual renewal program for priests. But he said he'll miss "getting around the diocese and meeting people" the most. Banks is looking forward to continuing his ministry as a parish priest, helping out however he can at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kewaunee. He will serve as a retired bishop living in residence at the rectory there. He was invited by the Rev. William Kuhr, who divides his time between Holy Rosary and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Algoma. Kuhr said he knew Banks wanted to help out in parish work and had an open space at the rectory. "I thought, geez, that's great. Most people are retired at 65, and he's 75-and-a-half and he wants to keep working, serving the people," Kuhr said. "I feel very comfortable having him in the area, and I figure, as he continues his journey to eternal life, this will be a very spiritual opportunity for him and for us. We will benefit from his presence." Banks will help out by giving masses and presiding over weddings, funerals and confirmations. Banks' last year as bishop was overshadowed by his role in a sexual abuse scandal while he was vicar at the Boston Archdiocese from 1984 to 1990. "It's not the best way (to end his career), but it's what happened, it's what the Lord wanted, so I think I can handle it," Banks said. "I think in general the people have a good feeling about me." That seems to be the case. "I think we're, to me and to the Diocese, we're losing a great spiritual leader who over the years has been great for the diocese," said Bill Calawerts, chairman of the board of Ver Halen Windows and trustee at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. "He's truly a sincere person, he gives great homilies - and he's just friendly. He's always got a warm handshake for you, he can listen to you and you can just have a great conversation with him." Calawerts points to Banks' work at Camp Tekawitha, the diocesan camp in Shawano, as one of the lasting good works Banks did for the community. Paul Wadell, associate professor of religious studies at St. Norbert College, has been observing Banks during his time as bishop. He said Banks has served the diocese well, despite facing challenges like the priest shortage, parish closings and the Boston scandal. "He's been a great pastoral man, which is primarily the role of a bishop," Wadell said. "I think he has done well here, by and large, for the Diocese of Green Bay. He has been a good pastor and leader, which is essentially what a good bishop should be. It's just sad that the final chapter of his time here is going to be dominated by what happened in Boston. But that was reflective of the problems of the church at large and not something that was unique to Bishop Banks."