Salt Lake City Bishop named new Archbishop of Santa Fe

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | April 27, 2015 | Olivier Uyttebrouck

[CedarDave]

New Mexicans on Monday had their first glimpse of Archbishop-elect of Santa Fe John C. Wester, who declared his commitment to serve the poor, reform a broken immigration system and to work with others “to strengthen the common good.”

The bishop of Salt Lake City since 2007, Wester will become the leader of an estimated 300,000 Roman Catholics in New Mexico on June 4 when he is installed as the 12th Archbishop of Santa Fe at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe. He will succeed Archbishop of Santa Fe Michael Sheehan, who will step down after 22 years in the post.

Hours after the appointment was announced, Wester spoke of the Catholic Church’s commitment to social justice and praised Pope Francis’ reorientation of the church toward poverty and social issues.

“I feel a real affinity and closeness with our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Wester, 64, said at a news conference at the Archdiocese of Santa Fe offices in Albuquerque. “I think he’s leading us very beautifully. I’m very encouraged by the direction he has taken us.”

Wester, who has written and spoken publicly in support of comprehensive immigration reform, also spoke of his commitment to lifting up people who migrate to the U.S.

Wester said that he remains committed to supporting the church’s zero-tolerance policy toward priests who sexually abuse children.

A San Francisco native, Wester was ordained a priest in 1976. After serving as auxiliary bishop, he served as apostolic administrator for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2005 and 2006.

[CedarDave]

From San Francisco, focusing on immigration reform, social justice and the poor. A "progressive" bishop who probably has unspoken support for LGBTQ issues and gay marriage.

[CedarDave]

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[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

When the first words out of his mouth are about “the poor”, that’s all you need to know.

[CPT Clay]

I thought Sanchez was Arch bishop?

[CedarDave]

Sanchez is nearing 75 years of age when he must resign as Archbishop.

[rktman]

A step up? Well, in altitude at least.

[CedarDave]

I'm sorry, I misread your post:

Sanchez Sheehan is nearing 75 years of age when he must resign as Archbishop. Sanchez was the previous Archbishop who resigned in 1993 amid "allegations of sexual relations with women".

(At least we know Sanchez wasn't gay!)

[utax]

watch the Salt Lake TV news for a week if you want to see what their “compassionate” approach to “immigration” has resulted in.