I would have never apologized, because he did nothing wrong. I also would have gone all "Dagger John" on the nasty small-minded church women who took this story to the media and are refusing to accept the apology and continuing to trash the man on local radio.
But if you think about it it's certainly a viable strategy, as it quickly separates the reasonable from the haters. You have to be a real jerk to continue to trash the man after an apology like that.
A couple of things, not every multi-million dollar act you are caught doing, can be brushed aside with an apology.
Second, his apology is in keeping with what his critics are saying, isn’t it?
“He said that he was wrong. He recognized that the criticisms he had received were “stinging and sincere.” He acknowledged that “I should have seen them coming.”
Excerpts:
“has apologized for using a bequest to construct a 6,400-square-foot residence at the cost of $2.2 million.”
(snip)
“I personally failed to project the cost in terms of my own integrity and pastoral credibility with the people of God of north and central Georgia,” he said.
“I failed to consider the impact on the families throughout the Archdiocese who, though struggling to pay their mortgages, utilities, tuition and other bills, faithfully respond year after year to my pleas to assist with funding our ministries and services,” he added. “To all of you, I apologize sincerely and from my heart.”
Archbishop Gregory said that after consultation, he hoped that the archdiocese would sell the residence and that he “would look to purchase or rent something appropriate.”