I'm sure that folks from Cleveland may think *anything* is an improvement over Pilla, but that could be - shall we say - premature. I'm from Boston, and I'd like to point out that we don't call him "Lenin" around here for nothing. He's a total political apparatchik who, in dealing with (and spearheading) the massive church closure move here, has demonstrated the pastoral solicitude of a hunk of granite. He may not be a totally leftist moonbat, but he's not noted for any real demonstrations of orthodoxy, either. At best, he's a status-quo hack perfectly willing to tread water indefinitely.
I realize that, now that he will be the ordinary of a diocese, he may change, come into his own, and actually prove to be a positive force for the return of Catholicism to Cleveland. But based on his track record, I wouldn't expect too much. May God give Bishop Lennon the grace to lead the people of Cleveland with a spirit of fidelity to the Faith; but I'm glad he's not my problem any longer! ;-D
I call him "tricky Dick" Lennon, he always struck me as a guy who would steal your wallet then help you look for it.
I remember one day I was in his office and he had just done something which impacted me and my family directly and he just sort of smiled and said nothing.
I've also seen the letters he's sent to Priests of the Archdiocese, internal memos authored by him and the way he's treated people.
When you pile that on top of his lack of response when I complained about things like the Pope Joan myth being promoted by a cabinet secretary...among other bad behavior I can't help but to think that Cleveland might be just far enough.
Let's hope he becomes the better man in Cleveland.
Nothing personal, but I generally discount "he's not personable/responsive enough" stories. You're always going to rub somebody the wrong way and always going to take flak when churches are closed.
Well, thanks for throwing water on our "Goodby, Bishop Pilla" party.
Actually, anyone would be an improvement over Bishop Pilla. I don't care if Bishop Lennon is "not responsive" enough to people's feelings, we've had 25 years of that with Pilla, whose biggest concern was his public image. Because Pilla didn't want to upset anyone (except orthodox Catholics), he allowed the heretical group, FutureChurch, to grow from a small, local organization, into a national group. He has filled the chancery with radical nuns and bureaucrats who want priestless parishes, women's ordination, and endless liturgical changes. He has imposed liturgical changes on the diocese that are not required by the Roman Missal, such as forcing everyone to stand throughout the Communion Rite. He has permitted the diocese's gay and lesbian ministry to promote the homosexualist agenda in parishes and schools. He has permitted CORPUS, which is a group of married ex-priests, to continue to agitate for married priests. He ignores ALL complaints of liturgical abuse, general absolution, or public dissent from Church teaching. During the last 25 years, the number of priests and seminarians declined. I could go on.
Welcome, Bishop Lennon.