Pope Set to Make Mark on U.S. Church

Guardian Unlimited ^ | April 12, 2007 | ERIC GORSKI (AP Religion Writer)

[Frank Sheed]

Two years into his reign, Pope Benedict XVI is finally poised to make a major mark on American Catholicism with a string of key bishop appointments and important decisions about the future of U.S. seminaries and bishops' involvement in politics.

Benedict's election on April 19, 2005, shook liberals and comforted conservatives who expected a doctrinal hard-liner. So far, they have found an easier hand - and someone who has not made the United States much of a priority.

When Benedict has gained attention, it has mostly been on the world stage, focusing on the re-Christianization of Europe, Islam and mending relations with Orthodox Christians. He also has stressed universal themes of faith and reason.

``The last two years have been much quieter years as far as the papacy is concerned because you have a very different personality'' than John Paul II, said Monsignor Robert Wister, chairman of the church history department at Seton Hall University's School of Theology.

``Many Americans were surprised - some happily, some disappointed - that he did not turn into the pit bull of dogma. He is taking a very pastoral approach, and I think people resonate very positively with that.''

Yet America's turn may be coming. At the top of the list is a looming generational shift among the nation's bishops, whose decisions at the local level greatly affect Catholics in the pews and can carry national weight. For instance, church leaders recently closed parishes in Boston and New York, while the St. Louis archbishop has clashed with a heavily Polish parish over control of its assets.

Key appointments are expected in New York, Baltimore and Detroit, where cardinals have reached retirement age - 75. And retirements or appointments are likely in at least seven other archdioceses...

[sionnsar]

I’ll see if I can breathe some life into this thread tomorrow...

Here's some help.

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[rottndog]

Guess I need more coffee from my new coffee maker....

};oþ

{{{'Face}}}

[sionnsar]

Coffee. Hm.

Haven't had my weekly half-cup yet. *\ =8-O

[rottndog]

Pics from yesterdays mission.

[Monkey Face]

Morning, guys!

I just had some cocoa, but it doesn’t seem to be sitting well.

I need Bobby Van to “Make Me Laugh” and maybe I’ll forget about my tummy.

[sionnsar]

Great job, rottndog!

[sionnsar]

Intestinal upset??

[Monkey Face]

Are you in any of the photos? (I like the photos of the piper!)

I was doing fine *not* until I saw the piccie of the officer giving the flag to the dad. Then I kinda lost it.

Thanks for the photos, and thanks for the great service you give to our Fallen Heroes. {{{{{rottie}}}}}

[Monkey Face]

I think my ulcers are back. Probably from the Motrin I took for my leg.

[sionnsar]

Ulcers. Ugh!

[rottndog]

Not in any of these pictures. A couple of spots where I am right next to the shot, but not in the frame.

Here's One of me in a previous service.

[Soaring Feather]

Howdy to you.

How goes the weekend?? Quiet one here, great temps, low humidity, super day.

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Monkey Face, sorry you are not feeling so great. ;(

*HUGS*

[sionnsar]

Looks like it will be a nice day here. Quiet one too -- although we usually go to the (huge) Pacific Northwest Folklife Festival this day (and Monday), the performances of interest this year are so thin we're probably going to beg off.

Sad. One of our favorites, a Persian band called Shourangeez broke up when their lead singer moved away, and although they are apparently re-forming there's nothing on the schedule.

A lot of regular performers seem to be missing.

And they've got weird non-musical stuff on a bunch of stages -- somebody doing Japanese calligraphy a number of times, something else on water-witching, something again on fire-fighting, again multiple times, multiple stages,

Strange. The performers play for free (far many of them this is publicity), but... they just aren't there.

[sionnsar]

Do you have any medication to help?

[Monkey Face]

OK...so which one is you???

[Monkey Face]

My sediments exactly.

[Monkey Face]

Thanks, Ms. Feather!

It’s not as bad as it was earlier in the week, but still, it keeps me from doing what I need to do.

[Monkey Face]

No. It’s been 30 years or more since I had any problems with them, so I’ll just watch what I eat and try to coax them to go away.

[sionnsar]

25 years since a “pre-ulcerous condition.” That was bad enough. Fortunately they had just invented Tagamet.