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Chicago on Top: Windy City Sweeps Bishops' Posts
Whispers in the Loggia ^
| November 13, 2007
| Rocco Palmo
Posted on 11/13/2007 7:28:37 AM PST by Frank Sheed
Chicago on Top: Windy City Sweeps Bishops' Posts
Cardinal Francis George OMI of Chicago has won the presidency of the US bishops with 188 votes, 85% of the total body.
The first cardinal elected to the post since 1971, George, 70, is the first religious ever chosen to lead the American hierarchy.
By a margin of 22 votes (55-45%), Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson bested Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee to win the conference's vice-presidency.
A native Chicagoan -- where he served as auxiliary bishop and rector of Mundelein seminary under Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and George -- the incoming VP, 66, has garnered acclaim for his successful handling of the abuse crisis in the Arizona diocese, which had declared bankruptcy in light of settlement costs.
Named to Louisville earlier this year, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz was elected conference treasurer by a 2-to-1 edge over Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston.
...in subsequent voting, the key committee chairmanships went to:
- Cultural Diversity in Life of the Church -- Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio
- Clergy, Consecrated Life and Religious -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley OFM Cap. of Boston
- Catholic Education -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry of Los Angeles
- Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs -- Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta
- Evangelization and Catechesis -- Bishop Richard Malone of Portland in Maine
- International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
- Canonical Affairs and Church Governance -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago
- Protection of Children and Young People -- Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City.
Several of the USCCB committees are folding or merging at the close of this November meeting.
Of particular note, Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie is closing out his term at the helm of the Bishops' Committee for the Liturgy; as of Thursday, the body transforms into the committee for Divine Worship, with its (yet to be announced) new membership said to be an "all-star" lineup.
Trautman will be succeeded by Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, who's spent the past year transitioning in as chair-elect. A Scripturalist by training, Serratelli is also the US bishops' representative to ICEL, the body overseeing English-language liturgical translations.
-30-
TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: bureaucracy; circus; crabcakes
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the vote to watch Posted by: Diogenes - Nov. 11, 2007 8:14 AM ET USA
The US bishops hold their annual meeting in Baltimore this coming week, with a few interesting items on the agenda. There will be an open discussion about the bishop's role in political debates; that promises to be lively and revealing. There will be a new report from John Jay researchers on the causes of the sex-abuse crisis. (In preparing this report, the researchers asked members of Voice of the Faithful to answer an opinion survey. Did they ask for your opinion, too? No, I didn't think so. Do you see where this is going?) And then there are the elections.
Cardinal George will become president of the USCCB. That's a foregone conclusion; the vice-president is always tapped to succeed a president ending his 3-year term. More interesting is the choice of a new vice-president, who will step into the limelight in 2010. Still more interesting will be the vote for chairman of the relatively obscure Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance.
The candidates are Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis and a Chicago auxiliary, Bishop Thomas Paprocki.
Yes, you have seen those two names before-- in this column, in fact. In the last few weeks, each prelate has taken a strong public stance Archbishop Burke took controversial disciplinary action, and then explained that he was morally obligated to do so-- implicitly suggesting that other bishops are obligated to take the same sort of action. Bishop Paprocki argued that legal attacks on the American hierarchy are unjust and perhaps diabolical. If everyone listened to Burke, life would be more difficult for a typical American bishop. If everyone listened to Paprocki, life would be much easier. It's a very interesting contrast, making for a very interesting vote.
To: Pyro7480; monkapotamus; ELS; Theophane; indult; B Knotts; livius; k omalley; Cavalcabo; sneakers; ..
The candidates are Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis and a Chicago auxiliary, Bishop Thomas Paprocki.Bishop "Tom" won. What does that say?
2
posted on
11/13/2007 7:30:27 AM PST
by
Frank Sheed
(Fr. V. R. Capodanno, Lt, USN, Catholic Chaplain. 3rd/5th, 1st Marine Div., FMF. MOH, posthumously.)
Paprocki’s Science of Right
Posted by: Diogenes - Nov. 10, 2007 2:10 PM ET USA
The Chicago Tribune reports on a Red Mass sermon by Chicago Bishop Thomas Paprocki concerning the legal attacks leveled at the Church since the Boston massacre was reported in 2002. Bishop Tom sees the recent legal attacks as two-pronged:
“The settlement or award of civil damages (for clerical sexual abuse) is punishing the wrong people, namely the average parishioner or donor whose financial contributions support the church but who have no role in the supervision of clergy...”
And its inspiration:
“This attack is particularly directed against bishops and priests, since the most effective way to scatter the flock is to attack the shepherd... We must also use our religious discernment to recognize that the principal force behind these attacks is none other than the devil... I’m not saying the plaintiffs in that case or the lawyer were acting demonically... I’m saying it is in a sense a diabolical consequence when you can no longer provide a charitable service.
Bishop Tom’s remedy, as reported by Tribune:
...reviving some of the safeguards of charitable immunity, a judicial doctrine that fell out of favor in the middle of the 20th Century because it shielded non-profits from suits for negligence and abuse.
Uncle Bob will have none of it:
“Many of the bishops basically abandoned their responsibilities to their flock, and why should we now have confidence in them that they will not do so in the future?” said Robert (Uncle Bob) Bennett, a Washington lawyer and former head of the bishops’ National Review Board. “Enough time has not gone by yet. And I believe that being exposed to legal remedies will keep them honest in the future.”
Something to contemplate.
But there are two larger points to observe about Bishop Toms meditation on equity and the near occasions of sin. He asks us to contemplate that the principle of trickle-down punishment—in play since the fall of Adamis either no longer operative, or at least can be mitigated when it comes to monetary damages leveled against the chanceries. Alas, this meditation ignores the fact that the fathers offspring suffering punishment for the sins of the father has not yet been a sufficient condition for pulling the fathers fiscal chestnuts out of the fire. Furthermore, recognition of Satans touch in the matter would be an otherwise positive development, (forgetting for the moment that it comes roughly 40 years too late) except that when it comes to sex abuse in the Church, the devils started most of their work with the clergy and not with the plaintiffs; it does seem more than a tad off-target to notice just now demonic inspiration, and it stretches the imagination to think that a bishop in such circumstances is serious about the devil. After all, his audience was not his fellow bishops and priests who have some spiritual authority and were known in history to exercise it, but attorneys, who have been called to clean up the bishops mess that the psychotherapists and sex therapists were unable to exorcise.
3
posted on
11/13/2007 7:33:07 AM PST
by
Frank Sheed
(Fr. V. R. Capodanno, Lt, USN, Catholic Chaplain. 3rd/5th, 1st Marine Div., FMF. MOH, posthumously.)
To: Frank Sheed
**Of particular note, Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie is closing out his term at the helm of the Bishops’ Committee for the Liturgy; as of Thursday, the body transforms into the committee for Divine Worship, with its (yet to be announced) new membership said to be an “all-star” lineup.
Trautman will be succeeded by Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, who’s spent the past year transitioning in as chair-elect. A Scripturalist by training, Serratelli is also the US bishops’ representative to ICEL, the body overseeing English-language liturgical translations.**
Good-bye Trautman. Not to sure on Serratelli, but I have heard good rumors.
Any feedback on him anyone?
4
posted on
11/13/2007 7:34:13 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
5
posted on
11/13/2007 7:37:23 AM PST
by
Frank Sheed
(Fr. V. R. Capodanno, Lt, USN, Catholic Chaplain. 3rd/5th, 1st Marine Div., FMF. MOH, posthumously.)
To: Frank Sheed; saradippity
- President -- Francis Cardinal George -- Chicago
- Vice-President -- Bishop Gerald Kicanas -- Tuscon
- Treasurer -- Archbishop Joseph Kurtz -- Louisville
- Cultural Diversity in Life of the Church -- Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio
- Clergy, Consecrated Life and Religious -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley OFM Cap. of Boston
- Catholic Education -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry of Los Angeles
- Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs -- Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta
- Evangelization and Catechesis -- Bishop Richard Malone of Portland in Maine
- International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
- Canonical Affairs and Church Governance -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago
- Protection of Children and Young People -- Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City.
- Committee for Divine Worship -- Bishop Arthur Serratelli -- Paterson
OK, feedback on all of these now!
6
posted on
11/13/2007 7:39:57 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
Rating scale
Excellent
Good
OK
Poor
7
posted on
11/13/2007 7:40:58 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
**International Justice and Peace — Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany **
Poor — needs to retire.
8
posted on
11/13/2007 7:42:05 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
**President — Francis Cardinal George — Chicago**
Excellent
9
posted on
11/13/2007 7:43:23 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Frank Sheed
The settlement or award of civil damages (for clerical sexual abuse) is punishing the wrong people, He has a point here -- but it's waaaay too self-serving coming from a bishop!
I don't think I've heard his name in connection with the scandal. Is he only recently a bishop -- or has he been one and done a decent job?
10
posted on
11/13/2007 7:57:25 AM PST
by
maryz
To: Salvation
International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany Gag, puke, choke, barf ... Hubba Hubbard didn't exactly acquit himself well in the pederasty scandal ... and his diocese isn't exactly a shining star in attracting vocations.
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs -- Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta
Consummate bureaucrat.
Vice-President -- Bishop Gerald Kicanas
served as auxiliary bishop and rector of Mundelein seminary under Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and George ... be afraid. Be very afraid.
11
posted on
11/13/2007 8:01:33 AM PST
by
ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
To: Frank Sheed
Are any of the listed committees actually worth what it costs to print their stationary? “International Peace and Justice” especially sounds like a prize sinecure! If anyone should take to heart the gospel message to “sell what you have and give the proceeds to the poor,” it’s the USCCB (and probably all the other bishops’ conferences!).
12
posted on
11/13/2007 8:02:04 AM PST
by
maryz
To: Salvation
Clergy, Consecrated Life and Religious -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley OFM Cap. of Boston Worse than useless IMHO! Boston's seminary graduating classes are in the mid single digits. I guess the USCCB sees this as where they want the country to go!
13
posted on
11/13/2007 8:05:31 AM PST
by
maryz
To: maryz
Is the USCCB worth what it costs to print their stationery?
14
posted on
11/13/2007 8:08:39 AM PST
by
ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
To: Frank Sheed; Salvation
+Joseph Kurtz for #3 man:Very Good.
* He's our former Bishop of Knoxville. He's holy; and he made Knoxville #1 in the nation for number of seminarians per the size of the diocese. It's a tiny Dioccese (east Tennessee is only about 2 - 3% Catholic, or 50,000) but he recruited lots of seminarians as well as lots of deacons.
Recently got promoted to Archbishop of Louisville. Our loss. Knoxville's now sede vacante.
* The only reason I'm not giving him Excellent (yet) is because I reserve that category for the guys like Burke and Bruskewitz who are actually enforcing Canon 915.
15
posted on
11/13/2007 8:09:16 AM PST
by
Mrs. Don-o
(You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!)
To: Frank Sheed; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany Gag!
16
posted on
11/13/2007 8:19:08 AM PST
by
NYer
("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
To: NYer
"International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
Gag!"
Not familiar with him.
17
posted on
11/13/2007 8:23:00 AM PST
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
To: Salvation
No way Burke would win, he’s too old school, and won’t make excuses for his colleagues who shirk their duties.
18
posted on
11/13/2007 8:33:48 AM PST
by
steve8714
(When full-out jihad hits Europe they'll all want dollars.)
To: maryz
Are any of the listed committees actually worth what it costs to print their stationary? International Peace and Justice especially sounds like a prize sinecure! If anyone should take to heart the gospel message to sell what you have and give the proceeds to the poor, its the USCCB (and probably all the other bishops conferences!).
- The meeting of the International Committee on Migrants and Auto Workers is called to Order!
- Is there any Old Business?
- Hearing none, is there any New Business
- Yes, Bishop D.!
- When and where are we having lunch?
;-o)
19
posted on
11/13/2007 8:44:20 AM PST
by
Frank Sheed
(Fr. V. R. Capodanno, Lt, USN, Catholic Chaplain. 3rd/5th, 1st Marine Div., FMF. MOH, posthumously.)
To: Frank Sheed
LOL! Undoubtedly -- but don't you think the committee name needs a little more, well, pomposity and self-importance? ;-)
20
posted on
11/13/2007 9:09:52 AM PST
by
maryz
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