Posted on 02/02/2009 3:43:05 PM PST by markomalley
Pope Benedict XVI is set to announce a new Archbishop of New York to replace Cardinal Edward Egan, an informed Vatican source tells Newsmax.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source says the decision was made today and an announcement is expected “within the next week to ten days”. He says Cardinal Egan’s successor is from the “conservative and orthodox” wing of the Church.
Speculation on the next leader of the New York Archdiocese, one of the most important posts in the U.S. Roman Catholic Church, has been going on for some time among church-watchers.
Cardinal Egan, 76, submitted his resignation in 2007 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75, but the Pope asked him to stay on in the post. Many commentators saw Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York last year as a final farewell to the cardinal.
Names often cited as Egan’s possible successor include Archbishop Harry Mansell of Hartford, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, Archbishop John Myers of Newark, Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan.
Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has also been named as a potential candidate in the past, however the new archbishop will not be him, according to the source.
The Pope has chosen an archbishop who is “dynamic, conservative and orthodox”, he says – traits which Vatican watchers say best match those of Archbishop Dolan. The 59 year old prelate is said to be good with the media, genuine, and intelligent. He also has Irish ancestry, a common characteristic of previous archbishops of New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
This is helpful to learn more about the bishop’s lineage, such as which diocese they are from, who ordained them, etc.:
http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/us.html
Abp Mansell of Hartford, 71: originally from Diocese of New York, consecrated by John Paull II himself, with Cdl. Rigali (very orthodox US Abp) and Cdl. Re (head of congregation of bishops). That’s about as top-line as you’re going to get, but wasn’t too young (55).
Abp Dolan of Milwaukee, 58: from St. Louis. At 44, he was made rector of the Pontifical College of North America. At 51, he was made Aux. bishop of St. Louis, and only a year later, archbishop of Milwaukee, in 2002. He was consecrated by Cdl Rigali, Abp Naumann (KC) and Bp Sheridan (Col Spr), both conservatives from Rigali’s tutelage (sp?).
Abp Myers of Newark, 67: from Peoria. Conservative. Consecrated by O’Rourke of Peoria, and not by his archbishop, the Don of the Lavendar Mafia, Cdl. Bernadin, so that’s some interesting polictics there? Co-consercrated by Cdl. Wuehrl of DC, who some seem to playing up into a national primate.
Abp Nieves of San Juan, 58. From Elizabeth, NJ. Don’t know much about him, but his origins are interesting; he’s Abp of Puerto Rico, where many New York Catholics are from, but he’s from the NY metro area. Consecrated by faux-conservative pedophile-protector Cdl Law of Boston, co-consecrated by the heroic Cdl O’Connor of NY, and Cdl. Aponte Martinez of... San Juan? Question: If Benedict was so hot on this guy, wouldn’t he have gotten Martinez’ red hat? (But them who knew San Juan had a cardinal?)
Abp Wilton Gregory, of Atlanta, 61. AAARGH! Consecrated by Scarlet Bernadin of Chicago
No seriously, folks... I just don’t see it. There’s no way this is consistent with picking a conservative, and if Benedict wanted someone to represent the minorities of NY (and I have no basis to think that Benedict thinks so politically correctly), wouldn’t Gonzalez make a better choice?
again?
Cardinal Egan is respected here.
Egan was a lot more conservative than people give him credit for. But he came in amidst scandals in New York and his own former diocese, so had little credibility, with the left or the right. He busted some heads for orthodoxy’s sake, fueling the left’s scandal-mongering, but the right was too suspicious to champion him.
If you can picture John McCain winning the last election, and now the current economic crisis, you can maybe get a sense of the boat Egan was in. But whereas we’d all expect McCain to run to the left, Egan did not.
If there was one thing he lacked, it was the charm to get out in front of the cameras and be loved, like John Paul or Cardinal O’Connor; to play enforcer when people don’t find it otherwise easy to warm up to you is so much more difficult, and it’s easy to stir accusations that you don’t just don’t have a loving heart. But it makes the persistence all the more an act of charity.
***He also has Irish ancestry***
That removes several from the list. Is “Dolan” Irish?
I know that Cardinal Egan is respected, but I think it is necessary to replace him with someone as orthodox and conservative as possible.
Thank you — what a fine description.
I think it could be this, from American Papist:
Legionaries founder Maciel fathered children, could be renounced as spiritual founder
I say Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City.
It will be the good guy from Denver - Chaput.
That would really be something.
No, thanks. Egan has been bad enough. We need someone more like O'Connor who is willing to use the pulpit that is the See of New York to preach the Gospel.
Sorry! You’re right - he needs to go to Borrioboola-Gha or someplace even more remote. As Spike Milligan said, “In the general direction of Away.”
Conservative orthodox = Archbishop Mansell. Cardinal O’Connor while dying made a trip to John Paul Ii and begged for his replacement to be Mansell.
EGAN was appointed as an interim...
Mansell reeks of holiness as did JOHN PAUL II and is brilliant.
He is so like Jesus in a quiet dignity that it is a moving experience to be in the same building with Him
We are better persons to know Archbishop Mansell and as a New Yorker we need to welcome this favorite son home.
Marian Monica
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