A funny, moving debut for new (St. Louis) archbishop

STL Today ^ | April 22, 2009 | Tim Townsend

[NYer]

In the first few moments of his public introduction as head of the St. Louis Archdiocese, Archbishop-elect Robert James Carlson made it clear — without saying a word — that some things would change under his leadership. And some would remain the same.

After Carlson entered the auditorium to the thunderous applause of 200 archdiocesan employees, nuns and priests at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury, the very first hand he shook belonged to Monsignor Ted Wojcicki, president of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Both Carlson and his predecessor, Archbishop Raymond Burke, have reputations for dramatically increasing the number of men attending their seminaries.

As the applause continued, Carlson next turned to a group Burke never quite warmed to: the media. Shaking hands with each reporter, photographer and cameraman within reach, Carlson signaled that his era as shepherd of St. Louis' Roman Catholic flock may be a more open one.

Burke led the archdiocese for three-and-a-half years, and once went 18 months without uttering a word to secular reporters.

So began an introduction a long time in the making. The last big news conference held in the Rigali Center auditorium was June 27 for the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI had made Burke the head of the Vatican's supreme court. For nine months, St. Louis Catholics have waited for the pope to pick Burke's successor.

That happened at 5:18 a.m. St. Louis time Tuesday, when the Vatican announced that Carlson, the 64-year-old bishop of Saginaw, Mich., had been named the 10th ordinary, or leader, of St. Louis Catholics since 1827.

[NYer]

APRIL 21, 2009 -- The newly appointed St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson shakes hands with Deborah DaLay, the principal of St. Joan of Arc School in St. Louis, following a press conference announcing his appointment Tuesday morning at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury. (John L. White/P-D)

SAGINAW REACTION

Opinions about Carlson's departure were split within the Saginaw diocese. Some priests felt he had helped dismantle progressive changes adopted over the last 40 years, including the role of lay people in worship services and changes in the celebration of the Mass. Others felt he brought back a diocese that was straying too far from church doctrine.

"It's hard to ask people to be reined in or change direction," said the Rev. John Sarge, who has served in the Saginaw diocese for 35 years. "That's not an easy thing to preside over."

EXCELLENT NEWS ping!

[sr4402]

Any hope he will finally enforce church discipline and Excommunicate some of these politicians that promote abtns and hmslty?

[Houghton M.]

He’s the one who faced down Tom Daschle, I believe. I think he was as forceful with Daschle as any bishop has been with any of the CINO politicians. I think he made his letter to Daschle public after Daschle had lied about its contents. I could be wrong, but that’s my recollection.

[netmilsmom]

>>Some priests felt he had helped dismantle progressive changes adopted over the last 40 years, including the role of lay people in worship services and changes in the celebration of the Mass. Others felt he brought back a diocese that was straying too far from church doctrine.<<

And they needed it!

We went to Mass up there while camping. I let my daughters go to “The Children’s Liturgy of the Word” when we are at different parishes (we don’t have this at our parish). As they left, the entire congregation stood and did the Nazi salute at them. Okay, we’re on vacation, just go with it.

However as the Offertory started, the kids were no where to be found. I rushed out and found them. I opened the door and said, “Come on, you’re missing the offertory!” The teachers gave me blank stares and one child asked where they were going. They came back to the church after the Consecration!

Really bad up there.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Wow! He's a dead-ringer for one of our priests at Ste. Genevieve, Msr. Unger WHOM I ADORE. They have the same laugh lines and I saw Bishop Carlson on the news last night. He has a sweet, gentle sense of humor (at least in the 10 second sound bite I heard).

He did say, he will not make public displays and prefers to handle things PRIVATELY by personal letter and a chance to talk it over. He intends to be hands on WHICH IS A GOOD THING, TOO. I never got to meet Archbishop Burke, but his predecessors were charming — Bishop Rigalli and Archbishop May (say what you will about May being too liberal, he was a sweet man) and Rigalli was the personification of strength in a velvet glove — gentle, humble and resolved.

I'M HAPPY.

[dangus]

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but wouldn’t that be very wierd for the bishop of Saginaw, Michigan to take on a politician from South Dakota working in Washington?

[dangus]

If you’re referring to the congregation “praying over” someone by extending their hand forward as doing the Nazi salute, you’re too deep in the echo chamber.

[NYer]

Any hope he will finally enforce church discipline and Excommunicate some of these politicians that promote abtns and hmslty?

What is your understanding of excommunication?

[vladimir998]

“Burke led the archdiocese for three-and-a-half years, and once went 18 months without uttering a word to secular reporters.”

Awwww...poor reporters.

[netmilsmom]

>>If you’re referring to the congregation “praying over” someone by extending their hand forward as doing the Nazi salute, you’re too deep in the echo chamber.<<

Why I'm sorry, it's officially called "The Hitler Salute"

It was in the middle of the liturgy and has NO place in the Holy Mass. This gesture is NOT in the GIRM.

[NathanR]

Any hope he will finally enforce church discipline and Excommunicate some of these politicians that promote abtns and hmslty?

What is your understanding of excommunication?

If those politicians are allowed to take Communion, they are not actually excommunicated, no matter what the church says.

[tioga]

LOL....the Nazi Salute is exactly what I think of when our Catholic church does this. I ALWAYS feel odd when called upon to do this. They do not do this in the neighboring diocese.

But I have seen the two finger “peace” sign flashed instead of walking over to shake another’s hand......makes the whole peace process move right along. I like that. While they do that in the neighboring diocese, my parish frowns on that.

Go figure.

[netmilsmom]

Peace, babe!

Actually, I’m in an Uberconservative parish and when one of us sees another across the church, we do the peace symbol too.

My hubby is a recent EMHC (since we lost three very Holy Priests). All the parents bring their kids up for blessings at communion. A REALLY big deal was made about the EMHCs NOT blessing people. They were only allowed to look at the Host, then at the child and say “May Our Lord Bless you”.

The Laity is NOT allowed to bless anyone unless Holy Water or some other sacramental is used.

And that just looks evil anyway.

[Ransomed]

I make loud “pew pew pew” laser sounds to illustrate the devestating power of my bless rays when our church decides to do the “Jack Kirby” posture. I figger if they want us to look like superheroes I’m going to provide suitable sound effects.

Freegards

[dangus]

You are correct that it has no place in the Holy Mass. It is not a Nazi salute, or a Hitler Salute. While someone making such a gesture sloppily might look similar to someone making a Hitler salute sloppily, you lose all credibility to anyone outside your echo chamber when you make references to Hitler.

[dangus]

Catholics "praying over" someone in mass. The idea is to reach out towards someone, palms facing them.

Hitler Salute. Notice the thumbs held straight, rather than relaxedly outward, the stiff arm, stiff posture...

Yes, they're similar enough that after having seen the "prayer" salute mocked on FR, I knew exactly what you meant. But you will certainly marginalize yourself if you ever refer to it as a nazi salute.

[tioga]

frankly, in my church we stand in the pews and hold up our arms......if standing right next to someone I was praying “over” I would place my hand on their shoulder. that pic is weird.....we always touch someone we are praying with, unless it’s the whole dang church praying.

[Houghton M.]

He was bishop of Sioux Falls, SD, before being translated to Saginaw. He made a name for himself in Sioux Falls for being courageous. I imagine that’s why he was translated to Saginaw to clean up one of the worst messes (rivaling New Ulm, Minnesota) among the smaller dioceses.

[netmilsmom]

I posted a picture. Who is in that picture?

It’s not a matter of sloppy, it’s a matter of “Non-Catholic”. This is not a Catholic gesture. It cannot be found in the GIRM for the Holy Mass, it cannot be found in the Redemptionis Sacramentum, it cannot be found in the Book of Blessings, and unless you can give a reference to this gesture being directed by the Vatican, it is a Non-Catholic gesture and should not be done. Done deal.

And as for my losing all credibility, reread the thread.