Posted on 01/06/2025 2:57:57 PM PST by ebb tide
The Washington Post had confirmed it last night, and the Vatican Bollettino published it this morning: the bishop of San Diego, McCarrick alum and Cupich-named Cardinal, Robert McElroy will be the new Archbishop of Washington.
It seems quite appropriate that the news comes as the District of Columbia is covered by the largest winter storm in a decade. Snow and ice blow from the west, as chilly winds bring the ultimate McCarrick insider to the capital of the United States.
McElroy is almost 71, and already a Cardinal -- an unusually late appointment considering the canonical and usual retirement age of 75. When he was named Cardinal, in 2022, California Catholics couldn't believe their eyes, considering McElroy's history of obfuscation, or worse, regarding the sordid story of former Cardinal "Uncle Ted" McCarrick, whose great seat of power was... Washington itself:
Finally, there are also those who cannot believe that the Pope is so tone deaf to the fallout of the Uncle Ted McCarrick scandal in the American Church that he would promote a prelate like McElroy who was a longtime associate and friend of McCarrick’s, benefited from McCarrick’s promotion of his ecclesiastical career, and who surely must have known something about Uncle Ted’s darker proclivities and yet said nothing. ... In an era where the Church’s credibility in the public arena has been fatally compromised by the rolling nightmare of the sex abuse scandals, Pope Francis should have perhaps taken this into deeper consideration before promoting McElroy, who was the face of obstruction (along with Cardinals Cupich and Tobin), to the efforts of the USCCB to pressure the Vatican for more transparency on the status of the McCarrick investigation.
Indeed, McElroy was one of the bishops who voted against a USCCB petition pressing the Vatican for more transparency and speed in the McCarrick investigation. I repeat: he voted against transparency. Which marks him off as either someone who is: A) personally compromised himself in the McCarrick situation and who is seeking to cover things up; B) uncaring toward the victims of abuse; C) a Pope Francis sycophant who was simply trying to shield the Pope from criticism; or D) all, or some combination, of the above.
All that said, I think there is a need to identify the root issue at stake in all of these concerns and criticisms. Beyond particular and proximate issues such as LBTQIAA+++ promotion, Eucharistic discipline, sex abuse scandals, and obstructionism, it is important to ask a simple question: why does Pope Francis like Bishop McElroy enough to make him a Cardinal? After all, the man has some serious baggage…
It is all very bizarre, but the particular reason for this nomination is almost certainly related to last November's election. McElroy's obsession with "LGBT etc" issues and "immigration" matters all but assured a Francis response to Americans, in particular American Catholics, who overwhelmingly voted to give Donald J. Trump a second term.
McElroy will probably try to be confrontational regarding the Administration -- but with what credibility? As a McCarrick defender? The "vibe shift" in American life, and in American Catholicism, is real, and a tainted bishop will only increase the hostility of serious Catholics towards a dying breed of liberal clergy.
Why does the Vatican have a wall around it if “immigration” is something we should have an infinite amount of?
Trump should have this Molester's Advocate blocked at the border as a moral hazard, detained in a cell for a few days while his history is investigated, and then sent back, hog-tied, in the plane he arrived in.
Blocked at what border?
My take for the Archdiocese of DC, they have my prayers. Cardinal McElroy is your over educated theologian who thinks he knows better than anyone else. And I am not anti education but when it turns into elitism like McElroy with degrees from Stanford and Harvard, well bastions of climate change, green energy, open borders for migrants and the like.
But at this has geopolitical vibes to me. Brian Burch who runs the Catholicvote organization (501C) was instrumental in getting the Catholic vote to about 6 out of 10 for Trump and among weekly Mass attending Catholics, closer to 7 out of 10. He has been very critical of Pope Francis and his Papacy getting involved in the global economic issues like migrant movement, which is about cheap labor for big business in my view, climate and green energy, etc as well as some of Pope Francis appointments and governance decisions like the China deal regarding Bishops and the Church in China.
President Trump appointed Burch as the Ambassador to the Vatican which means he will be dealing directly with the Vatican Secrtary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin (who brokered the deal with the Chinese Government) and Pope Francis.
Well it seems the Pope turned around and appointed Cardinal McElroy to DC as he has been the most outspoken critic of President Trump during his first term.
Just my analysis, open to comments and suggestions and differing views.
With this appointment, Bergoglio is declaring war on Trump and the sovereignty of the U.S.
Is that critter wearing the deacon stole male or female?
Interesting comments in that graphic. Catholic Doctrine holds that immigrants are obliged to obey the just laws of their host country. Border jumping, lying about refugee status, and overstaying a visa are all violations of our just immigration laws. Mass deportation of foreign lawbreakers is absolutely compatible with Catholic Doctrine.
Mr. McElroy is gravely mistaken.
You can take care of all of the illegals then, Elroy.
Maybe the Church needs to have an insurrection.
This simply is Jorge Bergoglio saying F You to American Catholics. McElroy is not quite as big a POS as Bergoglio but he comes quite close, although Cupich is right up there as well.
Washington, D.C.!
His dorky Eminence currently lives and spreads heresy in San Diego.
Looking on the bright side, we got that heretical POS out of California. Hey, McElroy, don’t let the door hit you in your ass as you leave San Diego.
Do we have any civilian or administrative recourse in delaying or otherwise impeding this appointment? Serious question.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
OMG!!
Exactly!
Most of the areas surrounding DC — the Diocese of Arlington, Diocese of Richmond, etc. — are part of the region under the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
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