Posted on 07/05/2003 9:43:51 AM PDT by sinkspur
July 5 at 8:56 a.m.
San Bernardino diocese withdraws complaint filed against the Archdiocese of Boston Inland Valley Daily Bulletin: Rippling effect of positive spirit spreads coast to coast, signaling new inter-diocesan cooperation. Bernardino Bishop Gerald Barnes: "It is important to me to live and be an example of the gospel. That means sitting down with Bishop O'Malley to resolve this matter directly."
Lawyers restart church lawsuits Boston Globe: Court deadlines cited as preparations resume. Lawyers representing about 400 people suing the church say they cannot in good conscience delay their trial preparations any longer. They had voluntarily put litigation on hold for four months while waiting for a settlement offer from the archdiocese.
Goodwill continued seen in local Boston press reactions Boston Herald: "Trust and healing are at the center of what the Archdiocese of Boston needs now, and Bishop O'Malley seems the right kind of leader at the right time."
John Allen reflects on O'Malley choice Word from Rome: Three reasons why he was the Vatican choice: First, he is a fix-it man on the sex abuse issue. … Second, O’Malley is a known quantity in Boston because of his decade in Fall River. … Third, O’Malley is the kind of man who inspires trust as a pastor and as a spiritual leader, and at bottom the crisis in Boston is spiritual.
July 4 at 9:32 a.m. He fairly radiated compassion, contrition and humility. This is how the editors at the Berkshire Eagle in Pittsburgh, Mass. summed up the bishop set to take over Boston. "One half expected a crowd of birds and small animals to gather around him," after he showed up in his Franciscan garb asking for forgiveness. Francis, of course, was a reformer, a Call to Action kind of religious figure. "He restored a focus on spirituality and ministry to the poor to a church that had grown wealthy, powerful and corrupt." Are the editors here suggesting something?
Would that there were many more in sight to reassure worshipers about the virtue of their priests. The New York Times this morning is also marveling at what appears to be a seeming humble and contrite bishop. Inevitably some of his warts will surface, no doubt, because he his human like the rest of us. But for the moment the entire church seems fixated at the possibility that seemingly a Christian leader has been appointed to a key Catholic leadership position. Write the editors: "Would that there were many more in sight to reassure worshipers about the virtue of their priests."
Would that the bishops have listened…
Then the Times goes on to say: "There are other bishops similarly dedicated, but their task has been weighted by the American hierarchy's arrogant history of trying to bury the scandal and rebuff the voice of the laity. As early as 1985, the National Catholic Reporter warned that a 'broader scandal' was brewing in the bishops' protection of abusers. That scandal arrived, and it will remain until the Vatican and the hierarchy turn even more to the church's strength in forthright people like Bishop O'Malley."
July 3 at 9:15 a.m. Report: Bishop Sean O'Malley will be installed archbishop of Boston on July 30.
Report: Low-key installation is O'Malley wish.
Reactions to the O'Malley appointment continue to fill Catholic press coverage. New York Times news analysis by religion writer Laurie Goodstein captures Boston euphoria -- "He looks like Santa Claus dressed up as St. Francis." Also cites intractable challenges. "There are organized lobbies of priests and laypeople pressing for changes in the hierarchical, top-down management style. And there is also a larger and more mobilized group of sexual abuse victims than he has ever contended with before."
Appointment highlights leadership crisis in US episcopal ranks.
Rap: Pope gets high marks for missionary zeal, but pontificate has produced few strong bishops. Some say issues too large for troubled church. Others that fixation on orthodoxy produces institutional bishops unable to dare the risks required by true leaders.
Richard N. Ostling of the Associated Press writes: "The appointment of Bishop Sean O'Malley to head the Boston archdiocese just months after he was sent to rebuild the church in Palm Beach, Fla., shows he is trusted by the Vatican but has raised questions about whether the Roman Catholic church has too small a pool of capable leaders." He writes: "Liberals see a conservative pope who has picked bishops for their loyalty over leadership skills. Conservatives see a church with problems so large that relatively few people can handle them."
Musical thrones: Palm Beach to Boston; New York to Palm Beach.
Overshadowed by the Boston appointment is another: Ogdensburg, NY Bishop Gerald Barbarito will fill the Palm Beach vacancy. At a press conference called to announce his appointment, Barbarito said, "I am as surprised to be here as you are this morning." NCR profiled Barbarito with a report filed July 2.
Palm Beach editorial: Stuart News welcomes new bishop "Hopefully Barbarito will have a longer stay."
Report: Left hanging interim Boston cleric, Bishop Richard Lennon.
Lest we not forget. This report, via Abuse Tracker, staffed by Kathy Shaw, religion writer for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, on Poynter Institute Web site:
Boston Globe Thomas Farragher: O'Malley sits eye to eye with men and women whose lives have been shattered by clergy sex abuse.
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