[dangus]

He's only out of business because he's dead... He was promoted and promoted and promoted until he was the most powerful Catholic in America. He was very influential in picking bishops, and the USCCB, while having no coercive powers, is very influential.

[JNB]

In his last couple of years, Cdl. Bernadin did start to lose influence and power as the Vatican started to move in a more conservative direction. Cdl. Law in the mid 90s in terms of his power was moving up, and by the time of Cdl. Bernadins passing, one could say that Cdl. Law passed him in terms of influence. The progressives have never recoverd from Cdl. Bernadins passing, because he was their power base. Cdl. Bernadin had a influence with other Bishops, vocations directors and rectors of seminaries that Cdl. Mahony does not come close to having.