[old and tired]

Rigali is a firm adherent to Vatican II, but I was surprised that he would not be considered pastoral or one who would listen to laity input.

A couple of years ago, the Pro-lfe movement in Philly began making a connection between a lack of chastity, contraception, and abortion.

Bevilacqua met with pro-lifers once in 1999 and he refused to meet with them again - on the election, on contraception, on teen chastity awareness, on anything.

Recently, Rigali, who knew of their history with Bevilacqua, agreed to meet with them. These folks have reported that although Rigali is not the warmest of leaders, he was keenly interested in what they had to say, seemed very knowledgable on the issues, and absolutely knows the resistance we are up against.

Although this all seems very pastoral to me, two things still leave me a little scared of Rigali. Upon his installation, there was a piece in the Catholic Standard about his "close friendship with Cardianal Mahoney". The other thing that scares me is he has refused to say homosexuals are unfit for the priesthood, and I'm afraid he will lift the ban from St. Charles Seminary.

[Desdemona]

Upon his installation, there was a piece in the Catholic Standard about his "close friendship with Cardianal Mahoney".

Huh? That wasn't the impression I got.

The other thing that scares me is he has refused to say homosexuals are unfit for the priesthood, and I'm afraid he will lift the ban from St. Charles Seminary.

Since that was enforced big time in the last few years at Kennrick-Glennon, I wouldn't worry about it.

[RobbyS]

I have been spooked by the crisis in the Episcopal Church, so that now I can hardly look a Priest without wondering: is he one? Until the bishops speak out firmly and definitely, absolutely afforming that homosexuals ought not to be priests, I will continued to think this way.

[saradippity]

For what it's worth,both Mahoney and Cardinal Rigali come from California. They were ordained as priests within a year of each other.M.in Fresno,Cardinal Rigali in L.A..They may have attended the same seminary.

It's reasonable to assume they knew each other for a long time,they also were high ranking prelates in the Church for quite some time and certainly worked on some projects together.

I can see how that information could be reported and interpreted,even without any intention of spinning,to read,something to the effect that Mahoney and Cardinal Rigali have had a long term friendship.

So it could be just a fact combined with an imprecise definition that means little. That is what I think and hope.