Rigali likes him. And Rigali is even tighter with BXVI than he was with John Paul II.
Rigali seems to be an affirmative action kingmaker: he has promoted more Hispanics and blacks than Bernardin did, hands down. Most of these appointments are deserved, to be sure. I fully expect over half the bishops of Texas to be Hispanic in ten years.
Rigali likes him? That is surprising.
Rigali never liked Braxton. Nobody here liked Braxton and we were really happy when he was shipped off. He probably was elevated because he was one of the few who had the degree at the time.
Seriously, Belleville isn't St. Louis and both sides of the river will tell you that. Braxton likes the trappings of bishop too much and that is going to get him into big trouble in Belleville.