Practically speaking, a reigning bishop becomes a figurehead as soon as the name of his coadjutor is known. While ceremonies will give deference to the bishop, in practice the actual decision-making is done by the coadjutor, and all those who work in the diocese understand that they have a new leader (the coadjutor) whose official installation as reigning bishop is simply a matter of time.
This appointment by the pope of a codajutor for LA is an extremely significant and strong public act of no confidence in Mahoney, and ensures the history of his episcopacy will remain forever marred by questionable doctrinal and pastoral actions.
Somewhere along the line in reading on all of this, I came across the coadjutor being Mahoney’s idea and the Holy See going along. Whichever, it will be interesting, including the possibility of that archdiocese being split up. We’ll just have to stay tuned.
**This appointment by the pope of a codajutor for LA is an extremely significant and strong public act of no confidence in Mahoney, and ensures the history of his episcopacy will remain forever marred by questionable doctrinal and pastoral actions.**
Bump that!
As seen in the Oakland Diocese, which has the last 2 bishops as out of town prolife boys, that’s a slap in the face of the retire flunky bishop Embarassetus. Vatican has his ways of showing displeasure.
The Holy Father can choose whoever he wishes to replace Mahony but I'll eat my hat if Chaput gets the nod.