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Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Denver, Colo., Jul 19, 2011 / 04:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict appointed Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver on July 19 to lead the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.Cardinal Justin Rigali, who reached the age of retirement in April 2010, will serve as apostolic administrator until Archbishop Chaput's installation on Sept. 8. Cardinal Rigali has headed the Philadelphia archdiocese since 2003.The Pope's appointment comes as the archdiocese struggles to deal effectively with clerical sex abuse allegations. In March, Cardinal Rigali placed 21 priests on administrative leave following a grand jury report claiming...

When's the last time you heard Catholic bishops praise the Democrats on the abortion issue? Don't worry—I can't remember either. But Cardinal Justin Rigali, who chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a letter today urging passage of the Pregnant Women Support Act, the Democrats' main legislative vehicle for their "abortion reduction" program. During Barack Obama's presidential inauguration, Rigali quietly convened a meeting of antiabortion activists to devise a strategy to combat an expected Obama/Democratic assault on antiabortion policies, so this is a significant development. Rigali has written to all members of the...

Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is urging the faithful throughout the Archdiocese to see the powerful new film "Bella" which opens in select local theaters on Friday, October 26, 2007. Cardinal Rigali said, "This film has a message that is so connected to life: to the problems of life, the challenges of life, the value of life. This film, I believe, is destined to have an extraordinary impact on people's lives." Bella is a film with wide audience appeal. It was the 2006 winner of the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, an honor received by former...

Just days ago, it was noted here that no archbishop of Philadelphia had ever held that most coveted of Curial appointments: a seat among the kingmakers of the Congregation for Bishops... ...that is, until today. This morning, in a move considered both historic and a personal homecoming, the Pope named Cardinal Justin Rigali to the membership of the congregation, the all-powerful Vatican body that oversees the appointment of bishops to non-missionary dioceses the world over. Then-Archbishop Rigali served as the congregation's secretary from 1989 to 1994, when he was named to the archdiocese of St Louis. Before going to...

News Release August 14, 2006 STATEMENT FROM CARDINAL JUSTIN RIGALI REGARDING EILEEN DIFRANCO Recently, there has been extensive media attention regarding an attempted ordination of women, which took place on a river boat outside Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006. Eileen DiFranco, who is known to members of Saint Vincent DePaul Parish in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, participated in the event. Accordingly, the following statement is issued regarding this activity. Recently, there has been a good deal of publicity about a woman of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Mrs. Eileen DiFranco, participating in a simulated ceremony of ordination to the priesthood...

“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them” (Gn 1:27). From the beginning of time, man and woman had a deep sense that the human body is sacred. Created in the divine image, the body is to be treated with respect. The People of Israel particularly gave evidence to this. The reverence with which they viewed the act of sexual intimacy as well as the procreative aspect associated with sexual love set the Israelites apart from other cultures in the ancient world. Many of these other nations engaged in...

Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals? Think about it: He's an Italian-American. He is a distinquished Vatican insider. He is originally from Los Angeles, the largest Hispanic diocese in North America. He was a talented Arch-Bishop in middle-America (St. Louis), and now is the Cardinal of Philadelphia.How much more qualified does a man need to be?Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals?Could the Italian bloc of Cardinals see in him a sympathetic "Italian" heritage candidate? Could the Vatican insiders see in him an experienced world diplomat? Could...

This synopsis from the Archdiocese of St. Louis further elucidates the "brief synopsis" I posted here in January of this year. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish was founded by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick in 1880 and was civilly incorporated in 1891 at which time a provision was made for a Board of Directors which was obligated to follow its 1891 bylaws. The Board of Directors was to function as an advisory body to the parish priest in accordance with the norms in force at that time. Those norms included: * the legislation of the Plenary Councils of Baltimore (1852, 1866, 1884),...

He could win U.S. bishops' No. 2 role By TOM HEINENtheinen@journalsentinel.com Posted: Oct. 22, 2004 The nation's 273 active Roman Catholic bishops have nominated a 10-candidate field that includes Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and two cardinals for election as president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.The incumbent vice president - in this case, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash. - traditionally is elected president. However, selecting a new vice president is another matter. Even though Dolan, 54, has been a bishop only since 2001 and archbishop here for just two years, his potential to...

PHILADELPHIA, USA, October 21 (CNA) - President George W. Bush met with Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, this afternoon in Philadelphia. The president had requested the meeting. The archdiocese released a statement saying that the meeting, which took place at Saint Joseph Parish, Downington, Chester County, "was private," and therefore "the Archdiocese will not be issuing any additional statement regarding the meeting." The statement also notes that "Cardinal Rigali had indicated his willingness to meet with both presidential candidates."

Join EWTN as forty-four metropolitan archbishops will receive the pallium from the hands of Pope John Paul II on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, in St. Peter's Square. The US metropolitans include - Justin Cardinal Rigali from Philadelphia, Archbishop Raymond Burke from St. Louis, Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley from Boston, and Archbishop Henry J. Mansell from Hartford. Tuesday June 29, 2004 12:00 PM LIVE Tuesday June 29, 2004 11:00 PM ENCORE Wednesday June 30, 2004 4:00 PM ENCORE The modern pallium is a circular band about two inches wide, worn about the neck, breast, and shoulders, and...

<p>The procession into the Cathedral Basilica at the start of the Installation of the Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke as Archbishop of St. Louis, right. He was followed by Joseph Naumann, administrator of the St. Louis Archdiocese.</p> <p>In his first Mass as archbishop, Raymond Leo Burke invited St. Louis Catholics to renew their relationship with Christ through a deeper devotion to Jesus' love.</p>

<p>From the St Louis Post-Dispatch: Pope John Paul II today named Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, Wis., as archbishop of St. Louis.</p> <p>The post has been vacant since Cardinal Justin Rigali took over the Philadelphia archdiocese in October.</p> <p>Burke arrived in St. Louis Monday and spent his first night in the archbishop's residence on Lindell Boulevard. He will hold a news conference at 10:30 this morning at the pastoral center in Shrewsbury.</p>

Date: 2003-09-28 John Paul II Appoints 31 New Cardinals Including One in Secret; Oct. 21 Consistory Scheduled VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 28, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II named 30 new cardinals, including seven officials in the Roman Curia, and announced they would get their red hats at a consistory Oct. 21. The Pope also announced a 31st cardinal "in pectore" -- close to his heart -- whose name he is not yet making public. Nineteen of the cardinals-to-be are archbishops of major episcopal sees. Four are priests whom the Pope is acknowledging for their service to the Church. Looking better than...

"Catechesis" on Liturgy varies widely in US dioceses Cardinal Jorge A. Medina Estévez's letter of October 25, 2001 to the USCCB, commenting on proposed American Adaptations to the IGMR, said the following: "In cases where the Conference of Bishops is to legislate, such legislation should be truly specific, and the law intends precisely that any particular episcopal legislation on these matters be enacted in common by the Bishops of the Conference rather than being left to be determined variously in different dioceses". At present, different interpretations of liturgical rules from one diocese to another -- a "balkanization" of the Church...

<p>The herpes vaccine trial for which St. Louis University gets $37 million is a perfect model of experimental design. Both experimental and control groups engage repeatedly in the dangerous behavior that results in a serious infection.</p> <p>The experimental group is treated with a vaccine known to protect against the infection. The control group is given an ineffective vaccine. The study determines which group will get higher rates of the incurable infection, which not only affects the subjects but can result in brain damage or death to their offspring.</p>

Roman Catholic Faithful announces "Operation Second Chance" "I'm 47 years old. I'm divorced. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm gay!" Homosexual activist seeks ordination to the priesthood as Roman Catholic Faithful announces "Operation Second Chance" The president of an international Catholic watchdog group today called upon the St. Louis Catholic hierarchy to block a self-proclaimed homosexual activist from seeking ordination to the priesthood. Citing a 1961 Vatican directive which declared that "advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty" as well as a more recent declaration from Rome...

<p>Parishioners at Our Lady of Providence Roman Catholic Church in Crestwood were confronted with ugly news on the weekend before one of the most joyous holy days of the Christian calendar: Their pastor had resigned after admitting to sexual misconduct 24 years ago.</p>