AmericanPapist Comments
Boyea has been rumored to take over Fort Wayne-South Bend when the over-75 Bishop D'Arcy retires...Of course thats just a rumor. It does make some sense though, FW-SB has a history of recieving auxiliary Bishop's from elsewhere and Boyea has an academic background which would help him deal with Notre Dame. Regardless, Fort Wayne-South Bend is a see not to be overlooked namely because of Notre Dame.
We here at ND could really use someone who can put efficacious pressure on President Jenkins to make good on his promise to increase Catholic faculty hiring. I don't care HOW he does that, just as long as it happens. Re: the Detroit see, Memphis wouldn't mind getting a new one, but I don't know that Steib has done anything quite special enough to warrant that kind of promotion.
Memphis wouldn't mind getting a new bishop, that is.
Grand Cayman is under the 'administration' of Detroit. This means that we have Cardinal Maida for our Bishop. Aux Bishop John Quinn has been very helpful to us, in finding us priests, and also in making and maintaining connections with the young men in our parish. He always makes sure to pay them some attention, and catch up on school, etc.. As a Catholic mother with 6 sons, I can't tell you how rare it is to find a priest, let alone a Bishop, who takes a genuine interest in the potential vocations in a parish. I hope, whatever is coming, that we don't lose the friend we (the Cayman Islands) have had in Bishop Quinn.
Fascinating post.
I wonder about the US bishop situation. There seems to be a real slowdown in the ordination of new bishops. Sure we are getting some guys promoted and that is needed but every promotion seems to create another vacancy that does not get filled very quickly. The aux bishops are being groomed to get their own diocese. That is great. But when you do that you need to replace him with another priest that gets raised to the rank of bishop. That has not been happening so quick.
It is interesting because up here in Canada the posts have been filling very quick. We have had a bunch of the nations major sees filled. None of them were vacant long. Just recently in Nelson BC I saw the bishop there while on vacation in July. He has already been replaced. Not by a sitting bishop to create another vacancy but by a new bishop. The difference is in the nuncio. Somehow Canada's nuncio knows how to get appointments done.
There are many find young priests in the US. The key thing is the young ones are often more orthodox. I wonder if there is a disrespect between the young priests and the older bishops. If somehow they don't want to pass the baton to the next generation because they think a little different. The young priests are not given the big urban parishes that might cause them to get noticed in Rome. They are often send to small rural parishes. There is no point in ordaining someone over 65. We need to let the youth get into position so they can gain the experience they will need when the older generation is gone.
Thanks Publius for jogging my memory re: Boyea and ND. I've heard that before and agree it would be a good choice: boyea was part of Sacred Heart Major Seminary's faculty and maintains a good presence there.
Just FYI, though "Bp. John Nienstedt" is on your list, he is no longer available. He is now Archbishop John Nienstedt, and is the coadjutor for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and we could not be more ecstatic to have him. He is in the "elite" of the nation in terms of his leadership, orthodoxy, and his clarity of teaching on morality and ethics. Not surprisingly, he is already being lampooned in the press here. He takes over as sole Archbishop around May of 2008, please join us in the Twin Cities in praying for him!
If Maida and Szoka have "annointed" Vigneron as the heir-apparent, I would bet he's the winner. As Rocco has noted, there seems to be a trend in America of predecessors getting to pick their successors--Wuerl and Zubik, Levada and Niederauer, etc. I wouldn't see why that trend would change here--unless it's not a trend and just a few anomalies.
For you Michigan folks, how's the state of the Detroit archdiocese? Did I once see somewhere that it's about $30 million in debt? Would someone as fiscally-prudent as Tobin be needed (I'm not suggesting him as I realize he isn't leaving Providence, but I'm meaning someone who demands black ink on balance sheets)? How's recruitment for seminarians? Carlson seems to be magic in Saginaw, so that could weigh heavily. So maybe Vigneron will have to continue to bide his time by the bay?
Randy, I think you raise a couple of interesting points. From what I read, Canada's nuncio is top-notch, but I also read that our nuncio is also quite popular among the hierarchy. Popularity and effectiveness, of course, are two different things, and I really wish I knew more about how they go about forwarding the lists of candidates to Rome.
As for a perceived rift between the old and new, when I talk to the priests in my diocese who are younger than 40, they're definitely more, as you say, orthodox, although, of course, there are older ones who are quite rigid, as well. I don't know if the rift of old and young has anything to do with who gets on the short-lists of candidates--I can't imagine anyone in my conservative diocese being blacklisted for being orthodox--but it might have a role. But on the other hand, might Canada not have the same issue with your older and younger priests? Yet you point out how vacancies get filled rapidly compared to us. So the problem is either with our nuncio, or perhaps the blame rests on those in Rome, who, for some reason, feel they must take a more cautious approach in picking our bishops. There's absolutely no reason for Little Rock to be vacant for 19 months now. It took 15 months for my diocese, leaving it vacant for all of 2004. Youngstown and Great Falls are two other prime examples of long vacancies. Somebody needs to get their act together.
Again, I really wish I knew the inner-workings of the process...
Other considerations... will Detroit be losing its Red Hat? America currently has 13 Cardinal Electors, and Detroit has lost a great deal of influence (and money, and people) over the last few decades.
As for FW-SB, not only does it have the University (enough to put grey hair under any Bishop's mitre) to deal with, but also the fact that many American Catholic Universities let Notre Dame take the lead in Church-University relations. I'd consider the possibility that FW-SB will receive a Bishop with deep connections to Rome.
And then there is the apparition site in Rome City, IN (in FW-SB), which is the source of the devotion to Our Lady of America. A number of Bishops and Cardinals have brought the statue of Our Lady of America to their Cathedral and enthroned her there, publically throwing their support behind the movement to have her enthroned in the National Shrine. Reports continue to swirl of miraculous events taking place in Rome City. Could this be a major consideration?
All in all, FW-SB is going to be a VERY interesting appointment.
If Maida and Szoka have "annointed" Vigneron as the heir-apparent, I would bet he's the winner. As Rocco has noted, there seems to be a trend in America of predecessors getting to pick their successors--Wuerl and Zubik, Levada and Niederauer, etc. I wouldn't see why that trend would change here--unless it's not a trend and just a few anomalies.
Wuerl and Levada were promoted. That means they are in good standing with Rome. Maida is retiring. I have heard he is fairly liberal and has mismanaged the finances. I am not sure if Rome will take his advise as seriously as they do their golden boys.
"That's not to say an appointment isn't closer than it had been
You can't get analysis like this just anywhere.
Paul -- Here in New Orleans, Archbishop Hughes turned 75 just last week. I have no inside information on his successor or the timing thereof, but I'm scared to death Steib may be considered for this see. My sense is that he's far too gay-friendly and not nearly friendly enough toward tradition. Am I right to worry about this?
LCB,
I read elsewhere that Detroit may be losing its red hat; suspicion is that it now belongs to Galveston-Houston.
-As a former resident of the diocese of FW-SB, I can say that those close to Bishop D'Arcy think that he has another year or two left before Rome pulls him. He is in fairly good health and he has done a pretty good job at handling Notre Dame. Often working behind the scences to build up the Theology department (i.e. working closely with the well-respected John Cavadini). He also has come out very strongly against the V***** Monologues. I feel bad for Bishops who have to deal with educational institutions who are obstinate. It seems to me that the Religious Orders running the institutions wield more power and can more easily promote change. Nonetheless FW-SB will be an important appointment.
-Boyea, as I understand, was also Rector of the Josephinum.
-I, too, have heard speculation that Galveston-Houston will replace Detroit as a "red-hat see".
-As for Randy's point, Maida might not wield a tremendous amount of influence, but Szoka still does. Keep that in mind.
"Other considerations... will Detroit be losing its Red Hat? America currently has 13 Cardinal Electors, and Detroit has lost a great deal of influence (and money, and people) over the last few decades."
It might not permanently lose its red hat, but I can't imagine Maida's successor getting one for awhile. Perhaps once people like Law, Stafford, Foley, and Levada hit 80, the new archbishop might get a red hat. It took Szoka seven years to get his, and ten years for Dearden before him. Then again, Detroit doesn't necessarily need to be stripped of the honor. There's nothing in Baltimore's past to suggest that their archbishop is guaranteed one.
(By the way, LCB, I saw your argument regarding religion and politics, but I didn't get a chance to answer before I went out of town. Not that I think I could have answered properly. Your plane of thought is on a level I've never reached--I'm smart enough to know when I'm not smart! I've just never learned to think like that!)
Randy, true, my examples were of promotions so they might be golden boys, but I think the retiring Keeler had a large voice in who would follow him, and I'm pretty certain McCarrick did, as well. In regard to Detroit, I think you might be right that Rome might not be as permissive in Maida's preference. Yet even though he's no longer on the Congregation for Bishops, I would have to think Szoka's work on that body leading up to his 80th birthday this September would still be rather influential.
Bishop Blair in Toledo is a former Detroit auxillary bishop. I wouldn't be surprised to see him wind up in either Detroit or Cincinnati.
Of course, I'd prefer to keep him in Toledo.
Romulus- Not Paul, but I'll answer in his place. I'd say you're right on the first count, but perhaps not quite on the second. Memphis had at least one (maybe two? I'm not sure) indult parish before the MP. There's no question that Bp. Steib is quite gay-friendly, though.
My main beef with him stems from his coat of arms. A description can be found here. It deeply upsets me that he views himself as a minister primarily to those people who look like himself. He's a racist, pure and simple. That, and he has a tendency toward horrifically ugly vestments.
How often does the Holy See move auxiliaries to the top spot of their own diocese or even within their own state.
My gut hunch is that it will be an outsider.
At the end of the day, we may all be scrambling to read up on Bishop so-and-so, not named in anybodies list.
However, while doubtful, I would love to see Archbishop Raymond Burke come to Detroit.
Diane, your question about auxiliaries made me curious, so I did a little bit of checking. Cardinal Cooke of New York went straight from NY auxiliary to archbishop. Another high-profile example is Cardinal Cushing of Boston. Obviously, these are old examples. My quick search found nothing to suggest that such promotions happen today.
As for auxiliaries moving to a diocese within a state/metropolitan region, that seems to be much more common. The bishop of Grand Rapids was a Detroit auxiliary, and John Wester was a San Francisco auxiliary before moving to Salt Lake City. Another example is Bishop Martino of Scranton being an auxiliary of Philly.
Wenski has always been looking for a red hat. I'm not sure if it would be up north, but I was thinking Miami. Nevertheless, if Wenski were to move I'd hope we'd get a tougher bishop that would attack the heresy and abuses in this diocese and be more honest with the public and at the same time I'd feel sorry for the poor folks stuck with the new archbishop.
Let's remember some charity, folks. Calling a sitting bishop a racist entirely on the basis of their coat of arms is a bit much.
Second, let's remember some balance, too. Pilloring Notre Dame just on the basis of the Vagina Monologues and it's still-in-progress work at hiring more Catholic faculty neglects the other, wonderful work it's doing. Name me a Catholic university that has Mass more often (140+ times a week), or has as many students involved in direct service to the poor, or has as many priests, brothers and sisters amongst it's faculty and staff. Groups as disperate as Opus Dei and Catholic Worker are represented here, where the true diversity of universal Catholicism is celebrated and enjoyed.
In short, Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross has had a close relationship with the bishops of Fort Wayne-South Bend since the diocese's inception, years after the establishment of Our Lady's University. I don't believe that will change with Bishop D'Arcy's replacement, whenever and whomever that will be.
Speaking of bishop assignments, I don't suppose any of you have heard anything for our lowly diocese of Shreveport... Bishop Friend retired over a year ago and I haven't heard anything about who Rome might be considering.
What Mike said, x2.
Or for that matter, how many Catholic Universities even have a Eucharistic Procession, besides ND?
Nathan-- I'm sure the Romney topic will come up again!
mike,
This is off topic, but since you brought it up - if you want a list of really Catholic Univ., as opposed to Univ. with the aura of Catholic, look to the Newman list (available at NCR). Notre Dame lives off its reputation and prestige. This is not to say that nothing good is going on there, or that none of its faculty are faithful, but I KNOW that faithful families who send their children there have sift through the courses carefully to avoid the heretics. Also, the Univ. HAS NOT pledged allegiance to the Magisterium. It may be great for your resume, it may even build character to have to fight for the Truth, but its not a place to send the kids for spiritual formation.
I would disagee with "lwestin" regarding the assessment of Catholic colleges, particularly Notre Dame. I do not think Notre Dame is living off its "prestige". Having being closely affliated with Catholic academia as long as I can remember, I think all higher institutions of Catholic Education have inherent problems. I know for a fact that a FUS you have to sift through the courses to find authentically Catholic professors. In short, I wouldn't choose any University based on the Newman Guide alone. A lay organization does not have a monopoly on determining orthodoxy. As Mike observes, there is a vibrant Catholicism present at Notre Dame, I have experienced it! And I have no affliation with Notre Dame whatsoever. If I had a child I would not hesitate to send them to Notre Dame if that was a good fit. Notre Dame boasts such fine formation through Opus Dei and many other groups like it. They offer the extraordinary form of the Mass. The offer lectures and conferences of the highest spiritual and intellectual quality (see Edith Stein project, Faith and Culture Center, Maritan Center etc.) I dont' think they are perfect, but as I stated before no place is. To their credit, Notre Dame has been in very close dialogue with Bishop D'Arcy and his successor will be important in maintaining that dialogue in accordance with Ex Corde.
I'm not interested in getting into a flame war with you, lwestin. However, if you know of any heretics at Notre Dame, I'm sure Bishop D'Arcy would be interested to be informed. Heck, as a careful selector of courses myself, I'd like to know, too.
The bishop would also be interested in knowing that the university he visits on a regular basis and celebrates Mass at often has not "pledged allegiance to the Magisterium." I'm not even sure what that means, but if you're referring to the mandatum for teachers of Catholic theology, that's a confidential document that individuals sign and present directly to the bishop; there is no similar document for universities as entities.
To get back on the topic of bishop-selection, and yet remain relevant to my point: No other Catholic university welcomes as many bishops, cardinals and other prelates to its campus for lectures, conferences, discussion and dialogue each year than Notre Dame. The bishops of the world don't come here because they are looking to endorse Notre Dame nor to rail against it; rather, they come because Notre Dame is the continent's preeminent and most prominent place of Catholic higher learning. Certainly, we'll miss working with Bishop D'Arcy whenever he retires, but we also don't expect to have an adversarial relationship with his replacement.
I stick by my assessment. As a mother of eight, I don't trust them, and every issue that comes up re-affirms my opinion. That the 'big guys' visit often, doesn't really address my concerns! There's no doubt that ND is the best known 'catholic' univ. , for the american press. They always seek out ND heretics for the 'catholic' dissenter viewpoint.
Now, I also know friends who have gone there, and even a couple of earnest vocations. Like I said, it was a character building experience for them. (They didn't become Jesuits - but that's for another day!)They had lots of family support, and there were many phonecalls home to help them deal with the difference between what they knew was right, and what the profs were proposing. Its a risk, because some students will not have enough support, or background, to stand up and get through unscathed by liberal nonsense. Some may even lose their faith. I don't like to support goups that don't have a clear allegiance to faithful representation of the church, or its understanding of God. As for FUS, although some profs are better than others, (according to my son and his wife, and their friends)the faculty does not contain heretics. They have made the changes necessary to warrant support. ND hasn't. (IMHO - which is all that this is, obviously.) My loyalties are to the church, and to my kids - not to a particular institution. I go by what comes from the mouths of the people there (profs, admin....). I'm not much interested in how much influence, or standing they have in the american catholic world. I found the Newman evaluation suited my very practical purpose of offering the best CATHOLIC liberal education to my kids. (what they choose is another matter!)
Its very much like anticipating a new Bishop. The proof is in the pudding.
Nathan--
Baltimore will ALWAYS have a red hat. It is the premier see of the United States. Based on its size, you might not think it deserves it anymore. But because it is the first diocese in the country, it will always have a red hat.
Two of Kalamazoo's three bishops, first served as priests in the Lansing diocese. Are there any priests in Lansing now likely to be promoted to bishop?
"Baltimore will ALWAYS have a red hat. It is the premier see of the United States. Based on its size, you might not think it deserves it anymore. But because it is the first diocese in the country, it will always have a red hat."
I respectfully disagree, at least based on history. Not including O'Brien, of Gibbons' five successors, only two have gotten red hats: Shehan and Keeler. America is disproportionately represented in the college, so something has to give, at least in the interim when we have so many cardinals who aren't responsible for dioceses. If O'Brien gets the honor, I'm suggesting he better patient. I'm always willing to admit when I'm wrong, so if it happens sooner than later, I'll eat crow.
"I know for a fact that a FUS you have to sift through the courses to find authentically Catholic professors."
Huh? You're not describing the school I go to. I, as a philosophy/theology student at Franciscan University for 4 years, happen to have a positive experience the *vast majority* of professors at FUS. They're orthodox in their teaching, pious in their own lives, loving to their students. I'm the vice-president of the Dom Gueranger society for the Extraordinary Form on Campus, and the faculty have been *extremely* helpful and supportive. Over a dozen of them even formally asked to speak with the Friars about it pleading that they had a certain responsibility for the spiritual lives of their students. If a school like Notre Dame has a greater number of orthodox faculty members, it seems only because they have a greater number of faculty.
"Two of Kalamazoo's three bishops, first served as priests in the Lansing diocese. Are there any priests in Lansing now likely to be promoted to bishop?"
Part of me hopes not. The likely pool doesn't inspire confidence in me. There are *exceptional* priests, and orthodox priests. That's true. However a lot of those priests are young, or not on the Bishop-track. Furthermore there is, in my opinion, a really important quality new bishops should have: they have to fully embrace Summorum Pontificum. The priests in the diocese of Lansing are (for the most part) ambivolent toward the older form of the Mass, and worst they're against it. This mirrors the attitude of our Bishop. I'll give you an example, in a regional vote several years back whether to expand permissions for the Tridentine Mass at one parish, the vote was 14 to 1 against.
What's going to happen in the Diocese of Lansing, however, fills me with fear -- a fear I send straight to the Lord. It isn't just that this is my home diocese and I feel very strongly about what happens in certain parishes, but I am toying with the diocese of Lansing as, perhaps, a place where I would want to be a priest. Who the Bishop is could really influence that, since I would certainly not wish to be ordained in a diocese where the priest would be against my attachment to the older form of the Mass.
An interesting overview - it will be very interesting to watch. Given the large number of consecration anniversaries that fall in January, I wouldn't be surprized to see some announcements then.
FYI, I just finished my own overview (I'm going through each province in the USA) of the Michigan Province on my blog.
Boyea is now Bp. of Lansing; Flores has been an absolute knock-out of a Bishop. We in the Archdiocese are indeed blessed!
Rumors here are that between April 29 and June 2, Pope Benedict will have appointed a new Archbishop for Detroit. Vigneron, Carlson and Wenski are on the short list. But one never knows....
Personally, I'd like to see Brushkevich (sp?), but that's probably wishful thinking.
Commenting by HaloScan
