Exceptional Bishops of the Church

[chnchris]

We have a newly ordained Bishop Robert Cunningham
from Buffalo; usually they go status quo for the 1st year,
so have no idea how he will be. Our last 2 bishops pretty
much let their staff run everything, imo, not exceptional.

Isn’t it sad that we have only been able to list a dozen
or so current bishops as exceptional leaders of His
Church - why is that?!

 

[robertaf]

Greetings

Maybe we should spend more time reading about them.

Their lives are very interesting, I think.

 

[familyof8]

In truth, I don’t know enough about bishops in general to know if “exceptional” is an accurate description. However, our bishop is extremely VISABLE. He was ordained I think 4 or 5 years ago and we have seen him personally so many times I can’t remember them all! We move a lot and I think the only other time I have seen a bishop in our other dioceses was once or twice.

Bishop Kurtz is extremely joyful and energetic. He is a man that you think, wow, he loves his vocation and the Lord when you are around him.

 

[Benignus]

From the Vatican Site:

"Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop of Vienna and Ordinary for the faithful of the Byzantine rite in Austria, was born on 22 Janaury 1945 in what is now Skalsko, the Czech Republic. He studied theology at Le Saulchoir, philosophy and pyschology at the University of Vienna, Slavic and Byzantine Christianity at the Sorbonne and theology at the Catholic Institute of Paris. He was ordained for the Dominicans on 27 December 1970. He obtained a licentiate in theology in 1971 and a doctorate in theology in 1974 in Paris.
From 1973 to 1975 he was Chaplain at the University of Graz. He taught dogmatic and Eastern Christian theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He was member of the Theological Commission of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (1980-1991), Swiss Commission for Dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics (1980-1987), Swiss Commission for Dialogue between Roman Catholics and Christians (1980-1984), International Commission of Theologians (since 1980), and the Foundation ‘Pro Oriente’ (since 1984). From 1987 to 1992 he served as secretary of the commission responsible for drafting the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

On 11 July 1991 he was appointed titular Bishop of Sutri and Auxiliary of Vienna and was ordained on 29 September 1991. He was then appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Vienna on 13 April 1995 and became Archbishop of Vienna on 14 September 1995.

In 1996 he preached the Lenten spiritual exercises for the Pope and the Roman Curia. He is the author of many publications."

I know its kinda lame just posting a biography that someone else wrote, but I really don’t know much about Cardinal Schonborn. However, I do know that he was one of the key people that put together the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, and I love the Catechism. Also, he is a Dominican, and I really love the Dominicans.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

You only have to read Archbishop Vlazny’s columns on the Oregon Catholic Sentinel’s website to appreciate how he sticks strictly to Church teaching and the pastoral voice with which he does it. He is a shepherd not afraid to use his staff, yet not willing to trade it in for a baseball bat.

Facts from his online biography: He was ordained a priest at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on December 20, 1961. He was named a Bishop by Pope John Paul II, and was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, on December 13, 1983. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Lake County and Northwestern Suburban Cook County. He was appointed Bishop of Winona, MN., by Pope John Paul II on May 19, 1987, and was installed as the sixth Bishop of Winona on July 29, 1987. On October 28, 1997 he was appointed the tenth Archbishop of Portland in Oregon.

…which is to say he was transferred to Oregon right in the middle of this scandal we are having surrounding the deceased Fr. Grammond and others. Archbishop Vlazny’s conduct within that firestorm has been exemplary. He has shown his concern for today’s children, for the victims of past abuse, and for the archdiocese as a whole, not an easy balancing act. I have met him twice and was also struck by how personable and warm he is. We are very blessed to have him. Pray for him, our archdiocese is in very trying times.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

Richard John Neuhaus in his article “Bishops at a Turning Point” includes this list of bishops in the spirit of Pope John Paul II

Not in any particular order, the list includes: Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado; Bishop Allen Vigneron of Oakland, California; Bishop Thomas Olmstead of Phoenix, Arizona; Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota; Bishop Peter Sartain of Little Rock, Arkansas; Auxiliary Bishop José Gomez of Denver; Archbishop Sean O’Malley of Boston, Massachusetts; Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio; Archbishop John Myers of Newark, New Jersey; Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester, Massachusetts; Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas.

He also mentions

the intellectual leader of the conference is Francis Cardinal George of Chicago

 

[KCT]

So much complaining goes on . . . I’m thrilled to see such a long list!! —KCT

 

[JReducation]

Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap. and Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. are very holy men of prayer and courage. Not only are they courageous, but also very humble. They have done a great deal of good for the poor, especially the migrant poor. O’Malley is an endless apostle to the poor. Chaput is an inexhaustible apostle of the word. As a young man he was studious and conscientious. When he speaks, you can trust him, because he has done his homework. He is one of the most responsible people I have ever met.

By the way, they like people calling themselves Capuchin Brothers, as they are membes of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, a community of Brothers. They see themselves as brothers to the people to whom they minister. What makes them extraordinary is their ability to stand for the truth without forgetting the truth of love and their Franciscan roots of simplicity and penance.

I had the honor of working for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC when Bishop Lori was the Vicar. He was a man of prayer and faithful to the Church. He was a young bishop at the time, but it was clear that he was a holy man. I was most impressed by his support of our ministry to people with developmental disabilities.

All three of these men also demonstrated great humanity with their sense of humor and availability to others.

I think they are awesome people.

 

[Leopard]

I wouldn’t say Bishop Thomas Doran is exceptional, I’d say he is Ordinary.

[rimshot]

 

[brigid12]

Yes, He is my FAVORITE!!! Bishop in all the USA! He is not afraid to stand up for truth in season and out of season, I have met him when I lived in Denver, and he is great, accessible, friendly, and above all a very holy man. I wish he was the Archbishop of New York. may God and Our lady, Queen of the Angels guide and always bless the wonderful Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado. I hope he will one day be named a CARDINAL. What do you all think on this(Cardinal)?

:clapping:
But the West needs him, too! Do you know if he has a twin brother?