Kansas City Gets New Bishop

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He seems really orthodox, which is great news for a diocese that has traditionally been one of the more difficult to handle. I doubt that the National Catholic Reporter crowd feels terribly satisfied, even if they did get to see Bishop Finn run out of town.
 
I was afraid of this. Bp. Johnston has been our bishop. A very fine man who will be sorely missed in this diocese.
 
Ridgerunner said:
I was afraid of this. Bp. Johnston has been our bishop. A very fine man who will be sorely missed in this diocese.
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Yes, you called it in another thread.

I think he is seen as someone who can build a consensus in a divided diocese.
 
My wife and I have considered relocating to Kansas City but the lack of a strong, orthodox leader like Bishop Finn made me flinch, esprcially in a diocese that badly needs it. I cannot express the excitent I feel about this new bishop who is vastly more conservative than I expected for that diocese. Wonderful news.
 
Ridgerunner said:
I was afraid of this. Bp. Johnston has been our bishop. A very fine man who will be sorely missed in this diocese.
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I thought of you right away when I read this knowing that you half expected it. I’m glad he’s staying in our state and prayers he is replaced with an equally fine choice for you Ridge.
 
kwitz said:
I thought of you right away when I read this knowing that you half expected it. I’m glad he’s staying in our state and prayers he is replaced with an equally fine choice for you Ridge.
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Thank you.

My diocese is Springfield/Cape Girardeau. It has, in the past, been called “Springboard/Cape Girardeau” because our bishops often go on to greater responsibilities. Cdl Baum, Cdl Law, both were once our bishops.

Wish it wasn’t so, but it’s no surprise.

My impression of Bp. Johnston is that he is a man of deep faith who is faithful to the Magesterium. I do believe he has considerable organizational ability, and an ability to harness the energies of what might otherwise be conflicting factions. We’ll see how it works in KC, which I understand is a very deeply divided diocese, much more so than ours.
 
He will be moving to a diocese with what strikes me as a deeply anti-Catholic newspaper in the Kansas City Star, plus being in the diocese where the National Catholic Reporter is located. He will need our prayers. I imagine the Star is even now digging for something unfavorable to report.
 
JimG said:
He will be moving to a diocese with what strikes me as a deeply anti-Catholic newspaper in the Kansas City Star, plus being in the diocese where the National Catholic Reporter is located. He will need our prayers. I imagine the Star is even now digging for something unfavorable to report.
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I wouldn’t doubt that. I didn’t realize the National Catholic Reporter was in KC. No, I don’t think that outfit will like him at all. He’s not confrontational like Bp. Finn apparently was. He’s very gently spoken, but he is a long way from being someone a dissident paper or people of that sort will like.

By way of example, he actually discouraged contributions to the CCHD (which gives money to some very questionable causes) and asked parishioners, instead, to contribute to the diocesan charitable organization that he initiated. It provides actual, direct charity, including the operation of a home and services to unwed mothers. He just does what he thinks is right, without making any noise in doing it. His weekly contribution to the diocesan newspaper is very orthodox, but not at all strident. He has a sort of kindly firmness about him. The radical dissidents will, I think, have difficulty getting a firm grip on him because it’s difficult to argue with what he says without seeming to be a complete jerk in doing it.

Hate to see him go.
 
JimG said:
He will be moving to a diocese with what strikes me as a deeply anti-Catholic newspaper in the Kansas City Star, plus being in the diocese where the National Catholic Reporter is located. He will need our prayers. I imagine the Star is even now digging for something unfavorable to report.
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he will be up for some challemges and will definitely need our prayers.
 
Colorad007 said:
He seems really orthodox, which is great news for a diocese that has traditionally been one of the more difficult to handle. I doubt that the National Catholic Reporter crowd feels terribly satisfied, even if they did get to see Bishop Finn run out of town.
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I heard this on Wednesday, and Bishop Johnston seems like a good pick. Johnston will have some challenges. IMHO, this appointment (I follow bishop appointments) and the appointment of Bishop Zielinski (I met Zielinski when he was serving on active duty in San Antonio - Zielinski’s a good priest) were both total, 100% surprises to me. While Finn will be missed (I still think he was forced out, when others like a certain prelate in Los Angeles, and another in Albany, did much worse), Johnston is getting a larger See.

I’m also glad Rochester (NY) got Matano - Matano is rocking the boat.

I hope the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul is fortunate to get a good pick, since the *Minnesota Star-Tribune *and a few others worked to run Bishop Nienstedt out of town. A few other U.S. dioceses have not yet been filled, like Superior, Wisconsin and Salt Lake City, Utah. I know the process involves finding the right “fit”. I think Wester will do a good job as Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

More bishop retirements are coming. The Bishop of Rockville Center (NY) and the Bishop of Arlington (VA) recently turned 75. Cardinal Wuerhl turns 75 later this year, and since I’m not Pope Francis, I am wondering if Wuerl’s resignation will be accepted (the Pope doesn’t have to accept it, and could ask Wuerhl to stay on. Several bishops like Bruskewitz remained until age 77 or 78).

I have a hunch that my bishop may be returning to Washington, DC by the end of 2016 ( Farrell was an auxiliary bishop there, and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington, DC in the 1980’s) if Wuerl’s resignation is accepted, but then again, I’m not Pope Francis.
 
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