My Bishop just retired, now what?

[Chalice]

My bishop just tendered his resignation due to age. It’s quite likely that it will be accepted by the Pope. There is little question to me that this man’s performance (or lack thereof) has taken a horrible toll on the diocese over the past 13 years.

I recently read in our diocesan newspaper about the process for choosing a new bishop. The archbishop of the ecclesial province has a great deal of power in promoting his choice for the vacancy. While possible, it seems quite unusual for said archbishop’s candidate not to be chosen to fill the vacancy.

The archbishop of our ecclesial province is Roger Cardinal Mahony. This man obviously has performed in a questionable manner to many since becoming the archbishop of LA.

Is it more than likely that the Pope will accept Cardinal Mahony’s choice to fill the vacancy? I shudder at the thought of another Mahony crony (typically a current auxiliary bishop in LA) at the helm of our diocese.

Is it pretty much a *fait accompli * or do we have a chance of receiving a wonderful bishop like Alan Vigneron of Oakland?

This has many of us up at nights – praying and wondering about the future of our diocese.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

I’m not a curial insider, so I can only offer speculation, but here’s my guess.

Although Benedict XVI seems to be slightly more of a hands-on manager than JPII, it’s still hard for him to know anything at all about the candidated proposed, so my guess is that the odds of getting a Mahoney pick are still fairly high.

HOWEVER, the pope’s new prefect of the CDF is an American bishop with experience of the general region and might be consulted on the issue, hopefully supporting a solid candidate.

 

[Chalice]

Andreas Hofer:

I’m not a curial insider, so I can only offer speculation, but here’s my guess.

Although Benedict XVI seems to be slightly more of a hands-on manager than JPII, it’s still hard for him to know anything at all about the candidated proposed, so my guess is that the odds of getting a Mahoney pick are still fairly high.

HOWEVER, the pope’s new prefect of the CDF is an American bishop with experience of the general region and might be consulted on the issue, hopefully supporting a solid candidate.

That’s an excellent point. ABp. William Levada (new prefect of the CDF), Cardinal Mahony and Bp. Silvester Ryan (retiring bishop) literally go back nearly 50 years with one another.

I do hope that Levada has (name removed by moderator)ut. Then again if the Pope isn’t generally up to speed on the problems in by far the largest diocese in the USA, we’re in much worse condition than even I think we are.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Chalice:

Is it pretty much a *fait accompli * or do we have a chance of receiving a wonderful bishop like Alan Vigneron of Oakland?

This has many of us up at nights – praying and wondering about the future of our diocese.

sigh

Bishop Vigneron. Not too many of him out there. He was the rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and was majorly (is that a word?) responsible for their returning to a somewhat orthodox curriculum. I hope they make him a cardinal & send him back to Detroit when Maida goes.

 

[Chalice]

sigh

Bishop Vigneron. Not too many of him out there. He was the rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and was majorly (is that a word?) responsible for their returning to a somewhat orthodox curriculum. I hope they make him a cardinal & send him back to Detroit when Maida goes.

That man is driven by the Holy Spirit to say the least. Upon taking the reigns of Oakland, he cut half the men who were in the diaconate fomation. The reason? They weren’t actually involved – but you can bet they would have shown up on ordination day.

He has faced terrible challanges but he continues to make progress. I actually think he’s ready for ABp. Levada’s old job in San Francisco now…

 

[otm]

Chalice:

That’s an excellent point. ABp. William Levada (new prefect of the CDF), Cardinal Mahony and Bp. Silvester Ryan (retiring bishop) literally go back nearly 50 years with one another.

I do hope that Levada has (name removed by moderator)ut. Then again if the Pope isn’t generally up to speed on the problems in by far the largest diocese in the USA, we’re in much worse condition than even I think we are.

I don’t know if I would say that we are in worse condition. I think, rather, that people have had a completely unrealistic view of what the Pope actually knows about any given circumstance, and I think many had the feeling and impression that he micromanages everything.

Things are just pretty much the same as they have been for centuries upon centuries. Elsewhere in another thread there was some discussion of collegiality, much dismissed by several of the posters. they simply don’t get it, either in real world practical terms (how many parishes are there world wide - or even dioceses - or in terms of the substance of the office of bishop.

Pray that the Holy Spirit guides the process.

 

[Dr.Bombay]

Pray. Fast. And pray some more. That’s the best thing to do.

PS> My isp is not aol.com. How dare you suggest such a thing! :bigyikes:

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Dr. Bombay:

PS> My isp is not aol.com. How dare you suggest such a thing! :bigyikes:

And the passthrough IP showing for mine was wrong (not the local IP on the NIC). Dr. Bombay you are right to be upset about naybody besmearching your workstation with ::ick:: AOL!!!

 

[Dr.Bombay]

OutinChgoburbs:

And the passthrough IP showing for mine was wrong (not the local IP on the NIC). Dr. Bombay you are right to be upset about naybody besmearching your workstation with ::ick:: AOL!!!

Next thing you know, they’ll be accusing me of using a Mac.

I love my blue screen of death and I won’t give it up without a fight. :whacky: