E
Eucharisted
Guest
At this morning’s news conference announcing Bishop Joseph Martino’s resignation from the Diocese of Scranton, a reporter asked how long it might take the pope to appoint another bishop to the diocese. Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali said he would hope a new bishop would come within 6 months. As a member of the Congregation for Bishops (the Vatican office that oversees bishop appointments), Cardinal Rigali knew what he was doing when he refused to say definitively how long such a process would take.
After all, Scranton is the latest of several appointments-in-waiting in the U.S. Church, which come about either due to vacancy or a bishop’s serving past the retirement age of 75. In all, Scranton brings the total of waiting U.S. dioceses to 17. In chronological order by how long they’ve been waiting for a new bishop, the vacant sees are:
Cheyenne – vacant since July 9, 2008, when Bishop David Ricken was appointed Bishop of Green Bay.
Duluth – vacant since October 17, 2008, when then-Bishop Dennis Schnurr was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati.
Owensboro – vacant since January 5, 2009, when Bishop John McRaith retired.
Milwaukee – vacant since February 23, 2009, when Archbishop Timothy Dolan was named Archbishop of New York.
Ogdensburg – vacant since April 21, 2009, when Bishop Robert Cunningham was appointed Bishop of Syracuse.
Springfield, Ill. – vacant since June 3, 2009, when then-Bishop George Lucas was named Archbishop of Omaha.
Austin – vacant since June 12, 2009, when then-Bishop Gregory Aymond was named Archbishop of New Orleans.
Scranton – vacant since August 31, 2009, when Bishop Joseph Martino resigned.
usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/queue.html
This is why you need to make babies.
After all, Scranton is the latest of several appointments-in-waiting in the U.S. Church, which come about either due to vacancy or a bishop’s serving past the retirement age of 75. In all, Scranton brings the total of waiting U.S. dioceses to 17. In chronological order by how long they’ve been waiting for a new bishop, the vacant sees are:
Cheyenne – vacant since July 9, 2008, when Bishop David Ricken was appointed Bishop of Green Bay.
Duluth – vacant since October 17, 2008, when then-Bishop Dennis Schnurr was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati.
Owensboro – vacant since January 5, 2009, when Bishop John McRaith retired.
Milwaukee – vacant since February 23, 2009, when Archbishop Timothy Dolan was named Archbishop of New York.
Ogdensburg – vacant since April 21, 2009, when Bishop Robert Cunningham was appointed Bishop of Syracuse.
Springfield, Ill. – vacant since June 3, 2009, when then-Bishop George Lucas was named Archbishop of Omaha.
Austin – vacant since June 12, 2009, when then-Bishop Gregory Aymond was named Archbishop of New Orleans.
Scranton – vacant since August 31, 2009, when Bishop Joseph Martino resigned.
usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/queue.html
This is why you need to make babies.