US Archbishop Change: Baltimore

[davidc2]

This morning the Holy Father accepted the retirement of William Henry Cardinal Keeler and named Archbishop Edwin Frederick O’Brien as the new Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Archbishop O’Brien had been serving as Archbishop of United States of America, Military.

 

[stbruno]

God’s blessings on Baltimore, may your new pastoral leader be the perfect man to serve the Church and the Lord.

 

[chicago]

WOW, BIG news. I wasn’t expecting Cardinal Keeler’s retirement just yet, despite the fact that he’s past 75 alreadt. And Archbishop O’Brien wasn’t exactly a major force on the “watchlist”, either, I don’t think.

All the best to the United States’ new primate!

 

[b_justb]

The pope accepted the resignation of Cardinal William Keeler as archbishop of Baltimore on Thursday and named Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, who leads the U.S. military archdiocese, as his successor.

Keeler turned 76 in March, a year past the normal retirement age for bishops.

O’Brien, a 68-year-old New York native, served as an auxiliary bishop in New York before taking over the Archdiocese for the Military Services in Washington in 1997. He coordinated a major evaluation of U.S. seminaries in 2005-2006, ordered by the Vatican in response to the clergy sex abuse scandal.

|Story|

 

[awalt]

Fifteen months in the offing, the mother-diocese of the United States has received its fifteenth change in command.

This morning, Pope Benedict accepted the age-induced resignation of Cardinal William Keeler as archbishop of Baltimore, naming Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of the Military Services USA as the fourteenth successor to John Carroll, the nation’s founding bishop.

whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2007/07/balto-goes-gotham.html

 

[proud2bcatholic]

This is a fabulous choice!

 

[KCT]

As a member of the Batlimore diocese, I am very happy. I have a son in the Navy, so I feel a kinship already! --KCT

 

[salvereginadude]

As a member of the Batlimore diocese, I am very happy. I have a son in the Navy, so I feel a kinship already! --KCT

I’m happy too, I’m just excited to have a new Archbishop! But sad at the same time, I’ve always been attached to Cardinal Keeler because of how kind he was and he was the one who confirmed me as a member of the Church this past April. But oh well, I know the Holy Spirit has great plans for our new leader! Pray for him!

 

[Jennifer_G]

WOW, BIG news. I wasn’t expecting Cardinal Keeler’s retirement just yet, despite the fact that he’s past 75 alreadt. And Archbishop O’Brien wasn’t exactly a major force on the “watchlist”, either, I don’t think.

All the best to the United States’ new primate!

We’ve been kind of expecting it here in Baltimore. Besides, he hasn’t been in as good of health since that car crash in Rome last year.

 

[baltobetsy]

Just a first impression from his appearance on the evening news - I think he’s going to be fabulous. He seems to be a stronger personality than Cardinal Keeler or Archbishop Borders, who came before. I think he’ll be a manly, fatherly role model for all our priests. He said in his interview that there has not been a day in his life that he hasn’t wanted to be a priest. I can’t wait to meet him.

Betsy

 

[Jeanette_L]

My only concern is if the normal retirement age is 75, he’s 68, that doesn’t give him very many years in the position. Not that any of us can count on another day!

Sounds like a good choice, nonetheless, as far as orthodoxy and loyalty to Rome, etc. From spending time on this forum, I understand how precarious that can be in the U.S. Bishopric. (sp?)

 

[Matt_Collins]

It’s interesting to note that about 2 weeks ago the rector of St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, Fr. Robert Leavitt, resigned. This is the seminary often referred to as “the pink palace”. It’s also interesting to note that Archbishop O’Brien oversaw the investigation into the seminaries over the past few years.

It makes me wonder if Fr. Leavitt saw the handwriting on the wall. I’m filled with so much hope!

BTW, for all their weaknesses and failings as bishops, many as they are, both Cardinal Keeler and Archbishop Borders are very good men. I believe with all my heart that they both did what they thought was in the best interest of the Church. I just think they were very wrong, especially Archbishop Borders.

In my last parish, Archbishop Borders would occasionally say Mass. The content of his homilies was always very edifying. I remember one Mass in particular in which he acknowledged many of his mistakes and failings during his tenure as Archbishop of Baltimore. It was very poignant. He told us about a book he was reading to help him prepare for death. I was very moved and for the first time really came to understand how much the bishops need our prayers. I saw him as a flawed man whose heart was in the right place, who was given a burden he was not up to carrying. I’ve grown to love him since then, with all his flaws.

So let’s pray a lot for Archbishop O’Brien as he heads into the lion’s den. He’s gonna get a lot of grief from a lot of the clergy in this diocese. He may not be around for very long (7 years, given his age) but that may be just what Baltimore needs - a general like Patton who can kick some butt and hand the beachhead over to someone like General Bradley when the job’s done.

 

[Jeanette_L]

So let’s pray a lot for Archbishop O’Brien as he heads into the lion’s den. He’s gonna get a lot of grief from a lot of the clergy in this diocese. He may not be around for very long (7 years, given his age) but that may be just what Baltimore needs - a general like Patton who can kick some butt and hand the beachhead over to someone like General Bradley when the job’s done.

I’ve been very fortunate that I came into the Church in a good parish in the Baltimore Diocese, I have never been exposed to priests, etc., who were not orthodox in their Catholicism. But, unfortunately, as a lifelong Christian before being Catholic, I can tell you I have seen their fruits in the Catholics I have been friends with for years and years. Most don’t have any Christian faith at all, they just see Catholicism as a culture they were born into and raise their children with the same mindset. It’s very sad. The Church needs spiritual renewal, maybe it’s heading in that direction!

 

[StephenB]

So let’s pray a lot for Archbishop O’Brien as he heads into the lion’s den. He’s gonna get a lot of grief from a lot of the clergy in this diocese. He may not be around for very long (7 years, given his age) but that may be just what Baltimore needs - a general like Patton who can kick some butt and hand the beachhead over to someone like General Bradley when the job’s done.

Baltimore is in for a treat! When I heard this at Mass yesterday on the military installation I participate with, and reflected about the things I heard from a God son, a Former GrandKnight, well let’s just say Baltimore is in for a GOOD time. I had the opportunity to coordinate Archbishop O’Brien’s celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation - he is defintely a no nonsence kind of guy.

We now need to pray earnestly for action by the USCCB and Rome - his departure leaves 2 vacancies in the AMS - and these guys travel around the world administering confirmation to military installations. (While you’re at it, pray for the general state of Catholic priests in the miltary - there are less 250 in the entire military to cover all servicemembers.)

 

[Cygnus_X1]

BTW, for all their weaknesses and failings as bishops, many as they are, both Cardinal Keeler and Archbishop Borders are very good men. I believe with all my heart that they both did what they thought was in the best interest of the Church. I just think they were very wrong, especially Archbishop Borders.

I too have had problems with Cardinal Keeler during his tenure, some that almost made me want to leave the Church. That being said, I agree that he did what he thought was right. I do pray for his continued health, and welcome Archbishop O’Brien.