[sinkspur]

I hate to say it, but perhaps Egan isn't the best successor to O'Connor? He has been noticably silent since becoming Archbishop - and in NYC silence isn't golden.

Egan's an administrator. That was his reputation in his previous diocese. To expect him to be more "out front" now would be expecting too much.

O'Connor apparently let the NY archdiocese get deeply in debt; Egan's been closing parishes.

I've seen both kinds of bishops. It's often the administrator who has to come in and clean up behind the charismatic exemplar.

[jwalsh07]

Egan's not the problem, he is staunchly pro life. You're right, the problem is a lack of priests. Up here in Northeast Ct the parish priest has become a traveling show. They say mass at 4 or 5 different parishes.

[fatima]

St John Neuman was charismatic exemplar I think-what does that mean sinkspur.I want to be this ,spend money for God and send in the cleanup man,woman.

[Exit 109]

Egan's an administrator. That was his reputation in his previous diocese. To expect him to be more "out front" now would be expecting too much.

But the man is educated and well spoken when necessary. Was it not he who delivered that beautiful sermon at Cardinal O'Connor's funeral? I always thought that a part of being called to God's service was the ability to convey the message. While Egan is more gifted at being an administrator, he still has the ability to be the voice of the Church in NYC. And isn't that an integral portion of his role as Archbishop?

O'Connor apparently let the NY archdiocese get deeply in debt; Egan's been closing parishes.

Yes, I have heard about the closing of churches and schools. But was that as much a function of poor management or a changing dynamic within NYC? I don't know if anyone could have forseen the drastic changes within the city during O'Connor's tenure. And I don't think someone who came from O'Connor's military background would have ignored the obvious. Perhaps a situation of too much, too fast without being able to compensate in a timely manner?

I've seen both kinds of bishops. It's often the administrator who has to come in and clean up behind the charismatic exemplar.

Yes, O'Connor is a very hard act to follow. As far as cleaning up . . . I think, in NYC, it's more about keeping up with the changes in your parishes. But Egan, although a talented administrator, is also a gifted speaker.

We are talking about the Archdiocese of NY. The most important Catholic Diocese in the country. Administration is important. But this is the only Archdiocese in the Country that merits such media scrutiny. To continuously avoid the opportunity to speak out on basic issues of faith seems to be such a waste.