Washington welcomes Wuerl as archbishop (3000 witness installation, including Kerry & Kennedy)

Post Gazette ^ | June 23, 2006 | Ann Rodgers

[NYer]

WASHINGTON -- A crescendo of applause and alleluias greeted the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl as he followed a procession of priests and bishops into the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to be installed as archbishop of Washington.

Three thousand people filled the largest Catholic church in the Western Hemisphere to welcome him. They ranged from U.S. senators to recent immigrants. Metropolitan Maximos of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh accompanied Archbishop Demetrios of North America as representatives of the Orthodox tradition.

"In an age that so desperately needs to hear the gospel of life, to witness the splendor of truth, and to live the challenge of faith and reason, the church -- you and I -- gathered around the successors to the apostles, one with Peter, must lovingly, persuasively and fearlessly reflect the light of Christ," Archbishop Wuerl said.

Music commissioned for his 1988 installation in Pittsburgh made the transfer with him to Washington. The ceremony, in the grandeur beneath the great domes of the basilica, nevertheless felt familiar to those who had witnessed his major diocesan Masses in Pittsburgh.

Hundreds of Pittsburghers appeared to have made the trip, including 50 priests. Helen Cindrich, president of People Concerned for the Unborn Child, was present, as was Rabbi Alvin Berkun of Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill. Mayor Bob O'Connor, the father of a priest, had a seat of honor in front of two U.S. senators, John F. Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy.

In his homily, Archbishop Wuerl addressed questions that many had raised about his role in the nation's capital. The first task of every bishop, everywhere, is to teach, he said. But to teach means to apply the faith to all of the issues and circumstances of the present day.

[NYer]

Washington's new Archbishop Donald Wuerl, left, receives the crozier, a staff that symbolizes a bishop's role as shepherd to the people, from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio, the Vatican's envoy to the U.S., right, during a ceremony to install Wuerl as the new Archbishop of Washington, Thursday, June 22, 2006 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The procession begins for Archbishop Wuerl at his Mass of Installation at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington June 22, 2006. Wuerl is replacing Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, who has resigned. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts (UNITED STATES)

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., right, and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., left, look on during a ceremony to install Archbishop Donald Wuerl as the new Archbishop of Washington, Thursday, June 22, 2006 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

[NYer]

Kennedy looks ghastly! And look at Kerry's negative body language.

[Nihil Obstat]

did they go to Communion?

[ConorMacNessa]

In a more characteristic pose.

[Military family member]

I thought Kerry had been ex-communicated

[Knitting A Conundrum]

You're right about Kennedy looking awful.

[Notwithstanding]

Keery lives a lie - does it matter to him or anyone else?

[NYer]

I thought Kerry had been ex-communicated

Apparently not.

"An official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has claimed that a Californian canon lawyer seeking a formal decree of heresy against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry of Massachusetts has misrepresented his contact with the Vatican office."
Kerry "excommunication" scam exposed

[marshmallow]

Did Kennedy just shed 80-100 lbs or is that just a photographic illusion?

His suit looks about 5 sizes too large and he looks ghastly.

[Deo volente]

Kennedy is 74 years old, and all that alcohol has not been kind to his body.

He's on the inevitable decline.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Church teaching is that if you behave like Kerry, you have "excommunicated" yourself. That means, that although you go through the motions, it doesn't really count.

And since this is public, rather than private, behavior, plenty of priests wouldn't give him communion (if he was so foolish as to come to my parish, not only would my pastor refuse him communion, but he might state publically why!)- but still plenty will, either because they disagree with the teachings or don't want to cause problems.

In the great sorting out after death, God will know who was for him, who wasn't and who caused other people to fall because of bad behaviors when they were in positions of authority...

It is the rarest of things for the church to do a formal excommunication.

[madprof98]

These lines were especially interesting:

He turned to face his predecessor and offered praise to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was often a target of criticism by the far Catholic right for refusing to publicly condemn Catholic legislators who supported abortion rights, and for his bold stands in favor of justice for the poor worldwide.

[monkapotamus]

[It's me]

As much as I do NOT like Kennedy, he just looks old. He has lost quite a bit of weight.

[It's me]

Church teaching is that if you behave like Kerry, you have "excommunicated" yourself. I was going to say the same thing.

[NYer]

As much as I do NOT like Kennedy, he just looks old. He has lost quite a bit of weight.

And, as much as I do not like Ted Kennedy, I have watched him wrestle with God. Throughout his life, he has had to cope with more than you or I. All the while, one could see how God was attempting to guide and direct him, and his stubborn response. Ted Kennedy buried his brothers John and Robert. He buried John's wife, Jacqueline and son, John John and his wife. He stood by throughout the Kennedy Smith murder trial and recetly assisted young Patrick Kennedy with his 'addiction' problem. Ted Kennedy is the family scion. He follows in the steps of his father, Joseph.

What you see in that picture from yesterday's installation for Bishop Wuerl, is Ted Kennedy's obstinate response to God's personal calling. May we all learn a lesson from watching them joust on the field of salvation. Unlike Ted Kennedy, we already know who will win the match. Pray for the Kennedys. That is the catholic christian response.

[Pyro7480]

I went to the Basilica yesterday shortly after the Installation Mass had ended. I ran into an acquaintance of mine on the steps of the main side entance to the church. When I got inside, there were still a lot of people lingering in the Crypt Church's Memorial Hall. I walked down the hall to the bathroom, and on my way there, I passed the new Archbishop and the Rector of the Basilica. They were walking briskly, so I didn't get to greet them. After leaving the bathroom, I saw that the Archbishop was greeting people, in front of the papal tiara of Pope Paul VI, and the line for that extended back down into the hall.

[old and tired]

These lines were especially interesting:

SUre are. I tried to call her on them via email, but her box has been shut down. How can such shoddy writing get past an editor?

By the way what exactly are McCarrick's "bold stands in favor of justice for the poor worldwide" that has right wing Catholics so upset? Does this woman think homosexual couples qualify for worldwide poor?

McCarrick has never been my favorite and I'm glad to see him go, but it has NOTHING to do with his bold stances on justice for the worldwide poor.

[RobbyS]

bold stands in favor of justice for the poor worldwide. NOTHING bold about this priest, even when he was advancing specifically liberal causes.

[dangus]

i dunno, at least teddy lost a couple hundred pounds.