Chicago on Top: Windy City Sweeps Bishops' Posts

Whispers in the Loggia ^ | November 13, 2007 | Rocco Palmo

[Frank Sheed]

Chicago on Top: Windy City Sweeps Bishops' Posts

Cardinal Francis George OMI of Chicago has won the presidency of the US bishops with 188 votes, 85% of the total body.

The first cardinal elected to the post since 1971, George, 70, is the first religious ever chosen to lead the American hierarchy.

By a margin of 22 votes (55-45%), Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson bested Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee to win the conference's vice-presidency.

A native Chicagoan -- where he served as auxiliary bishop and rector of Mundelein seminary under Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and George -- the incoming VP, 66, has garnered acclaim for his successful handling of the abuse crisis in the Arizona diocese, which had declared bankruptcy in light of settlement costs.

Named to Louisville earlier this year, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz was elected conference treasurer by a 2-to-1 edge over Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston.

...in subsequent voting, the key committee chairmanships went to:

• Cultural Diversity in Life of the Church -- Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio
• Clergy, Consecrated Life and Religious -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley OFM Cap. of Boston
• Catholic Education -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry of Los Angeles
• Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs -- Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta
• Evangelization and Catechesis -- Bishop Richard Malone of Portland in Maine
• International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
• Canonical Affairs and Church Governance -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago
• Protection of Children and Young People -- Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City.

Several of the USCCB committees are folding or merging at the close of this November meeting.

Of particular note, Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie is closing out his term at the helm of the Bishops' Committee for the Liturgy; as of Thursday, the body transforms into the committee for Divine Worship, with its (yet to be announced) new membership said to be an "all-star" lineup.

Trautman will be succeeded by Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, who's spent the past year transitioning in as chair-elect. A Scripturalist by training, Serratelli is also the US bishops' representative to ICEL, the body overseeing English-language liturgical translations.

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posted by Rocco Palmo at 09:45   

[Ozone34]

Vice-President — Bishop Gerald Kicanas — Tuscon

Bishop Kicanas has some curious views regarding celibacy:

http://www.richardsipe.com/Articles/2005-10-05-Celibate_Myth.html

“The dimensions of the celibate myth are being explored under the microscope of legal investigations and the process of bishops facing depositions. Gerald Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, said under oath that sexual activity like masturbation and sex with others (even presumably with minors) were not violations of celibacy, but merely sins against chastity. He, too, defended the myth that celibacy means, “not being married.” (In 1986 24 percent of the active priests in the diocese of Tucson were sexual abusers of minors.) Such a gross misunderstanding of the ideal, law, and even the history of religious celibacy is astounding from a prelate who had been Rector of one of the largest seminaries in the country—Mundelein of Chicago.”

[ELS]

Two things to consider: 1) Abp. Burke was not elected chairman of the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, but he may still be on the committee. 2) Abp. Burke is on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome which is a much more significant position.

From the page referenced above:

In 1989 Father Burke returned to Rome when Pope John Paul II named him Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the first American to hold this position on the Church's highest court.
...
On July 8, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Burke to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, where he had previously served as Defender of the Bond from 1989 to 1994.

[Claud]

Serratelli’s been making some waves in NJ with his strong statements as I remember—for the good. I think a letter on sacred music, and a letter on communion for pro-aborts.

I can’t remember the context now, but his name is my mind as one of the good guys.

[maryz]

which is a much more significant position.

Perhaps a jaundinced view, but IMO Second Assistant Trash Collector is a more significant (and more worthwhile) position than anything the USCCB has to offer! Too bad their loonier blatherings get picked up by the MSM and their decisions can filter down to the parish level.

[maryz]

Bishop Kicanas has some curious views regarding celibacy:

Just what we need! IIRC, his view was a common one in the "pink palace" seminaries, as reported by Michael Rose. (Dear God, please dissolve the USCCB before they do any more harm!)

[ArrogantBustard]

Do you have a copy of "Goodbye, Good Men" handy? I seem to recall Mundelein being featured in it. I also seem to recall it being mentioned in "Ungodly Rage".

I may be mistaken.

[maryz]

I lent my copy a few years ago to a friend of my nephew's (my nephew's now in Afghanistan), but your memory is apparently accurate. See CatholicCitizens.org reporting on a talk by Rose:

As an example, Rose related the case of Chicago seminary student Joseph Kellenyi, who left his job as a Wall Street brokerage executive to answer what he felt was a calling to the priesthood. After becoming disgusted with the "gay subculture" he found rampant in the Mundelein Seminary, in Chicago, he transferred to the American College at Louvain in France.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Gerald Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, said under oath that sexual activity like masturbation and sex with others (even presumably with minors) were not violations of celibacy, but merely sins against chastity."

Christ Almighty.*

First time I heard that line was 25 years ago from a way-out-there Evangelical Gay (meaning he thinks Gay is Good News and wants to carry the word to all nations) ---ex-Mennonite pastor, he was, with a big list of clergy of all denominations who were similarly perverted. And what about the Catholic priests? He said, "No problem. 'Celibate' just means 'unmarried.'

And this Kicanas guy is now in line to succeed to the USCCB Presidency after Abp George?

Seriously, let's write to B16 and ask him to either depose Kicanas or dissolve the USCCB.

Or preferably both.

---

* Have mercy on us.

[Ozone34]

St. Peter Damian, pray for us!

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/articles/damian1.htm

[virgil]

I’ve been told that Cardinal George did a lot to clean up Mundelein seminary, and it’s a lot better now

[Salvation]

Glad you are praying there.

[BlessedBeGod]

Cardinal George is my bishop. I would rate him only as OK to Good.

He’s done things that are good as well as things that have caused scandal. He also doesn’t take stands in situations where he should. Chicago was left a mess after Bernardin. George has done little to clean it up.

He will be an improvement over the current president, though.

[BlessedBeGod]

Vice-President -- Bishop Gerald Kicanas

served as auxiliary bishop and rector of Mundelein seminary under Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and George ... be afraid. Be very afraid.

My former auxiliary bishop. Yuck.

[baa39]

If they believe the American College is in Louvain, FRANCE, can we believe anything else? This famous institution is, as I’m sure the Catholics here know, but to clarify for others, in Belgium! (Well, then again, maybe some would say, France, Belgium, what’s the difference?)

[baa39]

Yes, Cardinal George has certainly tried, and made improvements, he is very sincere about it too, a good man, not just a self-serving bureaucrat like so many bishops. But the lavenders are still firmly entrenched in some areas of Chicago. Even a Cardinal Archbishop can’t just fire 90% of his priests. I’ve heard (from a priest there) that you can hardly find a straight priest in the entire archdiocese...?!?

[Robert A Cook PE]

San Antonio (Mexican) for “diversity” ...
Boston (gay clergy cover-ups) for “clergy ...

I don’t think the bishops learned their lesson.