Vatican seeks successor to Cardinal Mahony
The archbishop of the Los Angeles Archdiocese is about to turn 74 and has announced on his blog that this would be his last full year. Some speculate that the Vatican might be seeking a Latino.
The Vatican has begun the search for a successor to Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, who is expected to step down early next year as head of the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese.
The archdiocese distributed a memo to priests and lay leaders this week confirming that the search is underway and asking parishes to join in a prayer enlisting God's help in finding "a shepherd who will be an example of goodness to your people and who will fill our hearts and minds with the truth of the Gospel."
The memo surfaced Thursday in a blog, “Whispers in the Loggia,” which closely follows Catholic affairs.
Mahony, who has led the Los Angeles archdiocese for more than two decades, turns 74 on Feb. 27, putting him one year shy of the usual retirement age for his post. The cardinal noted in his blog last month that this would be his last full year as archbishop.
His has been a tumultuous tenure, marked both by his emergence as a leader in the immigrant rights movement and by criticism of his handling of the church's sexual abuse scandals.
There has been speculation that the Vatican may be looking for a Latino successor to Mahony, whose archdiocese, encompassing Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, now has a flock estimated to be 75% Latino.
Tod Tamberg, an arch- diocese spokesman, said there was nothing unusual in the succession announcement.
"It would be normal for the Vatican to have begun gathering names of possible successors for any diocese in which the bishop is celebrating his 74th birthday," he said. "The bishop is talking to his priests and professional staff, who would also know this."
See the full article at: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/11/local/la-me-mahony12-2010feb12
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I think that Matt Abbott was the first to break this story a few weeks back. Of course quickly denied by the LA Archdiocese at the time.
Hercules had a lesser task cleaning the Augean stables than will Roger Mahony's successor.
We should all pray for the "right" choice.
Maybe the Los Angeles Archdioces should start facing its challenges and problems with a CHRIST-CENTERED approach. Instead of with a multicultural-approach. Or for that matter, compassion über alles, or a therapeutic approach.
Dear St. Thomas Becket pray for the Los Angeles Archdiocese's forthcoming bishop and for the conversion and sanctification of Cdl. Mahony.
Posted by: MVH | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 04:22 PM
I read on the internet, a reliable article, that the choice had already been approved by our Cardinal. The spectulation from this article was that Bishop Gomez will be our new leader.
Posted by: wmarie | Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:31 PM
MVH it's hardly a "multicultural" approach, since 75% of the archdiocese is Latino. "Mulsticultural" would be to put another Irishman there (and foolish at that, considering the muck-up the current one has made of it).
WMarie I'm in Northern California, and I don't know much about Bishop Gomez, nor am I going to investigate him too much until there is stronger evidence to do so. I can only hope and pray that whatever new bishop is installed, he will (finally) be orthodox, traditional and loyal to the pope and magesterium. I don't think it would be outside the realm of possibility to hope he would allow for more Tridentine liturgies there. Although I think praying that he dismantle the "Roj Mahal" brick by hideous brick is too much to ask.
Posted by: Simonian | Monday, March 01, 2010 at 11:04 PM