Group aims to influence Chicago archbishop appointment
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A Massachusetts-based Catholic lay group, Voice of the Faithful, is making efforts to sway the selection of Chicago’s new archbishop by getting feedback from local church-goers.
Colleen Dolan, director of communications for the Chicago Archdiocese, says that it may be helpful for the group – which has no official affiliation with the archdiocese – to encourage participation, but that locals should “send their responses directly to the Apostolic Nuncio.”
Following Church procedure, Cardinal Francis George, who has served as Archbishop of Chicago since 1997 and is currently undergoing four months of chemotherapy, submitted his retirement Jan. 16, 2012 upon reaching his 75th birthday.
However, “Cardinal George understands that his retirement will not be accepted for two years,” Dolan told CNA Sept. 18.
According to Church custom, the new leader of a diocese or archdiocese is chosen by the Pope based on the recommendation from the Apostolic Nuncio after his consultation with current local bishops and diocese, including members of the laity.
In this case, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who has served as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States since 2011, will make his recommendation to the Pope in the near future.
But on their website, Voice of the Faithful assert that this custom “deprives the process of consultation with all the laity,” saying that they should have a greater input on the choice of bishop.
Quoting Canon Law 212, “Christ’s faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the Church,” Voice of the Faithful says they have a “right” to provide greater say in the selection of the new archbishop.
Dolan noted that the “Apostolic Nuncio has said that, ‘any initiative, however, to organize group responses constitutes a parallel procedure that would not be part of canonical selection process.’” [More]
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13 Comments
Wanna bet that “Voice of the Faithful” (now THERE’S a misleading moniker) has no interest in hearing the voices of those who attend Mass during the week and utilize Reconciliataion monthly?
Like Reconciliation has had any results in your life – you continue to be a hypocrite, you continue to judge others by your own standards, you continue to exhibit pride. You continue to worship the false god of your own ego. So what good has it done you?
And, think about it — what is it ANY business of a Massachusetts group to be interested in a Chicago bishop appointee? It must be politically motivated. Isn’t Massachusetts where the devoutly Catholic Kennedy family live? And isn’t there where devout Catholic John Kerry lives? Give me a break. If you’re from MA, please leave — unless you TRULY are the voice of genuinely faithful Catholics — which, I’ll give you 100 to one odds this group is not. They’re almost certainly a voice for a bunch of liberal CINOs who want to remake God’s Church into their own image. Why don’t they just start their own church and leave the Catholic Church?
Jim the Almighty has spoken people from Massachuseetts are not worthy to be members of the CHurch. Jim the Almighty has declared that not one person there is a genuine Catholic. Jim the Almighty worships his own views rather than the one true God.
a) the group is based in Massachusetts — that immediately raises a red flag; b) they want their say — they’re not interested in a bishop who will help them grow in their relationship with God — no, they’ll want a bishop favorable to homosexuality and women’s ordination, or at least who seems to lean in that direction. Any candidate supported by this group is probably the exact candidate who NEVER should be appointed bishop. It’s a little like an endorsement from al-Quida — if they like a presidential candidate, you can be sure they are bad choice for America.
Jim — I think their effort is partially misguided. Do you know what VOTF does? How it arose? Why do you think VOTF Catholics don’t attend Mass or Confession? Why is there always the quick back of the hand? Conservative Catholics are no more “Catholic” than liberal Catholics. They both accept the basic beliefs of the Church.
Well, Dennis, if liberal Catholics accept the basic beliefs of the Church — which include, at its very center, the reality that we are in need of God’s grace to heal our concupiscent tendencies — then why don’t liberals utilize the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Clearly, those who do not go to Confession do not receive as much grace as those who do. And, without God’s grace, it is impossible to be a faithful Catholic.
BTW, your post is confusing, because your first sentence seems to be saying that you do not fully support VOTF, but then you do on to defend them. I think all that rocket fuel you’ve inhaled over the years has affected your ability to write!
Didn’t mean to confuse you, Jim — I really didn’t think it was such a leap, but for some. . .. I’m not especially big on outside groups putting their foot in local squabbles, but in the main I support VOTF. What makes you think liberals don’t go to confession?
ah Jim the hypocrite speaks his empty words condemning people of an entire state, pretending to know what is in the heart of each and every person, and pretending he speaks for the CHurch. HYPOCRISY JIM!!!
I know they don’t want a bisop like Egan
Above should be Law. Not Egan
The canonical procedures for selection of a new bishop these days are more suited to the succession of monarchs than to choosing a pastor for all the people. With the aftermath of the priest-pedophile phenomenon still in rage stage, smart money would strongly suggest that the Vatican LISTEN to the laity and their organizations if it wants post-selection co-operation from the people.
Amen!