a model for us all
By Diogenes (articles ) | July 01, 2008 10:55 AM
The Common Ground Initiative has honored Bishop Gerald Kicanas with this year's Cardinal Bernardin Award. The award citation praised Bishop Kicanas as "a champion of dialogue on contentious issues," with a special mention of "his pastoral concern regarding the abuse crisis."
Right. Since the time when he was a seminary rector in Chicago, clearing the way for the ordination of a student who was hit with three separate charges of sexual misconduct during his seminary days, Bishop Kicanas has demonstrated pastoral concern of a sort you don't see every day. ("I was more concerned about his drinking.")
Sure, a few mistakes were made along the way. A few children were molested; a few priests were jailed; a few hundred millions were paid off from diocesan treasuries. But Bishop Kicanas handled those "contentious issues" admirably, too. Did we mention that the Tucson diocese has emerged from bankruptcy?
The Common Ground Initiative thinks that Bishop Kicanas is following the pastoral example set by the late Cardinal Bernardin. And the funny thing is, they may be right.
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Posted by: -
Jul. 02, 2008 10:29 AM ET USA
One of the surest signs of the moral decay growing among our Catholic leaders is, in spite of the wide knowledge of his mishandling of the Mundelein Seminary debacle, he was elected VP of the USCCB, and now this award. His penchant for publicity is well known. He is hot on the trail to win promotion to Cardinal . Let's hope the Vatican sees through the veneer. If he is the best that could be made VP, things are really going down-hill in the Church and if he becomes President of the USCCB- Ouch!
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Posted by: -
Jul. 02, 2008 1:55 AM ET USA
If you want a real hoot, go to his Monday Memo for June 23 where he has much to say about this great honor: http://www.diocesetucson.org/june08memo.html#anchor062308
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Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2008 9:40 PM ET USA
And this honor comes after the U.S. Bishops honored him by electing him VP of the USCCB. Who would've thunk it?
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Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2008 8:19 PM ET USA
So who is going to advocate celibacy as an option?
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Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2008 6:23 PM ET USA
"Bishop Gerald Kicanas never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity." :-D Ha! That is so funny! But the more you think about it, the more Pseudodysionius is right: most of the corrupt Bishops committed sins of omission. They didn't steal or rape or kill, they just carefully avoided doing what needed to be done, at the worst possible times. And you can destroy any diocese with sins of omission.
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Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2008 1:52 PM ET USA
A fitting introductory speech: "Bishop Gerald Kicanas never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity." with a tip of the hat to an adroit Mark Steynism.
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Posted by: -
Jul. 01, 2008 11:39 AM ET USA
Well, the Cardinal Bernardin award is fitting in name and spirit.
