Cardinal Mahony: Pope needs to make new curial appointments ‘very soon’
March 25, 2013
Cardinal Roger Mahony, who served as Archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011, writes that “the really difficult work” now awaits Pope Francis.
Pope Francis “has several key and meaningful appointments to make, and he needs to make them very soon: the first and most important will include the Secretary of State, Substitute Secretary of State, Priest Secretaries, and Prefect of the Papal Household,” Cardinal Mahony wrote on his blog.
“Pope Frances [sic] knows well that one of the major themes during the ten General Congregations of the Cardinals prior to the Conclave was the reform of the Vatican Curia,” Cardinal Mahony continued. “Reform will only take place with the appointment of top collaborators with the Pope--and soon. The longer he waits, the greater the danger that the current leadership may feel that they will remain in their jobs and will function as in the past. But the world's Cardinals want something else.”
Cardinal Mahony added:
With the fresh new vigor of Pope Francis and his vision of a Church which is "poor and for the poor," and with far less bureaucracy, that will only happen if the upper leadership in the Vatican is changed.
Fortunately, there are many fine candidates around the world for the various positions which he needs to fill. He will be well served if he calls upon a small group of Cardinals who serve as Archbishops of Dioceses around the world to advise him on his choices. Most likely, his new appointees will not be men presently serving in the Vatican Curia, but men with a broad working knowledge of the Church world-wide and seasoned in their experience.
Following the release of abuse files earlier this year, Cardinal Mahony’s successor, Archbishop José Gomez, declared that the cardinal “will no longer have any administrative or public duties.”
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Posted by: jhoov_49122450 -
Mar. 26, 2013 12:40 AM ET USA
Cardinal Mahoney needs to shut his mouth and go quietly away. After what he has done he has no right to make any decisions or suggestions as to what the Pope should do. I also agree that it is a pathetic attempt at being a has been who wants to be relevant again. Please no more from this man.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Mar. 25, 2013 8:04 PM ET USA
How much longer will the press pay any attention to this failed prelate? Citing his thoughts on anything religious is like citing Bernie Madoff on the problem of our federal budget deficit.
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Posted by: jeremiahjj -
Mar. 25, 2013 7:48 PM ET USA
I would just bet Cardinal Mahony would have some suggestions for the Pope too. No thanks, Excellency, no advice needed from your side of the fence.
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Posted by: polish.pinecone4371 -
Mar. 25, 2013 6:17 PM ET USA
I agree with the other three -- let Mahony speak into his own echo chamber. If anyone wants to hear from a man who has such chutzpah as to advise the Pope on what he needs to do when his own house is in serious disarray, then let NCR-Fishwrap do the honors.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Mar. 25, 2013 9:52 AM ET USA
Yeh, Cardinal Mahony knows how to pick subordinates, and how to keep them in place when they should have been removed. He is an expert in this area. Maybe Pope Francis should invite him in as an expert in how not to lead. I am tired of hearing from Cardinal Mahony.
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Posted by: sparch -
Mar. 25, 2013 9:48 AM ET USA
Here is a man who speaks of reform, yet it is his reform he looks for. An attempt to push his progressive and destructive agenda on the church.Let Francis 1 lead his own papacy. Mahoney needs to go away. I agree with NonSumDignus. This is not news, only a pathetic attempt by a has been to be relevent again. Let him go away.
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Posted by: NonSumDignus -
Mar. 25, 2013 6:54 AM ET USA
Please, please, please stop giving Cardinal Mahony and his divisive "tweets" any more visibility. A "tweet" is not "news." Thank you.
