No Stopping the Bull

Well, after three months of furor, Bishop Braxton today takes the reins in Belleville. And if those priests don't shut up once that letter is presented, their credibility is shot.

In this business, you really have to pick your battles.

But here's an interesting piece from today's Chicago Tribune. When everyone hears about how whipped up the priests are getting, consider these words from one of them:

Rev. Clyde Grogan, who oversees ministries in East St. Louis, counts on his right hand what he calls the "Killer B's," or those politicians and clergy who do not have the community's best interests at heart: "Benedict, Bush, Blagojevich, Blunt and Braxton"--a list including the pope, the president and the governors of Illinois and Missouri.

Wow. At least Grogan's bi-partisan, but that's quite a hit list, no? The cons would say, "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary, Levada, [Bob] Lynch, Durbin, and whoever Fox News and the Holy Father [i.e. Phil Lawler] tell us not to like."

It's particularly funny because even pro-life Catholics in St. Louis think Matt Blunt's a nutball... pro-life Catholics, people, not pro-birth Catholics -- there's a big difference there.


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And, going Eastward, I noted yesterday that Archbishop Favalora down in Miami is 0 for 2 when it comes to naming auxiliaries.

To clarify, the archbishop's goose-egg score is good for the Church -- in sending Felipe Eztevez and now John Noonan to assist Favalora, both times the Holy See passed over Favalora's favored nominee, Tomas Marin, a former cardiologist who was ordained and reigned as Chancellor there for many years.

Estevez, in particular, has struck me with his sense of humility and just being a real person. I don't know enough about Noonan to form a judgment, but I like what I've seen.

Still, look at how pissed Favalora is over Noonan's appointment:

It is my pleasure to inform you that this morning, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, announced the appointment of Monsignor John Noonan as Auxiliary Bishop for Miami. I rejoice with all of the priests, religious and laity of the Archdiocese on this very fitting appointment.

After the press conference this morning, Bishop-Elect Noonan will concelebrate Mass with me at the Pastoral Center at 11:45 a.m.

His Episcopal Ordination will take place on Wednesday, August 24, 2005, Feast of Saint Bartholomew Apostle, at 1:00 p.m., at the Cathedral of Saint Mary. Formal invitations will follow.

Please keep Bishop-Elect Noonan in your prayers. I look forward to his collaborative assistance in the Church of Miami.

One shouldn't sound terse when announcing an auxiliary bishop, but Favalora does -- these are not the words of a happy man. Why's he not happy? Well, because Noonan is not Tomas, just as Eztevez (for all his gifts and goodness) was not Tomas.

But when your first choice is said to have, um, issues -- and Rome knows about them -- I'd rather the church be well-served in the best choice than the one which would make Boss happiest....

We all remember what happened with Jim McCarthy, don't we?

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