"It's Time."

Bishop William Friend of Shreveport turns 75 today, telling the local press as he does that he sends his letter willingly ...and dreads getting the "donec aliter provideatur" response. Friend was named to the episcopacy at 47 and awaits retirement in his native Florida.

With 40,000 Catholics and 11,000 square-miles -- which works out to less than 4 per square mile? -- the Shreveport diocese is among the US' ten smallest local churches.

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