I nearly missed this news. “To heal Newark” is part of Rocco’s headline. That’s a good story for the people of Northern New Jersey.
Bishops, archbishops, and now even a cardinal-to-be routinely switch from auxiliary slots to smaller dioceses as chief shepherd, to larger ones. I still feel conflicted about such movements. And yet, there’s no doubt that some communities need a steady and sure hand when the history has been shaky.
Maybe someday we’ll get to the stage in the Church when the cavalry doesn’t have to come riding in quite as often. Think of it: lay people taking responsibility in their parishes, clergy stepping to the fore in their dioceses, bishops taking initiative in the universal Church. Not waiting for the pope to call another council, bishops to clean house, priests to give permission.
