Archbishop Dolan: Leaving Milwaukee

UPDATE, February 23, 2009: Archbishop Dolan Succeeds Cardinal Egan
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UPDATE, February 17, 2009: The Vatican is expected to name Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan to take over the Diocese of New York.
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UPDATE, February 9, 2009: Archbishop Dolan Comments On Possible NYC Future
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Here we go again...

From the New York Times:

Ever since April 2007, when Cardinal Edward M. Egan turned 75 and sent the pope a letter offering to retire as Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, speculation has raged over which prelate will be named to succeed him.

In recent days, the talk has reached a rolling boil. Catholics in Rome and the United States who track movements in the hierarchy say the Vatican is close to announcing who will claim what may be the most high-profile bishop’s seat in the American church.

...Several names have surfaced repeatedly, but the candidate mentioned most frequently by Catholic insiders in Rome and New York is Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee. Born and raised in Missouri, he has no personal ties to New York. But those who know him say he is like many bishops who have led the archdiocese in the past — an affable, outgoing, brainy Irish-American.

“He has a great sense of humor, a big laugh and a real sense of warmth,” said the Rev. David M. O’Connell, president of the Catholic University of America in Washington, where Archbishop Dolan earned his master’s and doctoral degrees and sits on the board of trustees. “I think in many ways if the part of archbishop of New York could ever be scripted, Archbishop Dolan would really be cast in that role.”

...Despite the active speculation, officials at the archdiocesan offices in New York said they had no knowledge of an imminent transition.

In Milwaukee, Jerry Topczewski, chief of staff to Archbishop Dolan, said, “I’m very comfortable saying that the archbishop has no knowledge of any announcement or pending announcement or anything else.”

He added: “We’ve been plagued by these rumors every two, three or four years — whenever there’s a diocese open. He was going to Boston, to Baltimore, then to D.C. But he’s still here and happy to be here.”

Still, church insiders in Rome and in the United States said Pope Benedict XVI had already settled on his selection.

Granted, this story from the Times is all speculation, but the speculation again focuses on Archbishop Dolan as the front-runner to be Cardinal Egan's replacement.

I must admit I don't like hearing those rumors.

While I agree that Archbishop Dolan is an excellent candidate to succeed Cardinal Egan, I think it would be very hard on the people of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to lose him.

The Archdiocese is facing tremendous challenges, mainly due to the effects of the clergy sex abuse scandal. The challenges go beyond the financial matters, with the Archdiocese teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and working through the massive job cuts that have impacted ministries.

There's also the matter of Archbishop Rembert Weakland. I don't think the wounds from the scandal are healed, but I do think that the leadership of Dolan has been a tremendous help in restoring people's confidence in the Church.

After such a horrible betrayal, it's difficult to trust again. It's difficult to write out checks, knowing in the past nearly a half million dollars in hush money was paid out in Weakland's case.

Dolan has been a great comfort to many people whose faith in the Church was shaken by the abuses of Weakland. If Dolan were to leave now, it would be a setback for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and I think his departure could result in serious long term negative consequences for the future of the Catholic Church in southeastern Wisconsin.