Archbishop installed in Milwaukee
8/31/2002MILWAUKEE - In a cathedral packed with eight cardinals, dozens of clerics, and hundreds of enthusiastic Catholics, the Rev. Timothy Dolan became the 10th archbishop of the beleaguered Milwaukee Archdiocese this week.
In his homily at Wednesday's Mass, he spoke about the need to overcome fear during hard times. He mentioned the doubts that jabbed Abraham and Moses when God commanded them to lead, then addressed his own anxiety when he received the call to take the helm in Milwaukee.
“Oh Lord, not I,” said the Missouri native. “I don't know how to drive in the snow.”
Interjecting humor into the pomp-filled Mass at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the 52-year-old Archbishop Dolan showed why so many think he was an ideal choice for the post. Catholics here are still struggling after months of devastating disclosures regarding sexual abuse by priests, and some say the new archbishop's earthy style could be just the tonic to bring the disillusioned back to the church.
Archbishop Dolan is replacing retired Archbishop Rembert Weakland, a liberal beacon in the American church who stepped down after being accused in a sexual abuse scandal. Some think Archbishop Dolan, who has extensive Vatican ties, was chosen to put the archdiocese on a more conservative course.
“The Catholic Church today is in crisis,” Archbishop Dolan said in his homily. “The antidote to the crisis is fidelity, a fidelity which gives rise to holiness.”
WASHINGTON - A New Mexico Supreme Court justice has been named the 13th, and final, member of the panel that America's Roman Catholic bishops formed to oversee dioceses' response to sex abuse claims against priests.
Justice Petra Maes will be the last person appointed to the National Review Board led by Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating. Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced Justice Maes' role last week.
The commission will monitor how church leaders implement the reform policy they adopted during their June meeting in Dallas. At the time, bishops promised to remove guilty clergy from all church work and, in some cases, from the priesthood entirely.
Among others serving on the board are Leon Panetta, former congressman and White House chief of staff; Washington attorney Robert S. Bennett, and Michael J. Bland, a victim of clergy abuse and a psychological counselor who works with fellow victims for the Chicago Archdiocese.
The panel is scheduled to meet Sept. 16 in Oklahoma City.
Roberts Chapel Free Methodist Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary since it was incorporated by the state of Ohio with special events and services next weekend.
The church, at 9300 Maumee Western Rd., Monclova, will celebrate with live music, a car and bike show, and a barbecue dinner from 2 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Performers include Theo Rain, Jim Worthing, and Joyful Noise.
A worship celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 8 with guest speaker the Rev. Charles Young, superintendent of the Ohio Conference of the Free Methodist Church.
Singer Michael W. Smith has followed up the release of his best-selling recording, “Worship,” with a DVD and VHS video of the same name.
The concert video was filmed live on April 7 before 15,000 people at a Youth for Christ conference in Alberta, Canada. It features 14 songs from his 2001 “Worship” CD and a sequel, “Worship Again,” set for release Oct. 22. The songs include “Awesome God,” “Above All,” and a cover of U2's “40.”
“The DVD will touch people in a different way than the album does because it is a visual piece; it brings the powerful worship moments to life,” Smith said in a press release. “I really believe that no two worship services are alike. Something different happens in each and every one.”
Smith has sold more than 8 million albums and earned 34 Dove Awards in his 19-year career.