Hot seat getting cold

Rocco Palmo at Whispers in the Loggia posted yesterday on rumors that the next Archbishop of Milwaukee "could be named within the next fortnight." Speculation indicates the most likely appointee will be one of these four:

Bishops Gerald Kicanas of Tucson (currently vice-president of the US bishops), Blase Cupich of Rapid City, Jerome Listecki of LaCrosse and Milwaukee's administrator, Auxiliary Bishop William Callahan OFM Conv. ...

Tucson was the second U.S. diocese to file for bankruptcy due to pending claims of sexual abuse of children by priests. Bankruptcy has appeared to be a plus in the voting for a leadership postion in the USCCB. If Bishop Kicanas is appointed, it might mean our Archdiocesan leadership has finally concluded it is only a matter of time until it files for Chapter 11 the day before an abuse case comes to trial.

Bishop Cupich would, based on very limited information, remind people more of Archbishop Weakland than Archbishop Dolan. If so, that might serve as an extreme example of the "fat pope/thin pope" theory that it's better for the new guy if he contrasts with the last guy. First impression is he'd be the choice for, say, closing a few dozen more parishes while calling anyone who objects divisive.

Bishop Listecki spent most of his life and career in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, he hasn't drawn quite as much attention in LaCrosse as Bishop Burke did (see fat pope/thin pope, above), though he did publicly object to Notre Dame conferring an honorary degree on fellow-Chicagoan and President Barack Obama. Listecki is a lawyer, potentially adding one more lawyer who comes out ahead in litigation involving our Archdioces (Yay!). I've heard it might be a disadvantage to already be a bishop in the Province of Wisconsin, which would also apply to Bishop Callahan.

If Archbishop Dolan's time is deemed too short for the fat pope/thin pope rule to apply, Bishop Callahan might get the job as Dolan 1.5. They look enough alike that I would do a double-take when Callahan came by in the entrance procession at Midnight Mass at the Cathedral, thinking it was Dolan. On the other hand, the rule might be applied, and the similarity deemed enough to likely make the job harder for Callahan. He seems to take an interest in the desert where religious education and formation used to be.

(via Dad29)