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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Pope May Reshape US Church as Bishops Age Out

Many bishops nearing retirement as church faces big changes

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(Newser) – With many bishops nearing the age of required retirement, the Vatican has a chance to reinvent the US Catholic Church, moving beyond church sex scandals and adapting to a growing immigrant presence, reports the Los Angeles Times. Almost a third of 265 current US bishops must step down in the next 5 years; more than half must resign within a decade.

That opens the gates to a flood of newcomers untouched by scandal. The coming clergy overhaul coincides with a priest shortage as well as major shifts in the US Catholic population, which is shrinking in the Northeast but booming in the South and West, as more Latin Americans immigrate. At the moment, experts say, the pope's focus seems more on fixing the church's image than addressing ethnic issues.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, speaks at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Rigali is due to retire soon.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, speaks at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Rigali is due to retire soon.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate a Mass Sunday, March 22, 2009, on the outskirts of Angola's seaside capital, Luanda, the last major event before the end of the visit on Monday.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate a Mass Sunday, March 22, 2009, on the outskirts of Angola's seaside capital, Luanda, the last major event before the end of the visit on Monday.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, center, is nearing the age of retirement.
Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, center, is nearing the age of retirement.   (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Cardinals Justin Francis Rigali of Philadelphia, Archbishop of New York Edward M. Egan, and Adam Maida of Detroit, from left, participate in a public Mass in Las Vegas in 2007.
Cardinals Justin Francis Rigali of Philadelphia, Archbishop of New York Edward M. Egan, and Adam Maida of Detroit, from left, participate in a public Mass in Las Vegas in 2007.   (AP Photo/Marlene Karas)
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7 comments
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Robert_Dada
Apr 5, 09 2:30 PM CDT
Stop believing the myth of a god and let these institutions crumble. Reply
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Mad
Apr 5, 09 4:21 PM CDT
What's it to you what anyone wishes to believe? I am atheist, without a doubt, but I still rather live next to a holy roller than a godless heathen
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Derni
Apr 5, 09 4:28 PM CDT
Its a bit late to put bishops in place and hope that move seals the deal. I was a catholic priest and left-now an atheist, Mnay peole refuse to go to church because they can't understand the FBI clergy-clergy fromother countries. He might want to revisit changing the rule on married clergy-that way he will deal with adultry and not pedophiles. He could also let women become priests since the RC has treated them as second class and asked them to sit on the back of the bus. The RC religion like many others is too exclusive-but whatever floats your boat! Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 5, 09 5:11 PM CDT
Isn't spiritual retirement an odd thought? Can you imagine Jesus or any of his Apostles issuing a statement that they're "retiring to the Caspian Coast next year?" Christian's were admonished to remain active and faithful till the end of their earthly course, or right up to the end of this system of things... It's right there in black and white in the book they hold as the spiritual blueprint; do any of them actually read it? In the meantime, it's business as usual for Christendom... Reply
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Mr.C
Apr 5, 09 5:44 PM CDT
I don't think that this necessitates the end of them sharing their faith. And a lot of Christians haven't read the Bible out of laziness. But through church and such they know it decently well.
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