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Pope May Reshape US Church as Bishops Age Out

Many bishops nearing retirement as church faces big changes

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 5, 2009 2:22 PM CDT
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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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Robert_Dada
Apr 6, 2009 12:24 PM CDT
Religion stagnates society and inhibits progressive enlightenment. It's time to give up the stupid fairy tales so we can evolve before it's too late.
riffran
Apr 6, 2009 2:10 AM CDT
I know a lot of good catholics....but have yet to meet more than two Good preist's......most tend to be a *ahem* bit on the pompous side
Mr.C
Apr 5, 2009 10:44 AM 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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Pope Benedict XVI • United States • Vatican • retirement • resignation • Catholicism • bishop

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