25 U.S. Bishops to retire (maybe) in 2005

[Ray Marshall]

I see a few names here who are oft mentioned in these forums. No doubt some folks are eagerly anticipating the year 2006 already!

Up to 23 U.S. bishops could retire in 2005
By Jerry Filteau

1/3/2005

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Up to 23 U.S. bishops -- including three cardinals -- could retire because of age this year. . . .

Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, who turned 75 on Sept. 14, 2002, is a Michigan native. He was ordained a priest in 1954 and made first bishop of Gaylord, Mich., in 1971. He was made archbishop of Detroit in 1981, named a cardinal in 1988 and called to Rome in 1990 to head the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Since 1997 he has been president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who turns 75 March 18, was born in Pennsylvania. Ordained a priest of the Pittsburgh Diocese in 1956, he was made bishop of Green Bay, Wis., in 1983 and archbishop of Detroit in 1990. He was made a cardinal in 1994.

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, who turns 75 July 7, was born in New York and ordained a priest there in 1958. He was made an auxiliary bishop of New York in 1977, first bishop of Metuchen, N.J., in 1981 and archbishop of Newark, N.J., in 1986. Transferred to the Washington Archdiocese in November 2000, he was installed there in January 2001 and made a cardinal the following month.

The two other active U.S. bishops who are already 75 are both from Eastern Catholic churches. They are:

-- Ruthenian Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic, N.J., a priest since 1952, bishop since 1983 and head of the Passaic Diocese since 1995. He turned 75 Aug. 30, 2002.

-- Bishop Manuel Batakian of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate of U.S.A. and Canada, a priest since 1954, bishop since 1995 and head of the exarchate since 2001. He turned 75 Nov. 5, 2004.

Eastern church law asks a bishop to submit his resignation at age 75 to his patriarch if he is a member of a patriarchal church or to the pope if his church is not a patriarchate.

. . .Still-active bishops who will turn 75 in 2005 are, in chronological order:

-- Jan. 21: Auxiliary Bishop John P. Boles of Boston, a priest since1955 and bishop since 1992.

-- Jan. 26: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1968.

-- Feb. 3: Bishop David E. Foley of Birmingham, Ala., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1986 and head of the Birmingham Diocese since 1994.

-- Feb. 15: Bishop Robert E. Mulvee of Providence, R.I., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1977 and head of the Providence Diocese since 1997.

-- March 23: Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn, N.Y., a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1980.

-- April 1: Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, N.C., a priest since 1955, bishop since 1968 and head of the Raleigh Diocese since 1975.

-- May 3: Bishop William E. Franklin of Davenport, Iowa, a priest since 1956, bishop since 1987 and head of the Davenport Diocese since 1994.

-- May 11: Ukrainian Bishop Basil H. Losten of Stamford, Conn., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1971 and head of the Stamford Diocese since 1977.

-- May 20: Auxiliary Bishop William J. Winter of Pittsburgh, a priest since 1955 and bishop since 1989.

-- Aug. 3: Bishop Kenneth A. Angell of Burlington, Vt., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1974 and head of the Burlington Diocese since 1992.

-- Aug. 8: Bishop John J. Leibrecht of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo., a priest since 1956 and a bishop since1984.

-- Aug. 15: Auxiliary Bishop Rene A. Valero of Brooklyn, N.Y., a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1980.

-- Sept. 3: Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger of Worcester, Mass., a priest since 1958 and bishop since 1987.

-- Also Sept. 3: Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan of Monterey, Calif., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1990 and head of the Monterey Diocese since 1992.

-- Oct. 22: Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing, Mich., a priest since 1957 and a bishop since1996.

-- Oct. 23: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan of San Antonio, a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1998.

-- Oct. 25: Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior, Wis., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1979 and head of the Superior Diocese since 1985.

-- Dec. 13: Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon of New Orleans, a priest since 1960 and bishop since1993. . . .

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Ray Marshall

I
-- Jan. 26: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1968.

. .

I'd be happy to throw him a birthday (and farewell) party


(note that he was made a auxillary bishop almost 40 years ago, and no Pope since has seen fit to give him a diocese.)

[Bill_A]

I wish the Cardinal would hurry up and ordain me so I can get a big purple hat.

[WanderAimlessly]

Is the age 75 or 80?

If I remember right, Cardinal Bevilacqua did not retire until he was 80.

PF

[atsheeran]

Originally Posted by WanderAimlessly

Is the age 75 or 80?

If I remember right, Cardinal Bevilacqua did not retire until he was 80.

PF

I believe that each bishop is required to offer his resignation to the pope when the bishop turns 75. The pope is not obliged to accept the resignation right away. This would explain why Cardinal Bevilacqua did not retire at 75.

[davidc2]

Although Cardinals are required to submit their resignations at age 75 like all bishops, they are commonly allowed to remain as long as their health, etc. permit (up to 80, when almost all retire).

Actually its interesting that with the recent retirement of Archbishop Flores, there are now no US latin-rite ordinaries over the age limit (and only 7 dioceses currently vacant).

One other note, we are very likely to lose our Nuncio very soon - Archbishop Montalvo turns 75 toward the end of January (and nuncios rarely stay beyond the age limit).

Also you can always find an updated list of US bishops that are near or past the age limit on my website here (the list includes those from the US serving outside the country).

[Erich]

Originally Posted by davidc2

Also you can always find an updated list of US bishops that are near or past the age limit on my website here (the list includes those from the US serving outside the country).

All I can say is, wow! Definitely thoroughly documented... I even noticed that Galveston-Houston is already listed as an Archdiocese (having been elevated to that status only a week ago).

I was soon drawn to the "Episcopal Lineage / Apostolic Succession" section, and noticed that all of the bishops I looked at (including JPII) can trace their lineage back to the sixteenth-century Cardinal Rebiba (I certainly hope there's never been any question about his lineage :-)

Anyone aware of any lineages that go further back than 500 years?

[Detroit Sue]

Originally Posted by Brendan

I'd be happy to throw him a birthday (and farewell) party


(note that he was made a auxillary bishop almost 40 years ago, and no Pope since has seen fit to give him a diocese.)

If he would only go...

I'd be willing to kick in on that!

Wouldn't mind seeing Maida collect his pension, either.

[Irish Melkite]

Originally Posted by Erich

All I can say is, wow! Definitely thoroughly documented... I even noticed that Galveston-Houston is already listed as an Archdiocese (having been elevated to that status only a week ago).

Erich,

Yes, David's is one of the most thoroughly documented sites on the web and one of about a half-dozen that, together, constitute an enormously valuable compendium of data on Catholic hierarchs and jurisdictions. The list:

• David Cheney's Catholic Hierarchy
  
• Salvador Miranda's Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
  
• Father Claes Tande's Catholic Dioceses Around the World
  
• von Martin Wolter's Apostolic Succession
  
• Bob Hilken's States & Regents of the World
  
• Bruce Gordon's Regnal Chronologies

Although there is overlap in several instances, each of these sites offers either some particulars in the data that it presents, or in the way in which it does so, that makes it an important piece of the whole historical understanding.

I should add to that list Terry Boyle's Outline of Episcopi Vagante, which explains the apostolic succession and episcopal lineage of those bishops who claim validity through consecration by renegade Catholic and Orthodox hierarchs, as it is really a part of the entire picture, albeit seen through a distorted lensfinder.

Originally Posted by Erich

I was soon drawn to the "Episcopal Lineage / Apostolic Succession" section, and noticed that all of the bishops I looked at (including JPII) can trace their lineage back to the sixteenth-century Cardinal Rebiba (I certainly hope there's never been any question about his lineage :-)

Anyone aware of any lineages that go further back than 500 years?

For a discussion about The Rebiban Succession, see Episcopal Lineages & Apostolic Succession. The explanation there is by my good friend, Charles Bransom, widely acknowledged as the quasi-official recorder of same. Charles continues work begun by other episcopal historians almost 75 years ago, publishing an annual directory of all bishops consecrated in the prior year, including the particulars of where, when, and by whom. A few years back, the USCCB published his work on the American episcopacy since its inception; a follow-up is now in process. In many ways, Charles is, to paper text, what David is to the web.

Many years,

Neil

[davidc2]

Excellent list of websites - I use most of those regularly for research and verification.

The vast majority of the lineage information provided on my website is directly based on the research of Mr. Bransom - he's been a tremendous help!

[misericordie]

Originally Posted by Ray Marshall

I see a few names here who are oft mentioned in these forums. No doubt some folks are eagerly anticipating the year 2006 already!

Up to 23 U.S. bishops could retire in 2005
By Jerry Filteau

1/3/2005

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Up to 23 U.S. bishops -- including three cardinals -- could retire because of age this year. . . .

Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, who turned 75 on Sept. 14, 2002, is a Michigan native. He was ordained a priest in 1954 and made first bishop of Gaylord, Mich., in 1971. He was made archbishop of Detroit in 1981, named a cardinal in 1988 and called to Rome in 1990 to head the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Since 1997 he has been president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who turns 75 March 18, was born in Pennsylvania. Ordained a priest of the Pittsburgh Diocese in 1956, he was made bishop of Green Bay, Wis., in 1983 and archbishop of Detroit in 1990. He was made a cardinal in 1994.

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, who turns 75 July 7, was born in New York and ordained a priest there in 1958. He was made an auxiliary bishop of New York in 1977, first bishop of Metuchen, N.J., in 1981 and archbishop of Newark, N.J., in 1986. Transferred to the Washington Archdiocese in November 2000, he was installed there in January 2001 and made a cardinal the following month.

The two other active U.S. bishops who are already 75 are both from Eastern Catholic churches. They are:

-- Ruthenian Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic, N.J., a priest since 1952, bishop since 1983 and head of the Passaic Diocese since 1995. He turned 75 Aug. 30, 2002.

-- Bishop Manuel Batakian of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate of U.S.A. and Canada, a priest since 1954, bishop since 1995 and head of the exarchate since 2001. He turned 75 Nov. 5, 2004.

Eastern church law asks a bishop to submit his resignation at age 75 to his patriarch if he is a member of a patriarchal church or to the pope if his church is not a patriarchate.

. . .Still-active bishops who will turn 75 in 2005 are, in chronological order:

-- Jan. 21: Auxiliary Bishop John P. Boles of Boston, a priest since1955 and bishop since 1992.

-- Jan. 26: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1968.

-- Feb. 3: Bishop David E. Foley of Birmingham, Ala., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1986 and head of the Birmingham Diocese since 1994.

-- Feb. 15: Bishop Robert E. Mulvee of Providence, R.I., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1977 and head of the Providence Diocese since 1997.

-- March 23: Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn, N.Y., a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1980.

-- April 1: Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, N.C., a priest since 1955, bishop since 1968 and head of the Raleigh Diocese since 1975.

-- May 3: Bishop William E. Franklin of Davenport, Iowa, a priest since 1956, bishop since 1987 and head of the Davenport Diocese since 1994.

-- May 11: Ukrainian Bishop Basil H. Losten of Stamford, Conn., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1971 and head of the Stamford Diocese since 1977.

-- May 20: Auxiliary Bishop William J. Winter of Pittsburgh, a priest since 1955 and bishop since 1989.

-- Aug. 3: Bishop Kenneth A. Angell of Burlington, Vt., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1974 and head of the Burlington Diocese since 1992.

-- Aug. 8: Bishop John J. Leibrecht of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo., a priest since 1956 and a bishop since1984.

-- Aug. 15: Auxiliary Bishop Rene A. Valero of Brooklyn, N.Y., a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1980.

-- Sept. 3: Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger of Worcester, Mass., a priest since 1958 and bishop since 1987.

-- Also Sept. 3: Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan of Monterey, Calif., a priest since 1957, bishop since 1990 and head of the Monterey Diocese since 1992.

-- Oct. 22: Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing, Mich., a priest since 1957 and a bishop since1996.

-- Oct. 23: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan of San Antonio, a priest since 1956 and bishop since 1998.

-- Oct. 25: Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior, Wis., a priest since 1956, bishop since 1979 and head of the Superior Diocese since 1985.

-- Dec. 13: Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon of New Orleans, a priest since 1960 and bishop since1993. . . .

I wish Cardinal Edward Egan of the Archdiocese of New York (here) was one of the ones who are retiring!! Oh God, just imagine how sad for us NY catholics if he continues PAST age 75!! Holy Father, please, at age 75, accept his resignation!! PLEASE!!

[csbyrnes84]

Thank God Cardinal McCarick is close to retiring. It will never be soon enough to get that man out of any position of power.

Maybe once he's done in D.C. he can come back to New Jersey and live in his beach house which is appropriately known among many New Jersey Catholics as "Sodom by the Sea"

[katherine2]

Originally Posted by csbyrnes84

Thank God Cardinal McCarick is close to retiring. It will never be soon enough to get that man out of any position of power.

Maybe once he's done in D.C. he can come back to New Jersey and live in his beach house which is appropriately known among many New Jersey Catholics as "Sodom by the Sea"

Almost always, when the pope makes an archbishop a Cardinal, he refused teh resignation until age 80. The Pope continues to give McCarrick may favors and special assignments, so it seem unlikely he will be leaving soon.

[csbyrnes84]

Ugh. That was not the response I was hoping for

Originally Posted by katherine2

Almost always, when the pope makes an archbishop a Cardinal, he refused teh resignation until age 80. The Pope continues to give McCarrick may favors and special assignments, so it seem unlikely he will be leaving soon.

[+veritas+]

Originally Posted by csbyrnes84

Ugh. That was not the response I was hoping for

Don't give up hope... I think that if such a "trend" has been true at all, it has been true because there was no one else to replace them who would be any better.

Better the enemy you know...

Nowadays, as has been seen from the last couple of years of bishop movement, the Holy Father has a much bigger pool of (as Fr. Neuhaus calls them) "JP II bishops" to select from. This is because of the gradual, yet real, trend among clergy towards orthodoxy and the call of their vocation, as opposed to the "careerism" of the past generation of priests and bishops.

And I'm not sure exactly what "special favors" McCarrick is supposed to be getting from the Pope -- McCarrick was the duly elected leader of a nation bishops' conference; without good reason the Pope wasn't going to just go in there and "fire" him. Besides, McCarrick hasn't been totally weak -- he has, after all, taken a firm stance against the Rainbow Sash Movement's attempts to receive Communion (a firmer stance than my own Archbishop thus far...)

Anyway, I think it is highly likely that McCarrick will indeed be retired, what with all the other great young priests ready and willing to begin filling up the auxiilary bishop holes, leaving the current great auxiliary bishops free to fill the holes left by the retirees. But of course, only God knows for certain!

Just keep praying for God's will to be done!

+veritas+