The National Catholic Register reports some shocking news:
New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan was elected president of the U.S. bishops’ conference at 10am this morning. The vote was 128-111 on the third ballot, a runoff in which he defeated Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., who served as USCCB vice president for the last three years.
Minutes later, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., was elected vice president of the conference on a third ballot in a runoff vote of 147 to 91 over Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver.
November 16, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Thank God. But 111 for Kicanas? Are there that many clueless bishops?
November 16, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Such wonderful news! What a relief!!
November 16, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Oh, there are far more than 111 clueless bishops. Those are just the clueless /and/ belligerent ones. The clueless and spineless ones didn't vote for Kicanas solely because they didn't want to deal with the backlash. So their vote plus the dozen or so votes from Bishops who aren't totally clueless put Archbishop Dolan over the top.
November 16, 2010 at 4:44 pm
This is awesome news!
November 16, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Deo Gratias!
November 16, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Thanks be to God! Abp. Dolan has been an inspiring leader of the Church here in New York. He's the best. Let's pray that he is able to stand up under both demanding jobs.
November 16, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Nicholas: Be that as it may, we'll take what we can get, won't we?
November 16, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Do the bishops get a secret ballot or can we know how our own voted? Just wonderin' …
November 16, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Secret ballot.
November 16, 2010 at 6:56 pm
It is truly amazing that any of the bishops had voted for Bishop Kicanas. Are they the ones who got together and said "Let's vote for someone who will get us back in the New York Times for a few months or years. After all it's been a couple of months since we have been trashed for our misconduct in the national press!"?
What a relief the "caucus of the clueless" did not have their way. Prayers and best wishes for Archbishop Dolan
November 16, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Awesome!
November 16, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Oh, praise GOD!! Another bullet dodged…
November 16, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Thank God!
November 16, 2010 at 9:25 pm
A happy surprise, and an answer to my prayers. Against Kicanas, that is. I was praying for Abp. Chaput.
November 16, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I was praying for Abp. Chaput.
All in good time. Like a bottle of fine single-malt scotch.
November 16, 2010 at 9:36 pm
One may hope, romishgraffiti.
November 16, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Yes, but for us faithful here in Tucson, he'll just be home more often now.
November 16, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Hey! I love Chaput, too! Didn't y'all just love the talk he gave to the Catholic Air Force Cadets. Made my sons copies and they aren't even military!
Dolan's cool, too, afterall he's an Irishman 😉
November 17, 2010 at 12:28 am
This isn't sitting well with the folks over at the Whiny Fishwrap Reporter. The comment forums are full of people wringing their hands and lashing out at the USCCB for not following tradition. Guess they thought this was one tradition that would work in their favour.
November 17, 2010 at 12:45 am
Congratulations to Bishop Dolan!
I feel compelled to add that I don't find some of the comments on this post very charitable. We should rejoice that a fine bishop has been selected without degrading any other bishops.
If we are happy with Bishop Dolan, then let us be happy in that.