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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Aug 16th, 2007 09:24 am |
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WASHINGTON (August 14, 2007)— Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Robert Joseph Baker as the bishop of Birmingham, Alabama. He succeeds Bishop David E. Foley, who retired May 10, 2005.
The announcement was made in Washington, Aug. 14, by Msgr. Martin Krebs, Chargé d’Affaires of the Vatican nunciature.
Bishop Baker, 63, was ordained in 1970 at his home parish of St. Wendelin in Fostoria, Ohio. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He received his doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1977 and served on the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, before being appointed pastor of the Cathedral of St. Augustine in 1984.
While serving as the Cathedral’s pastor he helped to establish a soup kitchen, shelter house and a farm for the homeless and addicted.
He was appointed bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, by Pope John Paul II on July 13, 1999.
He served on the Florida Catholic Conference’s Committee on Capital Punishment. He is co-editor of two books, “Welcome the Stranger: Contemporary Ministry in the Church of Florida” (1983) and “Historic Catholic Sites of St. Augustine” (1988), and wrote a pastoral letter in 2005 on “The Redemption of Our Bodies: The Theology of the Body and Its Consequences for Ministry in the Diocese of Charleston.”
Bishop David E. Foley was ordained to the priesthood in 1956. He became a bishop in 1986 and was appointed to the Diocese of Birmingham in 1994. He retired in 2005 when he turned 75.
The Diocese of Birmingham was established June 28, 1969. It has a Catholic population of approximately 83,717 out of a total population of approximately 2,877,416.
The above article is reposted with permission of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Media Relations.
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
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| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 17th, 2007 02:57 am |
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| South Carolina will miss him greatly. I have heard that he was instrumental in starting the two catholic radio stations in our state. He has appeared numerous times on EWTN, so he is no stranger to Birmingham. My question is, will it take as long for a new bishop to be appointed to us as it did for Birmingham? Was it typical for it to take over two years? Does the Pope make this decision personally?
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Aug 17th, 2007 06:18 pm |
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Credo Catholic wrote: South Carolina will miss him greatly. I have heard that he was instrumental in starting the two catholic radio stations in our state. He has appeared numerous times on EWTN, so he is no stranger to Birmingham. My question is, will it take as long for a new bishop to be appointed to us as it did for Birmingham? Was it typical for it to take over two years? Does the Pope make this decision personally?
It can take over two years. Existing bishops may wish to apply for a diocese. In addition, each province compiles list of possible candidates for bishop and submits three names to the papal nuncio. The lists of possible candidates are vetted in Rome, and a list is given to the pope along with recommendations. In a given diocese, recommendations of the current or former bishop (if things have been running smoothly), the metropolitan, the president of the bishop's conference, other bishops in the province, and selected clergy and lay people are considered and given great weight. The final decision is indeed up to the Holy Father.
If it is known that a bishop will need to be replaced in advance, lots of leg work can be done before the previous bishop retires. Otherwise, it can indeed take 18 months to 2 years or even more.
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TotusTuus
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 129 |
| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic (thanks Mom and Dad!) |
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Posted: Fri Aug 17th, 2007 09:25 pm |
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Birmingham reportedly was difficult to fill because of the presence of EWTN within the Diocese. I think they were looking for someone special who could contribute to the ministry and exercise some oversight without becoming adverserial.
According to Raymond Arroyo's biography of Mother Angelica (a very interesting read) the sisters are keen on televising their ad orientem liturgy from Hanceville. Bishop Foley has forbidden this. It will be interesting to see what happens with Bishop Baker. Apparently, he has been generous in granting the indult for the TLM in Charleston. If he allows it to be televised from Hanceville on a daily basis there will likely be a loud outcry from more progressive Catholics.
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TTM!
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Fri Aug 17th, 2007 10:48 pm |
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| Our whole state is in the diocese of Charleston. There is at least one parish in my town which has a monthly TLM. I feel sure there are a few others in the state who do also. I don't think EWTN would move it's entire operation to Hanceville. I could be wrong, but it is well established in Irondale, Ala. It will be interesting to see what changes if any will come about. Just to have an appointed bishop in their diocese will be a great blessing for them after so long without one.
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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
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| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Tue Aug 21st, 2007 12:32 am |
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I am in shock! I had not heard this news. I sure hope we get someone like him! I have great respect for Bishop Baker. He is a such a nice man, and a very good sheperd!
Beth
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