USCCB Meeting Updates

The US Bishops have elected their new president, and as expected, Cardinal George of Chicago will be taking over. As Vice President, Bishop Kicanas of Tuscon won on the third ballot. Our own Bishop Aymond received about 12% on the first ballot.

I have met Bishop Kicanas before and can tell you that he is one of the most engaging Bishops I have ever met. I don't know too much about his pastoral style, but I am guessing he is liked by most of his brother bishops. For him to beat out some other Bishops that I am more familiar with, and who are very popular in the USCCB, is quite an accomplishment.

Edit - Committee chairs have been elected as well (in the next cycle of elections, these are the men eligible to be VP and then the VP almost always becomes President).

• Cultural Diversity in Life of the Church -- Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio
• Clergy, Consecrated Life and Religious -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley OFM Cap. of Boston
• Catholic Education -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry of Los Angeles
• Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs -- Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta
• Evangelization and Catechesis -- Bishop Richard Malone of Portland in Maine
• International Justice and Peace -- Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
• Canonical Affairs and Church Governance -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago
• Protection of Children and Young People -- Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City.

For those bemoaning the failure of the Bishops in electing Archbishop Burke to either the VP or Canonical Affairs chairmanship, then read this post by Ed Peters - one of my profs.