Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Kurtz elected to lead USCCB

Archbisop Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Archbishop
Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky

from the Pilot...


In a series of close votes, the U.S. bishops elected Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York to head the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for the next three years and chose Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, as vice president.

By selecting Archbishop Dolan from a field of 10 candidates that included Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, AZ, USCCB vice president, the bishops diverged from the usual practice of electing the USCCB vice president as president. 

Because a USCCB vice president cannot serve for two consecutive terms under conference rules, Bishop Kicanas was not eligible to run for vice president.

Archbishop Dolan will succeed Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago as USCCB president at the close of the bishops' fall general assembly Nov. 15-18 in Baltimore

The change in the USCCB leadership took just a matter of minutes, thanks to electronic voting. In the first ballot for the presidential election, Bishop Kicanas had a clear lead over Archbishop Dolan, 104 to 84. On the second ballot, Archbishop Dolan pulled ahead of Bishop Kicanas, 118-111. Even so, neither prelate had acquired the majority needed for election.

In a runoff after the other eight candidates for the presidency had been eliminated, Archbishop Dolan won 128 to 111.

For the vice presidency, Archbishop Kurtz, the current USCCB treasurer, had a slim lead but not a majority on the first ballot. On the second ballot, he widened his lead -- but again, not by enough to claim a majority. On the third ballot against Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop Kurtz won with 141 votes to 97.

Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, WV, was elected treasurer. While he was not supposed to start until next year, he'll start right away instead with the election of Archbishop Kurtz to the vice presidency.

The election of Archbishop Dolan marks the first time since the bishops' conference was reorganized in 1966 following the Second Vatican Council reforms that a sitting vice president who sought the presidency did not win the election. In two elections, circumstances dictated that the vice president did not rise to lead the conference.

In 1974, Coadjutor Archbishop Leo C. Byrne of St. Paul and Minneapolis, vice president since 1971, died less than a month before his term ended.

Three years later, Cardinal John J. Carberry of St. Louis as vice president declined to run for the top spot because he was 73 years old and was due to retire before he could complete a three-year term as president.

This year's voting nearly had to be conducted the old-fashioned way -- by a paper ballot. A glitch in the electronic voting system had kept the results from a test vote from appearing on an overhead projector screen in the front of the meeting room.

The Greatest Family of All

From Archbisop Dolan's blog The Gospel in the Digital Age

If it were not so sad, it would only evoke the response of a yawn.  I’m talking about the most recent Hollywood star who was “raised a Catholic” but now, as an “enlightened, liberated” adult, has shed his or her faith for some toney, exotic “New Age” movement.  I watched her tell the talk-show host how she had left the faith of her family because it left her so “isolated” and “out of touch” with the cosmos. 

Seems her new religion is big on the “inherent harmony of the universe,” which provides a valuable sense of unity for her.  She finds it provides her a real feeling of closeness to all of those who have gone before her and are now in eternity, and a union with all her brothers and sisters throughout the world who share her belief.

This is new?  Was she home with the measles when the Catholic doctrine of the communion of saints was covered in her religion class?  We Catholics have believed in this “inherent harmony of the universe” for two millennia, and at the heart of our faith is a sense of union with God, with the faithful departed, with the saints in heaven, and with all of our brothers and sisters in the Church throughout the world.

Of course, this wonderful doctrine of the communion of saints comes to mind these pleasant days of fall.  November 1st is All Saints Day, as we praise God for all those citizens of heaven, all members of the “Church triumphant” who now reign with Christ the King in paradise.  

On November 2nd we observe All Souls Day, as we remember with reverence and gratitude those who have died, whether they are now with Jesus in heaven, or await their goal of heaven as they undergo a period of purification in purgatory, members of the “Church suffering,” who deserve our prayers.  We on earth then comprise the “Church militant,” as we continue to persevere in grace, fighting the ancient enemies of sin, Satan, and selfishness.

Thus, we belong to the greatest family of all, the communion of saints, and are intimately united to all who share residence in the household of the faith.  The limits of time and space fade away in this deep unity, and never do we feel alone or isolated.  All creation is in harmony under Christ the King, whom we hail the last Sunday of this month of November.

I can only pray that our friend in Hollywood rediscovers this ancient doctrine of the Church, and that we of the “Church militant” use this upcoming month of November to honor the saints, pray for the dead, and savor the sense of communion with Christ the King and all His disciples which comes from belonging to the Church.