Tobin as Archbishop of Newark - Amazing!

[Martinius]

Here is a guy who had been shunted off to Protestant country in Indianapolis (apparently for bravely standing up for nuns), where he would have still done good things, but in relative obscurity. First Francis makes John Tobin a Cardinal, then appoints him as Archbishop of Newark. What a turn around. We can see a pattern where the Pope is picking people from the middle and back rows of the hierarchy and moving them to front and center. Sort of like the parable of the guests at the banquet. I pray Tobin does well. The Church needs more shepherds like him.

I have a favorite in mind to replace Tobin in Indianapolis, which I will keep to myself for now. I am not good at predicting stuff like that.

 

[Genersis]

Hmm, I don't know much about the Church; but it sounds like such decisions would be good for a more diverse clergy, if nothing else.

 

[Martinius]

Hmm, I don't know much about the Church; but it sounds like such decisions would be good for a more diverse clergy, if nothing else.

That and a lot more. Francis seems to be searching every nook and cranny for the kind of bishop he wants. He has also broken new ground in not naming Cardinals based on the size or importance of the Archdiocese, but again picking people he wants in that group. And, of course, he has by-passed the entrenched Curia to institute and speed up institutional change. It is all incremental, but the sum of the parts is really quite extraordinary.