Friday, March 23, 2012

Outspoken bishop to take helm of Archdiocese of Baltimore

A Catholic bishop who has been at the forefront of fighting the Obama administration's contraception policy will lead the Archdiocese of Baltimore and replace Cardinal Edwin O'Brien.

Bishop William E. Lori of the Bridgeport, Conn., diocese, becomes the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore, a historically important seat given that the Roman Catholic Church established its U.S. base in the city.

Lori, 62, who has a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, takes over the archdiocese at a time in which religious leaders increasingly are speaking out on political and policy issues. 

Gov. Martin O'Malley recently signed legislation sanctioning same-sex marriage over the objections of some religious groups, including the Catholic archdiocese, with the issue expected to go to voter referendum in the fall.

"The bishop comes as a teacher to witness to the truth. The church has clearly and consistently taught the greatness of marriage between one man and one woman. Certainly, I will continue that teaching as a bishop and will be working on this issue as the referendum unfolds," Lori said Tuesday morning at a press conference at the Basilica in downtown Baltimore.

He expressed gratitude that Pope Benedict XVI "has entrusted me with the stewardship of this great, historic archdiocese."

He has been particularly prominent in the current pushback, led by Catholic bishops and other groups, against the Obama administrations requirement that the insurance policies that religious hospitals, charities and schools provide to employees include contraception.

Lori heads the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops' recently created ad hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, making him the church's leader in the fight against the birth control mandate. 

He also is a member of the bishops' Committee on Doctrine, the group charged with enforcing church teachings, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops' Committee on Doctrine.

On Tuesday, Lori indicated he would continue his political activism. He said one of the greatest current challenges is what he called "the drift" away from Catholicism, especially among young members.

"As culture becomes increasingly secular, a new evangelism must proclaim the gospel afresh. This is a matter of inviting, listening and asking people to take a second look at the church," he said.

Lori brings outstanding administrative abilities to his new post and will continue his efforts on "the preservation of marriage, religious liberty and the protection of children," O'Brien said 
Tuesday morning in introducing his successor.

O'Brien served as archbishop from October 2007 to August 2011 before leaving the post to become the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. 

O'Brien will remain as apostolic administrator until Lori's installation on May 16, 2012.

Lori was ordained a priest in 1977 and a bishop by Pope John Paul II in 1995, according to the archdiocese. He has served as Bishop of Bridgeport since 2001.

During that time, the diocese quietly paid tens of thousands of dollars to two men who said they were abused as teenagers by the second-highest ranking member of the diocese and another priest, The Hartford Courant reported in 2009. 

In a settlement obtained by The Courant, the diocese settled the claims and issued checks signed by Lori.

Activists have called on Lori to increase transparency on how the diocese handles abuse issues.

David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, immediately criticized the appointment, calling it "a callous choice and a terribly disappointing one for anyone who cares about kids."