Saviour Lionheart to San Francisco


In little Britain we are now beginning to taste something of what US Catholics have been rejoicing in for years: the appointment of Bishops who are enthusiastically welcomed by Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday, still go to confession, support Humanae Vitae and drive miles to find reverent Liturgy.

In the States today, there is no little rejoicing over the appointment of Bishop Salvatore Cordileone to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Aged 56 (and therefore, Deo volente, in for 19 years of ministry to the Archdiocese, Bishop Cordileone has on his shoulders the responsibility for preaching the Catholic faith to one of the most difficult diocese in the States, particularly on the question of same sex attraction and same sex marriage.

Archbishop Cordileone worked with Archbishop Burke at the Apostolic Segnatura and is likely to be a key figure in the now well advanced project of backbone insertion in the USCCB. In a good article with background to the appointment, Rocco Palmo writes:
For liberal Catholics, meanwhile, the appointment is likely to be received as something akin to the city's Great Earthquake of 1906, or even more apocalyptic events.
"Salvatore Cordileone" translates as "Saviour Lionheart". May God give Sua Eccellenza the grace to be such.

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