c. 2006 Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY _ Pope Benedict XVI elevated two Americans to the status of cardinal Wednesday (Feb. 22), sending a message of encouragement and approval to U.S. bishops trying to deal with an ongoing sex abuse crisis.
In all, 15 new cardinals were named, including two from the United States: William J. Levada, 69, who has served as an archbishop in San Francisco and Portland, Ore., and Sean P. O’Malley, 61, archbishop of Boston, the epicenter of the sex abuse crisis.
The selections bump up the number of American cardinals to 15, the most of any country except Italy, which counts 40, and the most ever from the United States.
The appointment of two Americans is a sign of approval of the American church, especially amid reports that advisers within the Vatican Curia, or bureaucracy, have been calling for a cap on the number of American cardinals, said contemporary church historian Alberto Melloni, who teaches at the University of Modena in north central Italy.
“This sends support to Boston, the church that has suffered most in the Catholic communion,” Melloni said. “The pope has decided to honor, thank and express trust in O’Malley.”
Pope John Paul II appointed O’Malley archbishop in 2003, following the sex abuse scandals that forced Cardinal Bernard Law’s resignation. O’Malley had to close 80 churches in the Boston diocese to pay an $85 million settlement with 554 people who had been molested by priests.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be named a cardinal by the Holy Father, for even greater service in the church,” O’Malley said in a statement, noting the vital support of the Boston archdiocese.
While the appointments may encourage the Catholic hierarchy in the U.S., they are an insult to victims of sex abuse, according to one victim rights group.
“To many U.S. victims, these appointments will feel like more salt being rubbed into still fresh and deep wounds,” said David Clohessy, national director of SNAP, a support network for victims of priest abuse with 6,200 members, mostly in the U.S.
“Neither has a stellar track record, but one can hope that they’ve learned in the hundreds of cases they’ve had to deal with,” Clohessy said. “For all their failings, Levada and O’Malley almost certainly have had more experience in dealing with abusive clergy than many of their counterparts across the globe.”
William D’Antonio, a visiting researcher in sociology at the Catholic University of America, said O’Malley is a “dedicated, self-effacing Franciscan” but added “there’s nothing in his background that suggests he knows how to deal with the laity in a progressive way.”
And, 75 percent of American Catholics say that laity has a right to be more involved in diocesan decisions, like closing churches, D’Antonio said, referring to surveys by Gallup and Catholic University in Washington.
This is especially true in a generation of parishioners _ between age 45 and 75 _ for whom the church has been an important part of the community, D’Antonio said. Parishioners in Boston held candle-lit vigils to protest O’Malley’s closure of the parishes.
“I honestly cannot imagine anyone who would have wanted to take over for Cardinal Law. He is being rewarded for his efforts,” said D’Antonio.
The election of Levada, promoted last year to head the doctrinal congregation, a position Benedict held as Cardinal Ratzinger, was widely expected. D’Antonio said Levada has been pragmatic in responding to difficulties in the U.S.
Melloni underlined the importance of Levada’s elevation for the church in the U.S.
“He is the most highly ranked member of the Curia that the U.S. has ever had,” Melloni said.
Levada has been widely involved in reviewing abuse allegations against priests worldwide.
The other 13 cardinals-elect hail from 11 countries, reflecting the church’s global reach.
“In fact, they come from every part of the world and carry out diverse duties in service to the people of God,” Benedict said at his audience.
Benedict elevated three prelates from Asia, where the church is growing but perceives threats from both Islam and Communist regimes in North Korea and China.
The appointment of Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, 74, who is critical of the Chinese government on issues of human rights and religious freedom, is seen as a bid to encourage China to forge diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
“We have to see in the next couple of days if the Chinese government will congratulate Cardinal Zen or not,” Melloni said.
Surprisingly absent from the list was the archbishop of Paris, Andre Vingt-Trois. It was the first time that an archbishop of Paris has not been elevated since the French Revolution, Melloni said.
Benedict appointed the archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was John Paul’s private secretary. He also selected prelates from the Doctrine of the Faith. These include Archbishop Antonio Canizares Llovera of Toledo, Spain, and Archbishop Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux, France; French Jesuit Father Albert Vanhoye was a consultor to the congregation.
Benedict also elected three honorary cardinals, who are over age 80 and do not have voting rights. The pope said they were named in recognition of their devotion to the church.
The formal elevation of the cardinals-elect will take place March 24.
MO/PH RNS END
Editors: To obtain a file photo and news graphic of Levada, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.
