Make no mistake. This is not what Cardinal Justin Rigali wanted.
Yes, the archbishop of Philadelphia submitted his resignation last year when he turned 75, in accordance with a Vatican mandate.
But Rigali was not ready to leave. It’s beginning to sound like that choice was made for him.
Pope Benedict XVI today formally accepted Rigali’s resignation and named Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver as the new leader of Catholics in Philadelphia and the suburbs. It will be made official at a 10 a.m. press conference. The two will then celebrate noon Mass at the Basilica SS. Peter and Paul in Center City.
You can read the full story on the changing of the guard in the Philly Archdiocese here.
Rigali has been at the center of the continuing storm swirling around sexual abuse of children by priests since last winter, when a second grand jury returned criminal charges against a couple of priests, a former priest and a teacher. Also charged by the panel was Monsignor William Lynn, for his actions as a key aide to both Rigali and former Archbishop Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Lynn was charged with endangering the welfare of children for allegedly moving known predator priests without notifying the new parishes, in effect putting kids in harm’s way. Lynn has professed his innocence; he still faces trial on those charges.
Rigali had made it clear that he wanted to stay on during this turbulent time.
Now that job, of pulling the archdiocese out of the quicksand it has been sinking in surrounding the sex abuse investigations, falls to Chaput.
It’s unlikely Rigali will get much in the way of sympathy from many Delaware County parishioners, especially those where parish schools have been shuttered.
The faithful at St. Kevin’s in Springfield were especially critical of Rigali for his decision to close the school, insisting he was getting incorrect information on enrollment. They went so far as to take out a billboard on the Schuylkill Expressway to express their desires for a meeting with the cardinal. They never got it.
Now Rigali is out. If only cleaning up the mess left behind was as easy.
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