NEW ARCHBISHOP A WELCOME CHANGE
The biggest news out of last week's annual Kentucky Right To Life dinner was that Joseph Kurtz, the archbishop of Louisville, the titular leader of all Kentucky Catholics, was a featured guest and speaker.
In most places, there's nothing remarkable about Catholic clergy at Right to Life events, but the previous two decades, Kentucky Catholics have endured the disastrous tenure of Thomas Kelly as their leader, and always a no-show at the RTL. Kelly was best known for covering up some of the priestly sex scandals instead of dealing with them honestly, which has cost the church a lot more than just the millions in civil judgments. Kelly also spent many years recovering from acute alcoholism. As a product of the lefty centered US Bishop's Conference, the American Catholic bureaucracy, Kelly devoted most of his attention to trendy liberal causes and eschewed traditional Catholic concerns such as life issues, or just plain doing his job, like keeping parishes and schools going. ( He was also a liar and a jerk)
In receiving the new archbishop, though, things may be turning around dramatically. Archbishop Kurtz is considered a "rising star" in the much more back-to-basics Catholic Church of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Louisville has always been considered one of the most important dioceses in the United States, starting in Bardstown 200 years ago, only Baltimore is more senior. The Cathedral in Louisville was the tallest building in North America when constructed in 1854. Up until 1962 Louisville was led by one of the great American churchmen of the United States, Archbishop John Floersch, who built schools, colleges and churches in abundance, and was a steady and peaceful voice for racial integration. (One of the main reasons Kentucky race relations were so uneventful in the 20th Century) Kurtz, in just his first few months, is already starting to look like that same kind of charismatic leader.
Even if you are not Catholic, any conservative or traditional person has a rooting interest in seeing that Archbishop Kurtz is successful. Catholic elementary schools are the one decent option for many intercity minority kids to get an education. Catholic colleges are the largest private schools in the Commonwealth, and the one's best positioned to contribute to the economic and cultural well-being of our area (especially if liberal academics are kept in check) and the Catholic Conference could be a powerful voice in Frankfort once again for common sense traditional ideas, instead of just special pleaders for odd-ball causes, like it is now.
This is a particularly important time in Kentucky religious life. Dr. Albert Mohler, the dynamic leader of the Southern Baptist Seminary is plagued by illness, and is probably the state's only leader of national import right now. As a non-Baptist, I think he has been a positive force in the affairs of the state overall. But he most likely will be in the public eye less not more the next several years.
Archbishop Kurtz may be stepping up into a level of prominence even beyond just being the top Kentucky Catholic, but one who can articulate common, traditional Christian ideals anyone of goodwill can appreciate.
Our best wishes and prayers go to him and any man or woman trying to live the Gospel message as well as they know how.
In most places, there's nothing remarkable about Catholic clergy at Right to Life events, but the previous two decades, Kentucky Catholics have endured the disastrous tenure of Thomas Kelly as their leader, and always a no-show at the RTL. Kelly was best known for covering up some of the priestly sex scandals instead of dealing with them honestly, which has cost the church a lot more than just the millions in civil judgments. Kelly also spent many years recovering from acute alcoholism. As a product of the lefty centered US Bishop's Conference, the American Catholic bureaucracy, Kelly devoted most of his attention to trendy liberal causes and eschewed traditional Catholic concerns such as life issues, or just plain doing his job, like keeping parishes and schools going. ( He was also a liar and a jerk)
In receiving the new archbishop, though, things may be turning around dramatically. Archbishop Kurtz is considered a "rising star" in the much more back-to-basics Catholic Church of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Louisville has always been considered one of the most important dioceses in the United States, starting in Bardstown 200 years ago, only Baltimore is more senior. The Cathedral in Louisville was the tallest building in North America when constructed in 1854. Up until 1962 Louisville was led by one of the great American churchmen of the United States, Archbishop John Floersch, who built schools, colleges and churches in abundance, and was a steady and peaceful voice for racial integration. (One of the main reasons Kentucky race relations were so uneventful in the 20th Century) Kurtz, in just his first few months, is already starting to look like that same kind of charismatic leader.
Even if you are not Catholic, any conservative or traditional person has a rooting interest in seeing that Archbishop Kurtz is successful. Catholic elementary schools are the one decent option for many intercity minority kids to get an education. Catholic colleges are the largest private schools in the Commonwealth, and the one's best positioned to contribute to the economic and cultural well-being of our area (especially if liberal academics are kept in check) and the Catholic Conference could be a powerful voice in Frankfort once again for common sense traditional ideas, instead of just special pleaders for odd-ball causes, like it is now.
This is a particularly important time in Kentucky religious life. Dr. Albert Mohler, the dynamic leader of the Southern Baptist Seminary is plagued by illness, and is probably the state's only leader of national import right now. As a non-Baptist, I think he has been a positive force in the affairs of the state overall. But he most likely will be in the public eye less not more the next several years.
Archbishop Kurtz may be stepping up into a level of prominence even beyond just being the top Kentucky Catholic, but one who can articulate common, traditional Christian ideals anyone of goodwill can appreciate.
Our best wishes and prayers go to him and any man or woman trying to live the Gospel message as well as they know how.
posted by frank friday at 1:13 PM
3 Comments:
Frank, thanks for that very insightful and uplifting message.
Yeah, those crazy non-life issues such as poverty and stuff. (i.e., the things most RTL'ers don't give a squat about as not being "real" issues.)
What are you saying, Jean?
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