Archbishop Nienstedt takes over

[CatholicEdHead]

Well, the Strib does a piece in the Sunday paper on the new Archbishop of St Paul/Mpls. While the article pushes moderation, his writings in the New Ulm diocese newspaper, Catholic Spirit, and elsewhere are not encouraging. Remember, on his first day he stopped St Joan of Arc from having that speaker on torture. There should be more fireworks pretty quickly as it is "orthodox" or else in the Archdiocese. :( :puke:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/18819169.html

John Nienstedt was greeted at the Chancery door by high hopes and no small measure of trepidation.

The man who on May 2 started his tenure as archbishop of the 650,000 Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis arrived with a moving van of preconceptions about him.

He was described as "rigid," "ultra-conservative" and a "hard-liner." Progressive parishes grew edgy as bloggers spread the word that he was out to "get them" and already was making a hit list of potential targets. Gay Catholic activists worried that hard-won programs would disappear.

For Nienstedt, 61, who was used to a different pace and level of scrutiny as bishop in New Ulm, such an onslaught before he even figured out how to work the phone in his new office is frustrating. An avid hockey fan -- he grew up in Detroit during the Gordie Howe era -- Nienstedt feels as though he has been checked from behind.

[dflprincess]

1. My aunt, who is well into her 80s and still a practicing Catholic

lives in the New Ulm Diocese and was practically dancing a jig over his leaving. She said he did his best to turn the clock back on Catholic/Lutheran relations.

I also work with someone who grew up in New Ulm and still has friends down there. One of the families she knows adopted a child who, as it turns out, has a gluten allergy. Nienstedt refused to allow a rice host to be used when the child made her First Communion (the reasoning being that Jesus used wheat at the last supper - how we know this I'm not sure). So, the family was left with the choice of letting their child make first communion and get sick or stay with a church in which one of their children cannot fully participate. They yanked all of the kids out of Catholic school and are checking out the Episcopalians.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. I have actually met him in person

He came across as a big city guy in a country area. I have read up on Bishop Lucker who Niendsdt replaced and it is night and day. Lucker knew the area and how best both could benefit. Niensdst seems like someone from out east tapped to clean up a mess, who never really fit in. It seemed that he was some ordained savior for the diocese and the region to show lost sheep the way or something like that. Lucker was a bishop of the people, Niendsdt was a man above the people. Like the position of the office went to his head.

I see the same thing in St Paul, that Flynn did not toe the line the past few years and he replaced him the second he turned 75. I have heard that parts of Detroit are really conservative and that is where Niendsdt brings it to MN.

[dflprincess]

4. And before Flynn, Roach didn't stick to the party line

He sort of turned a blind eye to what was going on at some of the more liberal parishes. I heard it rumored that Roach gave up his chance to be a cardinal because he made no secret among the hierarchy that he didn't agree with the rules on birth control.

No doubt the Vatican thought it was time to get the St. Paul Archdiocese back in line and that will just drive more of the liberal Catholics out.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Minnesota as a whole is pretty liberal

I have been across most of MN and WI and I have found much of WI to be way more conservative than MN. Outside of Madison, you turn the clock back in the central and north parts of the state. While Madison's bishop is a real piece of work, he is not having much effect in Dane County. The LaCrosse Diocese still is Burked and it is pretty tough from LaCrosse to Wisconsin Rapids. Milwaukee is still moderate for the time bieng, Superior turned the clock back recently, and Green Bay will turn the clock back with their new bishop. It is a real eye opener across the border.

Minnesota has been more open minded in all dioceses. It is due to our independent streak which overlaps into politics. New Ulm's turning back of the clock was when Lucker passed away from cancer. Crookston is just starting to go back with the new Bishop from the Winona Diocese. Winona's reversal will be in another couple of years when their Bishop (Harrington) retires. St Cloud is still relatively moderate but will continue backwards leaving CSB and SJU as the only outposts. Duluth is not that bad now but we can expect a reversal sooner than later.

Look back in the Catholic Spirit Archives for the Nov 15 issue and you will find a nasty, cold rule letter around Thanksgiving. That is Nistidets style, he can write some of the coldest things during the most festive of seasons. It is not enjoy the spirit of the season with the people around you, but remember the letter of the law.

Remember that the Archbishop is in charge for all of MN, ND and SD. So I expect that effect to speed up changes elsewhere in the region. He is only 61 now, so we can expect at least 14 more years of turning back the clock and the regional and local church will look nothing like it is today. :(

[loveable liberal]

3. Best thing for the Liberal Agenda really...

If the guy is some sort of Christo-fascist then he will probably turn more people away with his personality. I've read some things that the Catholics turned conservative, maybe this guy is the answer?