Donald Wuerl

His Eminence
Donald Wuerl
Cardinal,
Archbishop emeritus of Washington
Wuerl in 2015
Archdiocese Washington
Appointed May 16, 2006
Installed June 22, 2006
Term ended October 12, 2018
Predecessor Theodore Edgar McCarrick
Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli
Chancellor of the Catholic University of America
Orders
Ordination December 17, 1966
by Francis Frederick Reh
Consecration January 6, 1986
by John Paul II, Agostino Casaroli, and Bernardin Gantin
Created cardinal November 20, 2010
by Benedict XVI
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name Donald William Wuerl
Born (1940-11-12) November 12, 1940
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Denomination Roman Catholic
Previous post
Motto Thy kingdom come
Styles of
Donald William Wuerl
Reference style
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
Ordination history of
Donald Wuerl
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated by John Paul II
Date January 6, 1986
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Donald Wuerl as principal consecrator
William J. Winter February 13, 1989
Thomas Joseph Tobin December 27, 1992
David Zubik April 6, 1997
Paul J. Bradley February 2, 2005
Herbert Bevard September 3, 2008
Barry Christopher Knestout December 29, 2008
Mario E. Dorsonville April 20, 2015
Roy Edward Campbell April 21, 2017

Donald William Wuerl (born November 12, 1940) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church, and was Archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2006 to 2018. He was elevated by Pope John Paul II to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle (1986–1987), and Bishop of Pittsburgh (1988–2006). He was named Archbishop of Washington by Pope Benedict XVI and made a Cardinal by him in 2010. Wuerl is the subject of controversy due to a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report that said he improperly handled sexual abuse cases during his time in Pittsburgh. Wuerl has denied the allegations. On October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Washington, although Wuerl remains in charge of the archdiocese as its apostolic administrator until Pope Francis appoints his successor, and remains a member of the College of Cardinals, one of only 10 American cardinals who could choose the next Pope.[1]

Early life and education

Donald Wuerl was born on November 12, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the second of four children of Francis and Mary Anna (née Schiffauer) Wuerl.[2] He has two brothers, Wayne and Dennis, and a sister, Carol.[3] His father worked nights weighing freight cars for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and served in the navy during World War II.[3] His mother died in 1944 and his father married Kathryn Cavanaugh in 1946.[3]

Wuerl received his early education at the parochial school of St. Mary of the Mount Church in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1958.[4]He attended St Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati OH for freshman and sophomore years of college from September 1958 thru May 1960. He then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was a Basselin Scholar at Theological College,[5] earning a bachelor's degree (1962) and master's degree (1963) in philosophy.[6]

He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[2] He earned a master's degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1967. After ordination, Wuerl was sent to Rome for further theological study. He is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a doctorate in theology in 1974.

Early career

He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1966.[7] His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Rosalia parish in Pittsburgh's Greenfield neighborhood and as secretary to Pittsburgh's Bishop John Wright. After Wright was elevated to cardinal in 1969, Wuerl was his full-time secretary in Vatican City from 1969 until Wright's death in 1979. Because Wright was recovering from surgery and confined to a wheelchair, Wuerl, as Wright's secretary, was one of three non-cardinals permitted inside the conclave that selected Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II in 1978.[8][9][10] (Wright had missed the first of the two 1978 conclaves.)

In 1976, he, with Thomas Comerford Lawler and Ronald David Lawler, co-authored a catechism for adults, The Teaching of Christ, which has since appeared in several editions and has been widely translated.[11]

Wuerl was rector at Saint Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh from 1981 to 1985. In 1982, he was made executive secretary to Bishop John Marshall of Burlington, Vermont, who was leading a Vatican-mandated study of US seminaries.[12][13]

Episcopal career

Welcoming the 14th Dalai Lama

Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle

On December 3, 1985, Wuerl was appointed titular bishop of Rosemarkie and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle.[7] Wuerl was consecrated bishop on January 6, 1986,[7] at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy, by Pope John Paul II. Wuerl and Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen worked in adjoining offices without conflict for several months until, in May 1986, they found themselves with opposing positions on proposed state legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment.[14] At that point Hunthausen learned for the first time that Wuerl had been charged with responsibility–"complete and final decision-making power"–for several key areas normally within the Archbishop's control: worship and liturgy; the archdiocesan tribunal that considers requests for marriage annulments; seminarians, priestly formation and laicized priests; moral issues; and issues of health care and ministry to homosexuals.[15][16] The division of authority only became public when Hunthausen announced it in September 1986.[15] While some chancery officials expressed support for Wuerl, some questioned his role and saw little impact a year after his appointment.[14] In November, Hunthausen won support for his objections to the Vatican's restrictions on his authority from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.[17] In February 1987, the Vatican announced that a commission of US bishops would investigate the situation in Seattle, and Wuerl met privately with Pope John Paul II and declined to comment, saying "I'm just going to wait and see what the commission does".[17] In May 1987, following a review by the commission headed by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Pope John Paul II restored Hunthausen's full authority as bishop, and appointed Thomas Joseph Murphy as coadjutor to assist and succeed Hunthausen.[18] Wuerl later said the arrangement had been "unworkable". Following the restoration of Hunthausen's authority, Wuerl moved to a Pittsburgh suburb to await his next posting.[19]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

Wuerl was appointed the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on February 12, 1988[7] and installed on March 25, 1988.[7]

In 1989, Wuerl merged Sacred Heart and St. Paul Cathedral High Schools to establish Oakland Catholic High School (all three female-only schools) in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, using the buildings of St. Paul Cathedral High School.[20]

Wuerl launched and hosted a television program, The Teaching of Christ, in 1990 and wrote an adult catechism with the same name. He taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a distinguished service professor. Wuerl has served as a chaplain since 1999 for the Order of Malta, Federal Association, USA, a division of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, commonly referred to as the Knights of Malta.[21] Wuerl has also written regular columns in Columbia, the major publication of the Knights of Columbus in the United States.[22]

Wuerl closed 73 church buildings, which included 37 churches, and reduced 331 parishes by 117 through merging while bishop of Pittsburgh; he was managing the remaining 214 parishes when he left in June 2006.[23] Wuerl's plan, The Parish Reorganization and Revitalization Project,[24] is now used as a model for other dioceses seeking parish suppression.

President Bush and wife Laura with outgoing Archbishop McCarrick (left) and incoming Wuerl (right), welcome papal nuncio Pietro Sambi to the White House

The mansion that housed Wuerl for over two decades, as well as his four predecessors in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was sold since the new bishop David Zubik decided to live at St. Paul's Seminary. The Jacobethan Revival house along Fifth Avenue, at 9,842 square feet (914.4 m2) with 39 rooms including 11 bedrooms, six full baths, and a half-bath, had an appraised value of $1.5 million and is one of the largest homes in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.[25] It housed an extensive collection of antiques, Oriental rugs, and art during Wuerl's residency.[26]

Archbishop of Washington

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl Archbishop of Washington on May 16, 2006.[27] He was installed on June 22 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception[28] and received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2006.

In April 2008 Wuerl, as Archbishop of Washington, hosted the apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the District of Columbia, which included a visit to the White House, the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mass at the new Nationals Park, and an address at The Catholic University of America.

Wuerl and President Obama welcome Pope Francis to United States, 2015

Wuerl was chairman of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association from December 12, 2005,[29][30] and was also chancellor of The Catholic University of America. In September 2010, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith named Wuerl its delegate in the United States for facilitating the implementation of the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus issued by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2009 to provide for those Anglican faithful who desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church in a corporate manner.[31] He also heads the US bishops' ad hoc committee to support that implementation.[32]

Wuerl submitted his resignation in 2015, as required by any Bishop who turns 75, which was accepted in 2018.[33]

Commitment to priestly formation

From 1994 until 2003, as Bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl served as a member of the board of governors of the Pontifical North American College in Rome (Chairman, 1998–1999), representing the Pennsylvania-New Jersey Region (Region III) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2008, as Archbishop of Washington he was again elected to the college's board of governors, this time representing the Washington DC-Delaware-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia region of the conference (Region IV).

Cardinal

On November 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Wuerl to the College of Cardinals in a public consistory held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.[34] He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli.[35]

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl to the following: member of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (December 2010); Relator-General (recording secretary) of the 2012 World Synod of Bishops meeting on the New Evangelization (October 24, 2011);[36] member of the Pontifical Council for Culture for a five-year renewable term (December 10, 2011);[37] member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (April 21, 2012);[38] and by Pope Francis, member of the influential Congregation for Bishops (December 16, 2013).[39]

Wuerl was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.[40]

Public positions

Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and journalist, described Wuerl as an ideological moderate with regard to Catholic theological disputes, stating, "He's not an old leftie, he's not a right-wing culture warrior. ... He was totally enthusiastic about John Paul II, and then Pope Benedict, and now he's totally enthusiastic about Pope Francis. There are not many people in the church who are totally enthusiastic about all three of them."[41]

Religion and politics

In cases where politicians and officeholders take policy positions that are at odds with church doctrine, Wuerl stated that the decision to provide communion should be decided on a case by case basis: "Our primary job is to teach and try to convince people. The tradition in our country has not been in the direction of refusing Communion, and I think it's served us well."[42] Thomas Reese explained this position by saying "[Wuerl is] quite orthodox theologically, but he doesn't like to play cop; he's not an authoritarian person."[42]

In 2009, the Council of the District of Columbia passed a same-sex marriage bill. In November 2009, Wuerl signed an ecumenical statement, known as the Manhattan Declaration, calling on evangelicals, Catholics, and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage, and other practices that go against their religious consciences.[43] The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman and that the extension of the civil definition of marriage to same-sex couples undermines the common good of society as a whole.[44] In the debate on the D.C. same-sex marriage bill, the Archdiocese of Washington advocated for religious liberty provisions that would protect the church's ability to provide social services (e.g. adoption) in accordance with Catholic teaching on marriage.[45]

After The Washington Post characterized the archdiocese as giving an "ultimatum" to the city[46] and The New York Times called it a "threat",[47] Wuerl wrote a letter to the Post stating there was "no threat or ultimatum to end services, just a simple recognition that the new requirements by the city for religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages in their policies could restrict our ability to provide the same level of services as we do now."[48] In December 2009, on the day of the bill's passage, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a same-sex marriage advocacy organization, wrote that Wuerl had "refused to alter his official position" to reduce social services in the archdiocese.[49] On the same day the archdiocese, though expressing its view that the bill did not adequately protect religious liberty, nonetheless affirmed its commitment to serving the needs of the poor and its hope for "working in partnership with the District of Columbia consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church."[50]

In February 2010 shortly before the law took effect, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington ended its foster care and public adoption programs rather than comply with the law's requirement that it license same-sex couples for the program.[51][52] The agency also modified its employee health care benefits to avoid having to extend coverage to same-sex couples.[53]

Response to Dominus Iesus

In 2000, the Vatican issued a document entitled Dominus Iesus which stated that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. While in places the document seemed insensitive to other Christians, and was easily open to scare tactics by the press, Wuerl said it was aimed at some theologians in Asia who are addressing Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism, and it defends the necessity of proclaiming the Christian faith to them also. The document acknowledges that there are elements in non-Christian scriptures "by which countless people throughout the centuries have been and still are able today to nourish and maintain their life-relationship with God."[54]

Response to Summorum pontificum

After Pope Benedict XVI issued the motu proprio Summorum pontificum (2007) authorizing Latin Church priests to celebrate Mass using either the Roman Missal as revised in 1969 or the 1962 edition, Wuerl said that Pope Benedict was "trying to reach out pastorally to those who feel an attraction to this form of the liturgy, and he is asking the pastors to be aware of and support their interest". He added that about 500 people a week were attending celebrations of the Tridentine Mass at three places in his archdiocese.[55] He had a circular sent to his priests about a special committee that he would establish "to assist pastors in evaluating and responding to requests for the regular and public celebration" of the 1962 form of Mass. As of 2017, the Tridentine Mass was celebrated weekly in three places, the same ones as in 2007.[56]

Clerical sexual abuse

Wuerl was widely considered to be a bishop who was proactive in confronting sexual abuse.[57] However, after the release of a grand jury investigation report in August 2018, he received a great deal of criticism for how he had handled some abuse cases.[58][59]

1988 to 2018

In September 1988, when Wuerl was the Bishop of Pittsburgh, he accepted a dinner invitation from a family suing the diocese for sexual abuse by a priest. Although the diocese's lawyers had discouraged Wuerl from attending the dinner, Wuerl became convinced that sexual abuse was a problem in his diocese. Wuerl settled the lawsuit with the family, and the priest involved was laicized and eventually ended up in prison. Wuerl told his staff that in cases of alleged sexual abuse, the first concern should be for the victim, the second concern should be for the victim's family, and only third should clergy consider the reputation of the church.[57]

In the years that followed, Wuerl investigated every priest in his diocese accused of sexual misconduct and removed several. On one occasion, Wuerl laicized a priest whom the Vatican initially had protected, Anthony Cipolla.[57] Anthony Cipolla was ordained in 1972. In 1978, he was charged with sexual abuse of a 9-year-old boy; these charges were dropped by the mother, who said she was pressured to do so by Bishop Vincent Leonard.[60] In 1988 new charges were brought by another man, who said that Cipolla abused him from around 1981 to 1986; this case was settled in 1993, over Cipolla's objections. Cipolla consistently said that he never abused anyone.[60]

In 1988, Bishop Wuerl banned Cipolla from ministry and from identifying himself as a priest; Cipolla appealed to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest court, which ordered Bishop Wuerl to return him to ministry.[60][61] Bishop Wuerl asked the court to reconsider the case on the grounds that its decision showed a lack of awareness of crucial facts such as a civil lawsuit and Cipolla's 1978 arrest for sexually abusing another boy. The court reversed its ruling in 1995 and upheld Cipolla's ban. Cipolla nonetheless continued to minister to the public forcing the diocese to make several public statements that Cipolla was not in good standing. In 2002, Cipolla was laicized by the pope.[60][62]

According to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article written in 2003, Wuerl had "a national reputation for zero tolerance of priests who molest minors" at the time.[57]

In 2010, Wuerl argued that the church had made progress in confronting abusers. He told Fox News Sunday that "we have succeeded in guaranteeing that if a priest is accused, and there is a credible allegation, he is simply removed from the ministry. That is reported to the authorities, and we begin to try to heal whatever was damaged in that abuse."[63]

2018 grand jury report

On August 14, 2018, a grand jury report released by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro alleged that the Catholic Church covered-up sexual abuse cases.[64] The report faulted Cardinal Donald Wuerl.[65][66][67] Wuerl disputed the allegations, stating: "While I understand this report may be critical of some of my actions, I believe the report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse."[68]

The report noted that Wuerl had made contributions to fighting sex abuse. This includes his successful effort, against resistance within the Vatican, between 1988 and 1995 to remove Anthony Cipolla for sexual abuse.[41][69] However, Wuerl also allowed priest William O'Malley to return to active ministry in 1998, despite past allegations of sexual abuse.[41] O'Malley had admitted that he was sexually interested in adolescents.[41] It was also reported that Wuerl had allowed Ernest Paone to be transferred to another diocese, despite a history of accusations of child abuse dating back to the early 1960s.[70][69]

George Zirwas had a long history of involvement in child sexual abuse, including violent use of whips and sadism.[71][72] He had also manufactured child pornography.[71][72] Zirwas' actions were known in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as early as 1987, but he continued in ministry when Wuerl became bishop of Pittsburgh in 1988.[71][72] In 1989, Wuerl authorized a $900,000 settlement, with confidentiality clauses, with two of Zirwas' victims, but Zirwas remained in ministry until at least 1991, although further complaints were made.[72] After another complaint was made, Wuerl removed Zirwas in 1996.[71][72] Eventually Zirwas moved to Cuba, where he was murdered in 2001.[71]

After the report was released, Wuerl launched a website, "The Wuerl Record," containing a defense of his actions during that era,[73] but after an outcry on social media, the website was deleted and replaced with a redirect.[70] Wuerl insisted that in responding to sexual abuse claims, he had "acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse."[69]

Criticism

After the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report the Cardinal further faced "intense scrutiny" regarding his handling of sex abuse cases in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.[69] A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Washington said Wuerl "has no intention of resigning."[70]

On August 18, 2018, it was announced that Wuerl would not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, where he had been scheduled to give a keynote address. The Archdiocese offered no reason for the cancellation.[69]

On August 20, 2018, Stephanie Sibal, senior publicist for Ave Maria Press, a publishing company of the Congregation of Holy Cross based out of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana,[74][75] told LifeSiteNews that her company had "indefinitely postponed" the release of a book written by Wuerl titled What Do You Want to Know? A Pastor’s Response to the Most Challenging Questions About the Catholic Faith.[74] The book had been scheduled to be released in October 2018.[74]

On August 22, 2018, Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik approved two decisions by the boards of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School and Catholic High Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to grant Wuerl's request to have his name removed from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry, Pennsylvania.[76][77] The school will revert to its previous name, North Catholic High School. The decision was made after thousands petitioned for the change.[76][77][78]

In response to the allegations against Wuerl, Hugh Hewitt demanded that Wuerl be dismissed as archbishop of Washington and resign from the College of Cardinals.[79] More pleas for resignation followed.[80] In a few days time over 60,000 people signed a petition to Pope Francis to remove Wuerl.[81] In what CNN called a "growing Catholic insurgency," Wuerl faced heightened calls for his resignation, including from a priest in his archdiocese and many laypeople.[58][59] While Wuerl was saying Mass on Sunday, September 2, one man yelled "Shame on you!" during Wuerl's homily.[59]

At the end of August, Wuerl flew to Rome, where he met with Pope Francis. The pope instructed Wuerl to confer with the priests of the archdiocese regarding his next steps.[59] On September 3, Wuerl met with more than a hundred priests of the archdiocese. He told them that he had known nothing about the allegations against McCarrick until they became public earlier this year.[59] Over a dozen of the priests offered their views; some encouraged Wuerl to resign while others encouraged him to "stay and be part of the church's healing process".[59]

On September 8, Deacon James Garcia, the master of ceremonies at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, informed Wuerl that he was refusing to celebrate Mass with him anymore, due to his role in abuse coverups, and called on Wuerl to resign.[82][83] In an interview, Garcia claimed that there exists "a genuine crisis of confidence in the leadership of the church."[83] Garcia also denied that this refusal to serve with Wuerl violated his vow of obedience to Wuerl as his bishop.[82]

Viganò letter

On August 25, 2018, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former apostolic nuncio to the United States, released an 11-page letter describing a series of warnings to the Vatican regarding sexual misconduct by Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Wuerl's predecessor as Archbishop of Washington. Viganò stated that Montalvo, then nuncio to the United States, had informed the Vatican in 2000 of McCarrick's "gravely immoral behaviour with seminarians and priests." Subsequently, Pietro Sambi (nuncio from 2005 to 2011) had informed the Vatican again. In 2006, Viganò—then working at the Vatican—wrote his own memo regarding McCarrick. However, nothing was done to stop McCarrick. Finally, in 2008 Viganò wrote a second memo, including material from clergy abuse expert Richard Sipe. As a result, in 2009 or 2010 Pope Benedict XVI allegedly placed severe restrictions on McCarrick's movements and public ministry, not allowing him to travel beyond the grounds of the seminary where he was living and not permitting him to say Mass in public. However, according to Viganò, Pope Francis subsequently removed these sanctions and made McCarrick "his trusted counselor" despite knowing that McCarrick was a "corrupt man." In the letter containing these allegations, Viganò called on Francis and all others who covered up McCarrick's conduct to resign.[84]

Among those who allegedly knew about accusations of misconduct and failed to act on them was Wuerl. Viganò stated that he discussed McCarrick's conduct and the penalties surrounding it with Wuerl. After the report was released, Wuerl's spokesperson denied that he was aware of any misconduct by McCarrick prior to McCarrick's removal from the ministry on June 20, 2018, after one of the allegations was deemed credible.[85] Although it has not been conclusively proven that Wuerl was aware of or covered up for McCarrick, many have remained suspicious of him. Alexandra Desantis of National Review wrote that Wuerl's claim that he knew nothing "borders on the absurd." She alludes to the numerous testaments affirming that McCarrick's "coercive sexual overtures toward seminarians were common knowledge among the clergy." Desantis concludes that if Wuerl is telling the truth, he is "the Church's most oblivious cleric."[86]

Resignation as Archbishop of Washington

On October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Wuerl's letter of resignation. Wuerl had submitted the letter in 2015, as required by any Bishop who turns 75 but the Pope had not requested that he retire.[87]

Wuerl had become embroiled in the grand jury investigation of the sex abuse cover-up scandal in Pennsylvania while he was bishop of Pittsburgh. The report indicated that Wuerl had been inconsistent in handling situations where priests had been accused of sexual abuse. [88]

He had stated that he intended to resign in September and to meet personally with Pope Francis in the Vatican before doing so. This did not happen and the Pope accepted his resignation via a letter. The letter also noted that Wuerl had sent a new letter to the Pope requesting his resignation on September 21.[89] Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro criticized the Pope's decision to allow Wuerl to resign, stating that the resignation ensured that Wuerl would not face any criminal or civil charges.[90]

Pope Francis praised Wuerl as a "model bishop" and his reply to the resignation offered this comment: "You have sufficient elements to justify your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes." Reporters with the Associated Press indicated that the Pope's letter implied that the cardinal had been a "scapegoat" in the sex abuse scandal. On October 12, Wuerl wrote to members of the archdiocese and said, "I am sorry and ask for healing for all of those who were so deeply wounded at the hands of the Church’s ministers. I also beg forgiveness on behalf of Church leadership from the victims who were again wounded when they saw these priests and bishops both moved and promoted".[91] Francis appointed him to serve as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., until his successor is appointed.[92]

The New York Times editorial board wrote on October 12 that Pope Francis "misses the point", and that Wuerl was (as bishop of Pittsburgh) "immersed in a clerical culture that hid pedophilic crimes behind euphemisms, conducted unprofessional investigations and evaluations of accused priests, kept acknowledged cases of sex abuse secret from parish communities and avoided reporting the abuse to police."[93]

Selected writings

  • The Forty Martyrs: New Saints of England and Wales (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1971)
  • Fathers of the Church (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1975)
  • The Catholic Priesthood Today (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1976)
  • The Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1976), co-author
  • A Visit to the Vatican: For Young People (Boston: St. Paul Editions, 1981)
  • The Gift of Faith: A Question and Answer Version of The Teaching of Christ (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2001)
  • The Catholic Way: Faith for Living Today (New York: Doubleday, 2001)
  • The Sacraments: A Continuing Encounter with Christ (Our Sunday Visitor, 2010)
  • The Mass: The Glory, The Mystery, The Tradition (New York: Doubleday, 2011)
  • The Gift of Blessed John Paul II (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2011)
  • Seek First the Kingdom: Challenging the Culture by Living Our Faith (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2011)
  • Faith That Transforms Us: Reflections on the Creed (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2013)
  • New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Faith Today (Our Sunday Visitor, 2013)
  • The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home (Image, 2013)
  • The Light is On For You: The Life-Changing Power of Confession (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2014)
  • The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics (Image: 2014)
  • Open to the Holy Spirit: Living the Gospel with Wisdom (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014)
  • The Marriage God Wants For You (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2015)
  • To the Martyrs: A Reflection on the Supreme Christian Witness (Emmaus Road Publishing, 2015)
  • Ways to Pray: Growing Closer to God (Our Sunday Visitor, 2015)

Pastoral letters as Archbishop of Washington

See also

References

  1. ↑ Daniel Burke, "Abuse survivors angry over Pope's praise for fallen cardinal," CNN 12 Oct 2018
  2. 1 2 Miranda, Salvador. "Wuerl, Donald William (1940– )". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
  3. 1 2 3 Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (May 14, 1994). "Francis J. Wuerl, Whose 4 Children Included a Bishop". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ↑ "Washington, D.C., Archbishop-Designate Donald Wuerl". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 17, 2006.
  5. ↑ "News & Events". The Catholic University of America.
  6. ↑ Duin, Julia (June 12, 2006). "Wuerl a 'Teaching Bishop' – McCarrick's Successor Prepares to Lead Diocese of Washington". The Washington Times.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh – History of Bishops Webpage – Retrieved on October 18, 2008 Archived December 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Almade, Frank D. (September 29, 2008). "1978: With John Paul II, a New Era Began for the Church". Pittsburgh Catholic. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Filteau, Jerry (November 20, 2010). "Wuerl in 1978 Conclave That Elected John Paul II". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ Gibson, David (December 23, 2015). "Cardinal Donald Wuerl: The Pope's Man in Washington". The Washington Post. Religion News Service. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ Sullivan, Patricia (28 November 2005). "Thomas Lawler Dies; Author and Editor of Catholic Catechism". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  12. ↑ McCoy, John A. (2015). A Clear and Quiet Conscience: The Archbishop Who Challenged a Pope, a President, and a Church. Orbis Books. ISBN 9781608335459.
  13. ↑ Briggs, Kenneth A. (September 23, 1981). "Vatican Will Investigate U.S. Seminaries with Aid of Bishops". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Turner, Wallace (December 9, 1986). "2 Bishops of Seattle Striving to Work with Split Powers". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Vatican Moves to Curtail Power of a Liberal Prelate in Seattle". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1986. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ Schilling, Timothy Peter (2003). Conflict in the Catholic Hierarchy: A Study of Coping Strategies in the Hunthausen Affair, with Preferential Attention to Discursive Strategies (doctoral dissertation). Utrecht, Netherlands: Utrecht University. hdl:1874/601.
  17. 1 2 "Pope Meets with Wuerl in Hunthausen Controversy". UPI. February 16, 1987. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  18. ↑ Chandler, Russell (May 27, 1987). "Pope Restores Full Powers to Hunthausen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Bishop Calls for Sharing of Authority an Unworkable Venture in Seattle". The New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  20. ↑ "History". Oakland Catholic High School.
  21. ↑ http://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/chaplains Order Of Malta Federal Association, USA official website – The Chaplains of the Order of Malta, Federal Association webpage – Retrieved on November 10, 2008
  22. ↑ Knights of Columbus. http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/publications/columbia/archive/bishop_wuerl.html
  23. ↑ Wereschagin, Mike (July 22, 2007). "Bishop Zubik Will Face Many Obstacles". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-14. Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh official website news release – Bishop Wuerl Appointed Archbishop Of Washington – May 16, 2006 – Retrieved on October 23, 2008
  25. ↑ Smith, Craig (November 8, 2008). "Diocese to Sell Roomy Shadyside Mansion". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Tribune-Review Publishing Company. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  26. ↑ Pitz, Marylynne (March 14, 2009). "Bishops' Mansion Was Home for Precious Antiques, Paintings". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  27. ↑ Cooperman, Alan; Murphy, Caryle (May 17, 2006). "McCarrick Successor Seen As a 'Vote for Continuity'". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (June 23, 2006). "Wuerl Is Installed As D.C. Archbishop". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  29. ↑ National Catholic Educational Association – Press Release Webpage – From January 4, 2006 – Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  30. ↑ National Catholic Educational Association – Board of Directors Webpage Retrieved on October 17, 2008
  31. ↑ "Doctrine of the Faith Congregation Names Archbishop Wuerl to Guide Bringing Anglican Groups into Catholic Church in U.S." (Press release). US Conference of Catholic Bishops. September 23, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  32. ↑ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (June 16, 2011). "Report on U.S. Ordinariate for Ex-Anglicans". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Pope Accepts Resignation Of D.C. Archbishop Donald Wuerl Amid Sex Abuse Crisis". NPR. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  34. ↑ Donadio, Rachel (November 20, 2010). "Pope Elevates Cardinals in Festive Ceremony". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  35. ↑ Winters, Michael Sean (November 20, 2010). "Wuerl Gets San Pietro in Vincoli". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  36. ↑ "DC's Cardinal Named Relator-General for Evangelization Synod". October 24, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine" (Press release) (in Italian). Vatican Press Service. December 10, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Pontifical Acts" (Press release) (in Italian). Vatican Press Service. April 21, 2012.
  39. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (December 16, 2013). "Archbishop Wuerl Appointed to Vatican Panel That Names Bishops". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  40. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (February 22, 2016). "Rome-Bound, D.C.'s Cardinal Wuerl Says Next Pope Must Evangelize a Hectic World". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  41. 1 2 3 4 David Crary (August 16, 2018). "Washington cardinal entangled in two sex-abuse scandals". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  42. 1 2 Goodstein, Laurie (May 17, 2006). "Pope Names Pittsburgh Bishop to Washington, D.C., Post". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  43. ↑ Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience Archived September 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ↑ "Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage: Frequently Asked Questions". Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archived from the original on June 30, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  45. ↑ Archdiocese of Washington website – Same Sex Marriage Archived October 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  46. ↑ Craig, Tim; Boorstein, Michelle (November 12, 2009). "Catholic Church Gives D.C. Ultimatum". The Washington Post.
  47. ↑ Urbina, Ian (November 12, 2009). "New Turn in Debate over Law on Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  48. ↑ Wuerl, Donald W. (November 22, 2009). "Archbishop Donald Wuerl on D.C.'s Same-Sex Marriage Bill". The Washington Post.
  49. ↑ Solmonese, J. : Unbelievable (mass email), Washington, December 15, 2009.
  50. ↑ Archdiocese of Washington Website – News Release Archived January 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  51. ↑ Wright, Laura (February 9, 2010). "Catholic Charities Ends Foster Care Program to Avoid Compromising Religious Beliefs". Catholic Standard. Archdiocese of Washington.
  52. ↑ "Same-Sex 'Marriage' Law Forces D.C. Catholic Charities to Close Adoption Program". Catholic News Agency. February 17, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  53. ↑ Urbina, Ian (March 3, 2010). "Gay Marriage Is Legal in U.S. Capital". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  54. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (September 7, 2000). "Wuerl: Others Can Be Saved". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  55. ↑ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (July 10, 2007). "U.S. Bishops Say Pope Affirming Importance of Mass in Both Its Forms". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007.
  56. ↑ "Masses in Various Languages". Archdiocese of Washington website. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017.
  57. 1 2 3 4 Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (June 15, 2003). "Wuerl's Tough Record on Sex Abuse Spurs Speculation of Move to Boston". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  58. 1 2 Burke, Daniel; Flores, Rosa (August 30, 2018). "Growing Catholic insurgency threatens top cardinal in Washington". CNN. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lovett, Ian (September 4, 2018). "Under Pressure to Resign, Cardinal Wuerl Meets With Priests About Future". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  60. 1 2 3 4 Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (November 16, 2002). "Rare sanction imposed on priest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  61. ↑ Gibson, Gail; Rivera, John (April 11, 2002). "Maryland center claims success treating priests". Baltimore Sun.
  62. ↑ Smith, Peter (13 September 2016). "Obituary: Anthony Cipolla / Center of high-profile sex-abuse case in 1990s, dies in Ohio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  63. ↑ "WLTX.com". WLTX.
  64. ↑ Report Grand Jury on sexual abuse in six dioceses in Pennsylvania, 2018].
  65. ↑ Zauzmer, Julie. "Cardinal Wuerl's actions in Pittsburgh scrutinized by Catholic sexual abuse investigation". The Washington Post.
  66. ↑ "Catholic Church covered up child abuse by 300 US priests: report". www.aljazeera.com.
  67. ↑ Ramirez, Stephanie (August 14, 2018). "DC Cardinal Wuerl aided in the cover-up of pedophile activity, a new Grand Jury Report says". CBS WUSA (TV). Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  68. ↑ Miles, Frank (August 14, 2018). "Stunning findings on report of Catholic Church abuse: Pa. priests molested more than 1,000 children". Fox News. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  69. 1 2 3 4 5 White, Christopher (August 18, 2018). "Wuerl pulls out of Dublin summit amid charges of mishandling abuse claims". Crux. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  70. 1 2 3 Lovett, Ian (August 15, 2018). "D.C. Archbishop Faces Scrutiny After Pennsylvania Report on Priest Abuse". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  71. 1 2 3 4 5 Sullivan, Andrew (August 17, 2018). "Cleansing the Catholic Church of Its Sins". New York. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  72. 1 2 3 4 5 Tapper, Jake; Foran, Clare (August 19, 2018). "Pennsylvania AG: Cardinal under scrutiny over report on priest abuse 'is not telling the truth'". CNN. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  73. ↑ Donald Wuerl (August 14, 2018). "The Wuerl Record". Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  74. 1 2 3 https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/catholic-publisher-cancels-cardinal-wuerls-book-after-sex-abuse-report
  75. ↑ https://triblive.com/usworld/world/13996608-74/catholic-publisher-postpones-wuerl-book-titled-what-do-you-want-to-know
  76. 1 2 https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13999405-74/cardinal-donald-wuerls-name-to-be-removed-from-north-catholic-high-school
  77. 1 2 https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/08/22/cardinal-wuerl-name-removed-from-north-catholic-high-school/
  78. ↑ Lou, Michelle (August 22, 2018). "Cardinal Donald Wuerl's Name Removed From School After Abuse Coverup". Huffington Post.
  79. ↑ Hugh Hewitt (August 22, 2018). "Donald Wuerl is a con man under a Cardinal's cap". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  80. ↑ Resign, Cardinal Wuerl!, OANN, August 22, 2018.
  81. ↑ Online petition to remove Cardinal Wuerl has more than 60,000 signatures, FOX5, August 23, 2018.
  82. 1 2 Julie Zauzmer (September 9, 2018). "Donald Wuerl is a con man under a Cardinal's cap". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  83. 1 2 Keara Dowd (September 9, 2018). "Local deacon at high-profile parish calls on Wuerl to resign". WTOP.com website. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  84. ↑ Pentin, Edward (August 25, 2018). "Ex-nuncio accuses Pope Francis of failing to act on McCarrick's abuse reports". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  85. ↑ Flynn, J. D. (August 25, 2018). "Wuerl denies he was informed of Vatican restrictions on McCarrick". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  86. ↑ Desantis, Alexandra (August 31, 2018). "Donald Wuerl, the Church's Most Oblivious Cleric". National Review. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  87. ↑ "Pope Accepts Resignation Of D.C. Archbishop Donald Wuerl Amid Sex Abuse Crisis". NPR. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  88. ↑ "Pope Francis accepts resignation of D.C. archbishop Wuerl, amid criticism of the cardinal's handling of abuse claims". Washington Post. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  89. ↑ https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/12/world/cardinal-wuerl-resignation-letter/index.html
  90. ↑ "Pennsylvania AG: Cardinal faces no penalties by resigning". Associated Press. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  91. ↑ "Pope Francis accepts resignation of D.C. archbishop Wuerl, amid criticism of the cardinal's handling of abuse claims". Washington Post. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  92. ↑ White, Christopher (October 12, 2018). "Wuerl resigns amid papal praise, will stay as interim administrator". Crux. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  93. ↑ Editorial board (October 12, 2018). "The Pope Ignores the Damage as Another Prelate Falls". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.

Further reading

  • Glenn, Francis A. (1993). Shepherds of the Faith, 1843–1993: A Brief History of the Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
  • "Wuerl Card. Donald William". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Official Site
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh History of Bishops webpage
  • Salt+Light TV Interview: Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Witness on YouTube
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
-		 Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle
1985–1988		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
Anthony Bevilacqua		 Bishop of Pittsburgh
1988–2006		 Succeeded by
David Zubik
Preceded by
Theodore McCarrick		 Archbishop of Washington
2006–2018		 Succeeded by
Sede Vacante
Preceded by
Pio Laghi		 — TITULAR —
Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli
2010–present		 Incumbent
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