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BumRushDaShow

(165,096 posts)
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 01:24 PM Thursday

Pope Leo replaces Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of NY Catholic Church

Source: USA Today

Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 9:09 a.m. ET


VATICAN CITY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Pope Leo replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the Catholic Church in New York, the Vatican announced on Thursday, sidelining a prominent U.S. Church figure in a major shake-up of the country's Catholic leadership.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, appointed a relatively unknown cleric from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks, to replace Dolan as leader of the nation's second-largest Catholic diocese, home to some 2.8 million Church members.

Dolan, Archbishop of New York since 2009 and a former president of the U.S. Catholic bishops' conference, offered to resign in February upon turning 75, as required by Church law. Cardinals often serve until 80, the mandatory retirement age.

"Hicks represents not just a new chapter for New York but for the American church as a whole," said David Gibson, a U.S. Church expert.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/12/18/pope-leo-replaces-cardinal-timothy-dolan-with-bishop-ronald-hicks-new-york-catholic-church/87823910007/



Dolan was elevated by the Nazi Benedict so definitely a "new chapter"....
39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Pope Leo replaces Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of NY Catholic Church (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Thursday OP
Almost....almost but not quite montanacowboy Thursday #1
Bishop Ronald Hicks is from the Chicago area underpants Thursday #2
WHAT????? He replaced a Cardinal with a Cub???? GreenWave Thursday #6
Okay. That's funny. underpants Thursday #9
well said. cab67 Thursday #12
Good point! GreenWave Thursday #18
He says he's a Cubs fan and will remain so. TomSlick Thursday #30
fair enough. cab67 Thursday #32
Funny joke rpannier Thursday #26
He was among those that would have "kissed up" to Trump when possible, albit the immigration issue hlthe2b Thursday #3
I assme Jilly_in_VA Thursday #4
Of course. Dolan has long been known to be a far RW a'hole. hlthe2b Thursday #8
Mea Maxima Culpa Mz Pip Thursday #20
He DID kiss up, right after the election BumRushDaShow Thursday #15
Before he was made Cardinal in NY, he moved $57 million of the money of his Milwaukee diocese into a Scrivener7 Thursday #23
The NYC Diocese is in the process of trying to find $300 million BumRushDaShow Thursday #24
I agree jaymac Thursday #16
Always on the" Dole".. BattleRow Thursday #19
When your 75 its out.... Historic NY Thursday #5
Won't miss this guy at all. nt moniss Thursday #7
Dolan was always a douche Pas-de-Calais Thursday #10
Finally! ananda Thursday #11
Don't let anyone tell you different TlalocW Thursday #13
Good! liberalla Thursday #14
Just putting this out there to show why this "Pope Bob" (as Chicagoans call him) is that good. ancianita Thursday #17
I'm not Catholic but... PJMcK Thursday #21
Yeah, Pope Leo is a dandy. I love the way the RW at first complained vociferously about him being 'woke' but now seems PatrickforB Thursday #22
Amen Joinfortmill Friday #36
When Dolen's name is mentioned, you must also add... Grins Thursday #25
The Catholic Church is currently more progressive than the present US presidential administration. cab67 Thursday #27
Hell can't be far from freezing over at this rate. littlemissmartypants Thursday #31
I'm glad Pope Bob isn't being subtle Hassler Thursday #28
Buh-Byeeee, Sez this NYC'r. 👋 electric_blue68 Thursday #29
Finally!!!! Dolan is a damn corrupt pol. I do like Pope Leo ....... All he needs to do is... Bread and Circuses Thursday #33
While I don't expect either of those to happen (it'd be great if they did!)... electric_blue68 Friday #39
About time someone did Figarosmom Thursday #34
Dolan out a day ahead of the Epstein release. Mawspam2 Thursday #35
Ha! Never gave that a thought. Joinfortmill Friday #37
Excellent! Nasty old man travelingthrulife Friday #38

cab67

(3,615 posts)
32. fair enough.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 08:22 PM
Thursday

not really a sports fan, but I'm a Red Sox fan because (a) I'm from western Massachusetts and (b) my dad was a Yankees fan.

rpannier

(24,837 posts)
26. Funny joke
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:04 PM
Thursday

But... speaking as a staunch supporter of the Pope (White Sox loyalty runs deep), the guy better be a White Sox supporter
But, I guess in the spirit of being ecumenical... I should be willing to tolerate a heretic Cub fan

hlthe2b

(112,609 posts)
3. He was among those that would have "kissed up" to Trump when possible, albit the immigration issue
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 01:35 PM
Thursday

seemed to be a step too far.

hlthe2b

(112,609 posts)
8. Of course. Dolan has long been known to be a far RW a'hole.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 02:07 PM
Thursday

But, he apparently followed Pope Leo's lead on immigration--probably hoping he'd let him stay until 80 yo.

Mz Pip

(28,334 posts)
20. Mea Maxima Culpa
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:33 PM
Thursday

A documentary about a priest child sexual abuse scandal in Wisconsin where Dolan was a Bishop. Dolan declared the diocese bankrupt so the victims couldn’t collect. And guess who was in charge of reviewing abuse claims in the Vatican - the Cardinal who would later become Pope Benedict.

It’s a terrific documentary.

BumRushDaShow

(165,096 posts)
15. He DID kiss up, right after the election
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:12 PM
Thursday
Cardinal Dolan: Trump ‘takes his Christian faith seriously’

And then he got "the solid" from 45 this past spring - Who is Timothy Dolan? The New York archbishop is Trump's pick to be the next pope

The only thing that made him pause was 45 going overboard with the anti-immigrant thing (particularly since the fastest growing adherents are those coming from Central and South America, many of the very ones being dragged off the street and thrown into unmarked cars by masked goons).

Scrivener7

(58,104 posts)
23. Before he was made Cardinal in NY, he moved $57 million of the money of his Milwaukee diocese into a
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:17 PM
Thursday

grave yard maintenance fund so it wouldn't be available for settlements for victims of priest rape.

He had a really smarmy affability that seemed to take some people in, but it was just a front for another pedo protector. And who knows what else he got up to.

Always creeped me out. Glad to see him go.

BumRushDaShow

(165,096 posts)
24. The NYC Diocese is in the process of trying to find $300 million
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:54 PM
Thursday

to compensate their victims. I expect Leo had no expectation that he would carry that out in any timely fashion!

jaymac

(187 posts)
16. I agree
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:13 PM
Thursday

Dolan has been a very bad influence in the Catholic Church for far too long.........good riddance to bad rubbish

TlalocW

(15,673 posts)
13. Don't let anyone tell you different
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 02:59 PM
Thursday

It was because Dolan insisted that NYCs signature hot dog is better than a Chicago dog.

He also dissed deep dish pizza in a homily.

ancianita

(42,759 posts)
17. Just putting this out there to show why this "Pope Bob" (as Chicagoans call him) is that good.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:24 PM
Thursday
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20875840

He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. Additionally, he can read Latin and German, two important theological languages. Pope Francis loved him.

PJMcK

(24,626 posts)
21. I'm not Catholic but...
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:34 PM
Thursday

… New York City’s Cardinal is a major figure in the city in religion, of course, but also in society. Dolan has been a wart on the ass of NY.

Good for Pope Leo and good luck to Bishop Ronald Hicks.

PatrickforB

(15,329 posts)
22. Yeah, Pope Leo is a dandy. I love the way the RW at first complained vociferously about him being 'woke' but now seems
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 03:37 PM
Thursday

silent on that matter...maybe because 20% of the US population is Catholic and worldwide the church has 2.4 billion members.

As to Protestants, there are around 150 million here, but around 1 billion worldwide. Of these, many are evangelicals and the most growth for this group is the global south - as evidenced by young Hispanic men 'breaking' for Trump. The evangelical movement - or many of them - have pastors who seem to have sold out on the actual message of Christ in favor of material wealth and power.

Grins

(9,209 posts)
25. When Dolen's name is mentioned, you must also add...
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 06:34 PM
Thursday

…that as Archbishop of Milwaukee he once supervised a program to use the money collected from parishioners to pay accused child molesters to leave the priesthood.

Any mention of his name that does not include that is unworthy of being read.


H/T: Charles Pierce; Esquire Magazine.

cab67

(3,615 posts)
27. The Catholic Church is currently more progressive than the present US presidential administration.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:06 PM
Thursday

Bread and Circuses

(1,491 posts)
33. Finally!!!! Dolan is a damn corrupt pol. I do like Pope Leo ....... All he needs to do is...
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 08:44 PM
Thursday

. Declare women as eligible for the priestess holder
Accept LGBTQ as born that way.


And the progressives will flock to the community.

PS …and bring our influence and money !

electric_blue68

(25,584 posts)
39. While I don't expect either of those to happen (it'd be great if they did!)...
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 08:05 PM
Friday

I applaud when the Pope does other progressive things.

I'm an ex-Catholic. While mot a Christian either,cI've attended some special Masses at The Cathedral of St John The Divine in NYC because of certain events they were also celebrating. My jaw practically dropped open (back in the late '80s) seeing Women Pastors in their processions!

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