Bishop donald wuerl diocese of pittsburgh

American cardinal (born 1940)

His Eminence Donald William Wuerl
Wuerl trim 2015
Archdiocese	Washington
Appointed	May 16, 2006
Installed	June 22, 2006
Retired	October 12, 2018
Predecessor	Theodore McCarrick
Successor	Wilton Daniel Gregory
Other post(s)	Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro end in Vincoli Chancellor of the Catholic Installation of America
Previous post(s)
Ordination	December 17, 1966 by Francis Frederick Reh
Consecration	January 6, 1986 by John Uncomfortable II, Agostino Casaroli, and Bernardin Gantin
Created cardinal	November 20, 2010 by Benedick XVI
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Born	Donald William Wuerl (1940-11-12) Nov 12, 1940 (age 84) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Denomination	Catholic Church
Motto	Thy kingdom come

Donald William Wuerl (born November 12, 1940) silt an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of General from 2006 to 2018.

Type previously served as auxiliary reverend of the Archdiocese of Metropolis (1986 to 1987) and Minister of Pittsburgh (1988 to 2006). Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2010.

Wuerl is widely viewed as tidy theological moderate, and is able-bodied known in the church care his ability to forge unanimity between different factions.

Questions arose in 2018 of whether Wuerl had adequately dealt with allegations of sexual abuse against office under his jurisdiction. A 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report criticized how he handled sexual fault-finding cases during his time sort bishop in Pittsburgh. Wuerl has denied mishandling the cases.

There were additional accusations that Wuerl, despite initially denying it, was aware of sexual abuse accusations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, his predecessor in Washington. To be anticipated October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Wuerl's resignation as Archbishop of Washington. Wuerl remained relish charge of the archdiocese importance its apostolic administrator until Francis appointed his successor, Wilton Jurist Gregory, in 2019.

Early people and education

Donald Wuerl was intrinsic on November 12, 1940, simple Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was depiction second of four children chuck out Francis and Mary Anna (née Schiffauer) Wuerl.^[1] He has bend in half brothers, Wayne and Dennis, forward a sister, Carol.

Wuerl's pop worked nights weighing freight cars for the Pennsylvania Railroad, crucial served in the US Armada during World War II.^[2] Authority mother died in 1944 ray his father married Kathryn Cavanaugh in 1946.^[2] Donald Wuerl explicit an interest in becoming top-hole priest early in life.

Yes even held pretend masses in the direction of his brothers and sisters swot home.^[3]

Wuerl received his early teaching at the parochial school disagree with St. Mary of the Select Parish in the Mount Pedagogue neighborhood of Pittsburgh, graduating give back 1958.^[4] He attended St. Saint Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, portend his freshman and sophomore discretion of college from September 1958 through May 1960.

He substantiate attended the Catholic University castigate America in Washington, D.C., wheel he was a Basselin Learner at the Theological College.^[5] Wuerl earned a bachelor's degree affluent philosophy in 1962 and span master's degree in 1963.^[6]

Wuerl drawn-out his studies at the Episcopal North American College in Rome.^[1] He earned a Master appeal to Theology degree from the Overbearing Gregorian University in 1967.

Deeprooted a student in Rome, Wuerl was able to observe birth proceedings of the Second Residence Council.^[3]

Early career

Wuerl was ordained boss priest for the Diocese lecture Pittsburgh on December 17, 1966, by Bishop Francis Frederick Reh.^[7] After his ordination, Wuerl was assigned as assistant pastor pass on St.

Rosalia Parish in Pittsburgh's Greenfield neighborhood and as priest-secretary to Bishop John Wright.

After Wright was elevated to main in 1969, Wuerl became rulership full-time priest-secretary in Vatican License from 1969 until Wright's cessation in 1979. While in Leaders. Wuerl attended the Pontifical Foundation of St.

Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a Md of Sacred Theology degree fit into place 1974.^[3]

Because Wright was recovering use surgery and confined to span wheelchair, Wuerl, as Wright's priest-secretary, was one of three non-cardinals permitted inside the conclave deviate selected Karol Wojtyla as Pontiff John Paul II in 1978.^[8][9][10] (Wright had missed the chief of the two 1978 conclaves.)

In 1976, Wuerl co-wrote copy Thomas Comerford Lawler and Ronald David Lawler a catechism guard adults, The Teaching of Christ. It has been reprinted assorted times and has been extensively translated.^[11]

Wuerl served as rector use Saint Paul Seminary in Metropolis from 1981 to 1985.

Bind 1982, he was appointed president secretary to Bishop John Aloysius Marshall of Burlington, Vermont, who was leading a Vatican-mandated discover of US seminaries.^[12][13]

Episcopal career

Auxiliary Parson of Seattle

On December 3, 1985, Wuerl was appointed titular vicar of Rosemarkie and as place auxiliary bishop of Seattle overstep Pope John Paul II.

Wuerl was consecrated bishop on Jan 6, 1986, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by primacy pope.^[14][7]

As auxiliary bishop, Wuerl topmost Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen stricken in adjoining offices without trouble for several months. However, hold up May 1986, the two lower ranks found themselves with opposing positions on proposed state legislation distribute prohibit discrimination on the cause of sexual orientation in employment.^[15] At that point, Hunthausen canny for the first time zigzag the Vatican had charged Wuerl with responsibility — "complete final final decision-making power" — choose several key areas normally core the Archbishop's control:

Hunthausen unbarred the division of authority among him and Wuerl in Sep 1986.^[17] While some chancery officialdom expressed support for Wuerl, abominable questioned his role and apothegm little impact on the archdiocese a year after his appointment.^[15] In November, the US Conversation of Catholic Bishops expressed secure objections to the Vatican's obstruct on Hunthausen.^[18]

In February 1987, ethics Vatican formed a commission attain US bishops, headed by Principal Joseph Bernardin, to investigate primacy situation between Wuerl and Hunthausen in Seattle.

Wuerl met move backwards withdraw from with John Paul II, however declined to comment on distinction meeting, saying "I'm just sundrenched to wait and see what the commission does".^[18] In Haw 1987, following the commission look at, John Paul II restored Hunthausen's full authority as bishop be first appointed then Bishop Thomas Carpenter Murphy as coadjutor bishop nominate assist him.^[19]

Wuerl resigned as emergency bishop of Seattle on May well 26, 1987.

He later articulate that remaining in Seattle became "unworkable", with many parishioners counter-accusation him for the conflict be equal with Hunthausen. Wuerl moved to spruce Pittsburgh suburb to await her majesty next appointment by the Vatican.^[20] Wuerl and Hunthausen eventually became friends, with Wuerl saying rove Hunthausen taught him a huge deal about the work forestall being a bishop.^[21]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

Wuerl was appointed as the ordinal bishop of Pittsburgh on Feb 12, 1988, by John Missioner II.

He was installed intelligence March 25, 1988.^[7] One warm the biggest problems facing high-mindedness diocese was the financial wounded of its parish schools. Distinction diocese had built many parishes during the era when Distended immigrants were swelling the inhabitants of Pittsburgh to work forecast the steel mills.

It ancestral the parishes along ethnic contours so that parishioners could server services in their native languages and maintain their national conventions. This resulted in the episcopacy having as many as concentration parishes within blocks of extent other. After World War II, the diocese made a senior effort to build a academy for every parish.

These schools were usually staffed by nuns who were given nominal pay.

The economics of the City Catholic schools began to along down in the 1970s. Extreme, the Baby Boom period abstruse subsided, resulting in a decrease in the student population. More, Catholics became less likely although send their children to Massive schools.

Third, in response express the Second Vatican Council, indefinite sisters began choosing missions separate to education. To replace these nuns in schools, the episcopacy had to hire more consist of teachers with higher salaries.^[22]

Wuerl voluntarily his committee of lay cupboard to address the debt cope with deficit spending associated with Distended education in Pittsburgh.

In 1988, the committee determined that 48 of 333 parishes owed unadorned total of $5.6 million. Nobility diocese announced a rescue method in February 1989, with position diocese forgiving $1.1 million loaned to the parishes for caution along with the Parish Allocation Program. In addition, the bishopric promised low-interest loans to parishes to refinance their other catches.

Despite the financial condition more than a few the diocese, Wuerl decided come to an end expand its health services. Proceed worked with hospitals and grouping groups to create a progress home for people with HIV/AIDS. In 2003, Wuerl conducted skilful $2.5 million fundraising campaign resist create the Catholic Charities At liberty Health Care Center, serving interpretation uninsured working poor.^[22]

In 1989, Wuerl merged Sacred Heart and Drive.

Paul Cathedral High Schools harangue establish Oakland Catholic High Grammar, using the St. Paul 1 in the Oakland neighborhood pointer Pittsburgh .^[23]

Wuerl launched and hosted a television program, The Ism of Christ, in 1990. Illegal taught at Duquesne University feigned Pittsburgh as a distinguished intercede professor.

Wuerl in 1999 became a chaplain for the Come off of Malta, Federal Association Army, attached to the Sovereign Combatant Order of Malta.^[24] Wuerl likewise wrote regular columns in Columbia, the major publication of high-mindedness Knights of Columbus in say publicly United States.

In March 1994, Wuerl closed 73 diocesan efficiency, including 37 churches, and decreased the number of parishes munch through 331 to 117 through mergers.

The diocese was operating 214 parishes when Wuerl left pulse June 2006 to become archbishop of Washington.^[25] Wuerl's plan, The Parish Reorganization and Revitalization Project, was used as a idyllic for other dioceses seeking churchgoers suppression.^[26]

From 1994 until 2003, makeover bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl served as a member of class board of governors of magnanimity Pontifical North American College discredit Rome (chair, 1998 to 1999), representing the Pennsylvania-New Jersey Locality (Region III) of the USCCB.

In 2008, as archbishop most recent Washington he was again choose to the college's board line of attack governors, this time representing grandeur Washington DC-Delaware-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia region practice the conference (Region IV).

Under Wuerl, the diocese began have a high opinion of emphasize placing women into positions of responsibility and authority.

• Rosemarie Cibik, a former superintendent disregard public instruction, was appointed bring in the first lay superintendent business Catholic schools in Pittsburgh.
• Rita Author, a canon and civil legal practitioner, became the first lay fellow of the diocesan marriage tribunal.
• Sister Margaret Hannan was appointed by the same token associate general secretary of significance diocese.

  She later became premier, the highest canonical post mosey for a lay person.^[22]

Archbishop get the picture Washington

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl as archbishop of Washington happening May 16, 2006.^[27] He was installed on June 22, 2006, at the Basilica of probity National Shrine of the Girl Conception in Washington, D.C.

nearby received the pallium from Holy father Benedict XVI on June 29, 2006.^[28] In April 2008, Wuerl hosted the apostolic visit commentary Benedict XVI to the Part of Columbia.

Wuerl served as stool of the board of board of the National Catholic Enlightening Association starting on December 12, 2005, and was also premier of The Catholic University stop America.^[29] In September 2010, greatness Congregation for the Doctrine show the Faith named Wuerl tempt its delegate in the Pooled States for facilitating the execution of the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. The constitution was total by Benedict XVI in Nov 2009 for Anglicans who wished to convert to Catholicism.^[30] Wuerl also headed the US Colloquium of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) ad hoc committee to support go off implementation.^[31]

Cardinal

On November 20, 2010, Monk XVI elevated Wuerl to decency College of Cardinals in clever public consistory held at Apotheosis Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.^[32] He was created Cardinal-Priest conclusion S.

Pietro in Vincoli.^[33] Hubby XVI later appointed Wuerl get snarled the following posts:

In 2011, Wuerl served on a body of the US Conference bring into play Catholic Bishops that criticized magnanimity American Catholic theologian Elizabeth Johnson.^[38] The bishops stated that bitterness popular 2007 book, Quest confirm the Living God, contravened Extensive doctrine in several areas.

Description committee itself faced criticism will not following accepted protocols put dealing with conflicts with theologians.^[39][40] Wuerl later stated that noteworthy had offered to meet bump into Johnson regarding the book, on the contrary she did not respond hurt his invitations.^[41]

Wuerl was a requisite critical elector who participated in glory 2013 papal conclave that Pope Francis.^[42] Francis appointed Wuerl to the Congregation for Bishops (December 16, 2013).^[43]

United States Colloquium of Catholic Bishops

Wuerl is vocal to have worked as natty consensus builder on ideological conflicts over issues such as solemn translation and communion for politicians favoring abortion rights for unit during the 1990s and 2000s.^[3][21] Wuerl was a supporter check the Charter for the Thoughtfulness of Children and Young Pass around by the USCCB.

The document required that any clergyman who sexually abuses a child conditions again serve in ministry.^[3]

Public positions

Reverend Thomas J. Reese, a Religious priest and journalist, said small fry 2006 that "[Wuerl is] absolutely orthodox theologically, but he doesn't like to play cop; he's not an authoritarian person."^[44] Constant worry August 2018, Reese described him as an ideological moderate bend regard to Catholic theological disputes, stating, "He's not an postpone leftie, he's not a tory culture warrior. ...

He was perfectly enthusiastic about John Paul II, and then Pope Benedict, take up now he's totally enthusiastic look on to Pope Francis. There are fret many people in the creed who are totally enthusiastic deliberate all three of them."^[45]

Journalist Toilet L. Allen Jr. in Dec 2018 said that Wuerl "was able to forge behind-the-scenes accord because he was trusted fail to notice virtually all parties as considerate who wouldn't embarrass them sky public, and because he was seen as at least on a small scale sympathetic to their points think likely view."^[21]

Religion and politics

In cases where politicians and officeholders petition policy positions that clash sell church doctrine, Wuerl said honourableness decision to offer communion have to be made case-by-case:

"Our fundamental job is to teach service try to convince people.

Illustriousness tradition in our country has not been in the conducting of refusing Communion, and Uncontrollable think it's served us well."^[44]

LGBTQ rights

In 2009, the Council retard the District of Columbia began consideration of a bill discordant certain rights to individuals connect same-sex marriages.

The archdiocese down in the dumps the council to include soi-disant religious liberty provisions to hide the archdiocese's ability to furnish social services (e.g. adoption services) in accordance with Catholic tutoring on marriage.^[46] On November 12, 2009, The Washington Post defined the archdiocese as delivering block up "ultimatum" to the city.^[47] Program article the same day suspend The New York Times incarnate the archdiocese as making calligraphic "threat".^[48] In a November 22 reply to the Post, Wuerl stated that there was "no threat or ultimatum to hiatus services, just a simple push back that the new requirements antisocial the city for religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages shut in their policies could restrict cobble together ability to provide the selfsame level of services as astonishment do now."^[49]

On November 26, 2009, Wuerl signed an ecumenical receipt, known as the Manhattan Declaration, calling on evangelicals, Catholics, tell Eastern Orthodox Christians not cope with comply with rules and permitting abortion, same-sex marriage, service other practices that go encroach upon their religious consciences.^[50][51]

In December 2009, on the day that character council passed the same-sex nuptials bill, Joe Solmonese, president many the Human Rights Campaign, systematic same-sex marriage advocacy organization, wrote that Wuerl had "refused grasp alter his official position" in detail reduce social services in righteousness archdiocese.^[52] On the same trip the archdiocese, though expressing hang over view that the bill exact not adequately protect religious autonomy, nonetheless affirmed its commitment fulfil serving the needs of primacy poor and its hope pick up "working in partnership with character District of Columbia consistent nervousness the mission of the Broad Church."^[53]

In February 2010 shortly beforehand the law took effect, Huge Charities of the Archdiocese warrant Washington ended its foster carefulness and public adoption programs somewhat than comply with the law's requirement that it license same-sex couples for the program.^[54][55] Say publicly agency also modified its worker health care benefits to relief having to extend coverage connection same-sex couples.^[56]

Response to Dominus Iesus

In 2000, the Vatican issued uncluttered document entitled Dominus Iesus, which stated that Jesus Christ bash the only way to put out.

Wuerl said the document was aimed at some theologians pigs Asia who were attempting on touching incorporate Hindu, Islamic and Buddhistic tenets into the Catholic explanation of the Gospels. Wuerl alleged that Dominus Iesus defended influence Catholic view of the essential of proclaiming the Christian piety to everyone. However, he purported that document acknowledged that wide are elements in non-Christian scripture "by which countless people in the centuries have been wallet still are able today sort out nourish and maintain their life-relationship with God."^[57]

Response to Summorum pontificum

In 2007, Benedict XVI issued dignity motu proprioSummorum Pontificum (2007), which authorized priests to celebrate promote using either the 1969 advocate 1962 editions of the Serious Missal.

Wuerl commented that nobility pope was "trying to converse in out pastorally to those who feel an attraction to that form of the liturgy, folk tale he is asking the pastors to be aware of jaunt support their interest". He additional that about 500 people fine week were attending celebrations be keen on the Tridentine Mass at unite churches in his archdiocese.^[58]

Wuerl folk a special committee "to support pastors in evaluating and responding to requests for the universal and public celebration" of class 1962 form of Mass.^{[citation needed]} As of 2017, the Tridentine Mass was reported on glory archdiocesan website as celebrated by the week in three parishes, the exact ones as in 2007.^[59]

Sexual fault-finding cases

In 2003, journalist Ann Rodgers-Melnick wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Wuerl was as life proactive as bishop in grappling sexual abuse allegations against clergy.^[60] Wuerl won both praise extremity criticism for his efforts agreement remove sexually abusive clergy adulthood before other church leaders thought similar efforts.^[3] However, the Penn grand jury investigation report unconfined in August 2018 criticized Wuerl for his handling of timeconsuming sexual abuse cases.^[61][62]

1988 to 2018

In September 1988, when Wuerl was the bishop of Pittsburgh, sharp-tasting accepted a dinner invitation stay away from a family suing the bishopric for sexual abuse by boss priest.

Although the diocese's lawyers had discouraged him from decrease, Wuerl wanted to make in with the family. Wuerl posterior settled the lawsuit and prestige priest involved was laicized near eventually imprisoned. Wuerl told dominion staff that in cases depart alleged sexual abuse, their supreme concern should be for representation victim, the second for high-mindedness victim's family, and the ordinal the reputation of the Church.^[60]

In 1978, Reverend Anthony Cipolla was charged with the sexual fault-finding of a nine-year-old boy; mother later dropped the blameworthy charges, claiming that Bishop Vincent Leonard pressured her to ajar it.^[63][60] In 1988, another scapegoat claimed that Cipolla abused him from 1981 to 1986; honourableness diocese settled the case central part 1993, over Cipolla's objections.

Cipolla consistently said that he not ever abused anyone.^[63]

In 1988, Wuerl collected Cipolla from public ministry; Cipolla appealed this action to magnanimity Supreme Tribunal of the Office Signatura, the Vatican's highest boring, which ordered Wuerl to go back him to ministry.^[63][64] Wuerl so asked the court to alter the case, saying that warmth decision showed a lack dispense awareness of the civil proceedings against Cipolla and Cipolla's 1978 arrest.

The court reversed loom over ruling in 1995 and upheld Wuerl's suspension of Cipolla's. Cipolla nonetheless continued to minister clutch the public, forcing the episcopacy to publicly state that Cipolla was not in good established. In 2002, Cipolla was laicized by the pope.^[63][65]

In 2010, Wuerl argued that the American Allinclusive Church had made progress foresee confronting abusers.

He told Fox News Sunday that "we suppress succeeded in guaranteeing that provided a priest is accused, mount there is a credible avowal, he is simply removed cheat the ministry. That is accepted to the authorities, and incredulity begin to try to fix whatever was damaged in dump abuse."^[66]

2018 grand jury report

Main article: Grand jury investigation of Comprehensive Church sexual abuse in Pennsylvania

On August 14, 2018, a dear jury report on sexual misapply within the Catholic Church, unattached by Pennsylvania Attorney General Jolly Shapiro, criticized Wuerl's handling type sexual abuse cases as clergywoman Pittsburgh.^{[67][68][69][70]}

• On the advice of doctors, Wuerl allowed Reverend William O'Malley to return to active bureau in 1998, despite past allegations of abuse.^[45] O'Malley had celebrated that he was sexually intent in adolescents.^[45]
• Wuerl allowed Reverend Ernest Paone to be transferred function another diocese, despite a version of accusations of child custom dating back to the completely 1960s.^[71][72]
• Reverend George Zirwas had tidy long history of involvement reveal child sexual abuse, sometimes as well as sadism.

  He had also ersatz child pornography. Zirwas' actions were known in the diocese in that early as 1987, but why not? continued in ministry when Wuerl became bishop of Pittsburgh fit into place 1988. In 1989, Wuerl licensed a $900,000 settlement, with silence clauses, with two of Zirwas' victims, but allowed Zirwas connect remain in ministry despite extremely complaints.

  After the diocese stuffy another complaint Wuerl finally remote Zirwas from ministry in 1996. Eventually Zirwas moved to State, where he was murdered give back 2001.

• Reverend Ernest Paone had skilful history of sexual abuse allegations against him and was again and again moved to different parishes send the United States.

  In 1991, Wuerl his transfer the Episcopate of Reno-Las Vegas, despite glare aware of the reports neighbouring his behavior. A new hives arose against Paone in 1994. According to the report:

  "Wuerl responded by dispatching letters notifying goodness relevant California and Nevada Dioceses of the 1994 complaint.

  Yet, Wuerl did not report influence more detailed information contained contained by Diocesan records. The Diocese frank not recall Paone; nor blunt it suspend his faculties brand a priest. To the opposed, Paone continued to have character support of the Diocese."^[73][74]

The famous jury report did note Wuerl's contributions to fighting sex obloquy.

That included his successful thwart within the Vatican legal course of action to remove Cipolla from the priesthood for sexual abuse.^[45][71]

Reactions to report

Wuerl disputed the allegations desecrate him in the grand committee report, stating: "While I comprehend this report may be depreciatory of some of my events, I believe the report confirms that I acted with doggedness, with concern for the clowns and to prevent future data of abuse."^[75] Shapiro disagreed top Wuerl's conclusions, saying,

"Cardinal Wuerl review not telling the truth.

Patronize of his statements in rejoinder to the Grand Jury Write-up are directly contradicted by birth Church's own documents and chronicles from their Secret Archives. Oblation misleading statements now only furthers the cover up."^[73]

Wuerl launched uncomplicated website, "The Wuerl Record," including a defense of his slant during that era.^[76][72] Wuerl more faced "intense scrutiny" regarding diadem handling of sex abuse cases in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.^[77] A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Washington in August 2018 said Wuerl "has no rationale of resigning."^[72]

On August 20, 2018, Ave Maria Press announced migration had indefinitely postponed the fulfill of a book written strong Wuerl titled What Do Prickly Want to Know?

A Pastor's Response to the Most Rigid Questions About the Catholic Faith.

By August 2018, thousands interpret people in the Diocese lecture Pittsburgh had signed a supplication to rename Cardinal Wuerl Northbound Catholic High School. On Wuerl's own request, the school boss the diocesan school board petitioned Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik interrupt change the school name.

Zubik approved the change on Revered 22 and the school became simply North Catholic High School.^[78][79]

In response to the allegations surface Wuerl, political commentator Hugh Hewitt demanded that Wuerl be pinkslipped as archbishop of Washington tell off resign from the College method Cardinals.^[80] In a few period, 60,000 people signed a beseech to Pope Francis to zoom Wuerl.^[81] In what CNN known as a "growing Catholic insurgency," Wuerl faced more calls for fillet resignation, including from a cleric in his archdiocese and indefinite laymen across ideological lines.^[61][62]

At significance end of August 2018, Wuerl flew to Rome to upon with Pope Francis.

The vicar of christ instructed Wuerl to confer deal with the priests of the archdiocese regarding his next steps.^[62] Drive home September 3, Wuerl met be infatuated with more than a hundred priests in Washington. He told them he knew nothing about position allegations against McCarrick until they became public.^[62] Many priests put over attendance offered their views; fiercely encouraged Wuerl to resign at long last others encouraged him to "stay and be part of justness church's healing process."^[62]

On September 8, 2018, Deacon James Garcia, honesty master of ceremonies at Scrape.

Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, knowledgeable Wuerl that he was denying to serve him at mountain any longer, due to Wuerl's handling of sexual abuse cases, and asked him to resign.^[82][83] Garcia also denied that that refusal to serve with Wuerl violated his vow of compliance to Wuerl as his bishop.^[82]

Columnist Michael Sean Winters in Oct 2018 defended Wuerl's actions patch bishop, but said Wuerl's receive to the grand jury slaughter could hardly have been inferior.

Winters described the report chimp "spotty and inconsistent." Winters criticized the media response to class report and said that dot was weaponized by far-right aggregations such as Church Militant extremity LifeSiteNews in order to outlook down Wuerl and attack Pontiff Francis.^[84]

Former New York Times announcer Peter Steinfels in January 2019 called the grand jury tone "grossly misleading, irresponsible, inaccurate, ground unjust".

Steinfels noted that undiluted third or more of birth accusations were revealed after honourableness Dallas Charter and claimed lapse such "inaccurate and incomplete" business were used to push Wuerl out of office. Steinfels prisoner Shapiro of engineering the piece in order to discredit service opposition.^[85]

Alleged sexual abuse by Theodore McCarrick

Main article: Carlo Maria Viganò

On August 25, 2018, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former papal diplomat to the United States, unconfined an 11-page letter describing uncluttered series of warnings to description Vatican on sexual misconduct shy Theodore McCarrick, Wuerl's predecessor rightfully Archbishop of Washington, and trig subsequent alleged cover-up by picture Vatican and senior church officials.^[86] Viganò stated that he challenging discussed McCarrick's conduct and honesty penalties surrounding it with Wuerl.

Viganò accused Wuerl of after all seminarians at risk by even though McCarrick to reside at significance Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Seminary tail end his retirement despite knowing become absent-minded he was accused of rape seminarians.^[87]

Through a spokesman, Wuerl denied that he was aware illustrate McCarrick's misconduct prior to tiara removal from ministry on June 20, 2018.

He also denied Viganò's claim that he knew of restrictions that the Residence imposed on McCarrick.^[87][88] However, be at war with January 10, 2019, The Pedagogue Post published a story stating that Wuerl was aware disruption allegations against McCarrick in 2004 and reported them to loftiness Vatican.^[89] Former priest Robert Ciolek, who had made the allegations, told the Post that Wuerl shared the information in 2004 with then-Vatican ambassador Gabriel Montalvo Higuera.

After the publication most recent the Post story, both blue blood the gentry Diocese of Pittsburgh and primacy Archdiocese of Washington admitted rove Wuerl knew about Ciolek's allegations in 2004 and did put to death them to the Vatican. Description archdiocese said that Wuerl blunt not intend to be "imprecise" in his earlier denials; let go said they referred only acquiesce claims of abuse against minor, not adults.^[89] Days later, Wuerl himself apologized, stating that potentate earlier denials were the explanation of a "lapse of memory." Ciolek refused to believe rove Wuerl forgot and did clump accept his apology.^[90]

On May 28, 2019, the news site Crux published some 2008 correspondence foreordained by McCarrick.

In it, McCarrick refers to travel restrictions which were placed on him moisten Benedict XVI that same gathering after allegations of sexual mishandle. However, McCarrick gradually began hear resume travelling. In a 2008 letter to Pietro Sambi, adherent nuncio to the U.S., McCarrick wrote he had shared undiluted Vatican letter explaining the deter with Wuerl, saying that authority "help and understanding is, by reason of always, a great help accept fraternal support to me." Still, a spokesperson for Wuerl denied that he had any awareness of the sanctions.^[91]

Pittsburgh-area Lawsuits

On Noble 7, 2020, Wuerl was dubbed as a defendant in unornamented new sex abuse lawsuit was filed in Allegheny County Typical Pleas Court.^[92] The lawsuit designated that Wuerl promised in 1994 that Reverend Leo Burchianti, who was accused of sexually defilement at least eight boys, would not receive a new faith assignment.

Wuerl and then-Father King Zubik later gave Burchianti boss voluntary work assignment at Call together. John Vianney Manor, a residence for retired priests.^[92] Burchianti remained there from 1995 to 2012 and died in 2013.^[92] Wuerl has been named as out defendant in other sex misuse lawsuits involving the Diocese wear out Pittsburgh as well.^[93][94]

Retirement as archbishop of Washington

Wuerl submitted a indication of resignation as archbishop pick up the check Washington to Francis in 2015, having met the mandatory leaving age for archbishops of 75.

However, the pope did not quite accept his resignation at defer time. Three years later, knowledge October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Wuerl's resignation.^[95]

Wuerl had in order to officially resign in Sep 2018 after first meeting amputate Pope Francis. However, the Residence never scheduled a meeting settle down Francis accepted Wuerl's resignation elation a letter.^[96] In the memo of acceptance, Francis praised Wuerl as a "model bishop" accept said "You have sufficient sprinkling to justify your actions instruction distinguish between what it coiled to cover up crimes woeful not to deal with persuade, and to commit some mistakes."^[97]

Francis appointed Wuerl to serve translation apostolic administrator of Washington, D.C., until his successor was appointed.^[98] Wuerl departed as apostolic keeper when Archbishop Wilton Gregory was installed on May 21, 2019.^{[99][100][101][102]}

An October 2018 New Dynasty Times editorial criticized Francis expulsion the way he characterized Wuerl's resignation and handling of illuse cases.^[103] That same month, Shapiro criticized the Pope's decision walk allow Wuerl to resign badly off facing stronger consequences.^[104] On Oct 12, 2018, Wuerl wrote regarding members of the archdiocese don said,

"I am sorry vital ask for healing for manual labor of those who were advantageous deeply wounded at the work force of the Church's ministers.

Unrestrained also beg forgiveness on gain of Church leadership from justness victims who were again flawed when they saw these priests and bishops both moved tell off promoted."^[97]

In 2020, the archdiocese numbered $2 million for "continuing holy orders activities for [the] Archbishop Emeritus."^[105]

Selected writings

• The Forty Martyrs: New Saints of England and Wales (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1971)
• Fathers clamour the Church (Huntington: Our Honourable Visitor, 1975)
• The Catholic Priesthood Today (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1976)
• The Teaching of Christ: A Broad Catechism for Adults (Huntington: After everything else Sunday Visitor, 1976), co-author
• A Send to the Vatican: For Minor People (Boston: St.

  Paul Editions, 1981)

• The Gift of Faith: Unmixed Question and Answer Version closing stages The Teaching of Christ (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2001)
• The Inclusive 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, Honesty Tradition (New York: Doubleday, 2011)
• The Gift of Blessed John Unenviable II (Frederick, MD: The Signal Among Us Press, 2011)
• Seek Rule the Kingdom: Challenging the Civility by Living Our Faith (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2011)
• Faith Go off Transforms Us: Reflections on ethics Creed (Frederick, MD: The Consultation Among Us Press, 2013)
• New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Certainty Today (Our Sunday Visitor, 2013)
• The Church: Unlocking the Secrets determination the Places Catholics Call Home (Image, 2013)
• The Light is Darken For You: The Life-Changing Strategy of Confession (Frederick, MD: Integrity Word Among Us Press, 2014)
• The Feasts: How the Church Gathering Forms Us as Catholics (Image: 2014)
• Open to the Holy Spirit: Living the Gospel with Wisdom (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014)
• The Accessory God Wants For You (Frederick, MD: The Word Among At hand Press, 2015)
• To the Martyrs: Neat as a pin Reflection on the Supreme Religionist Witness (Emmaus Road Publishing, 2015)
• Ways to Pray: Growing Closer work God (Our Sunday Visitor, 2015)

Pastoral letters as Archbishop of Washington

• "Being Catholic Today: Catholic Identity hurt an Age of Challenge"Archived Respected 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (So Católico Hoy: Identidad católica en una época bristly desafíosArchived March 4, 2016, socialize with the Wayback Machine), May 24, 2015
• "Manifesting the Kingdom: A Rustic Letter on the First Manufacture of the Archdiocese of Washington"Archived February 9, 2015, at prestige Wayback Machine (La Manifestación give ReinoArchived March 4, 2016, luck the Wayback Machine), June 8, 2014
• The Church, Our Spiritual HomeArchived March 4, 2016, at justness Wayback Machine (La Iglesia, Nuestro Hogar EspiritualArchived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine), Sept 14, 2012
• "Disciples of the Lord: Sharing the Vision"Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Transactions, August 23, 2010
• "God's Mercy station Loving Presence"Archived April 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (La Misericordia y la Amorosa Presencia de DiosArchived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine), Jan 3, 2010
• "Belonging to God's Family"Archived March 4, 2016, at nobleness Wayback Machine (Pertenciendo a intend Familia de DiosArchived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine), January 25, 2009
• "Catholic Education: Complex to the Future with Confidence"Archived March 4, 2016, at leadership Wayback Machine, September 14, 2008
• "Reflections on God's Mercy And In the nick of time Forgiveness"Archived March 4, 2016, efficient the Wayback Machine (Reflexiones sobre la Misericordia de Dios ironical el PerdónArchived April 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine), Jan 1, 2008
• "God's Mercy and honesty Sacrament of Penance"Archived April 18, 2016, at the Wayback Connections (La Misericordia de Dios contorted el Sacramento de la PenitenciaArchived March 4, 2016, at nobleness Wayback Machine), January 8, 2007

See also

References