ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
Published May 18, 2005
ILLINOIS -- In one of the first American appointments made by Pope Benedict XVI, an Illinois pastor has been named bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ft. Worth.
Monsignor Kevin Vann, 54, pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish and vicar for priests in Springfield, will work alongside and ultimately succeed Bishop Joseph Delaney, 70, of Ft. Worth, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. His cancer is in remission.
"Naturally it is a big, unexpected change for me, but I trust in the providence of the Lord and that this is the place for me to be," Vann told the North Texas Catholic, the diocesan newspaper.
Vann, who has two graduate degrees in canon law, has become one of Illinois' leading judicial vicars and has participated in canonical proceedings for clergy accused of sexual abuse.