By Kim Mulford
Courier-Post
April 4, 2008
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/NEWS01/804040386/1006/news01
Bishop Joseph Galante is used to making hard decisions. He knows how to deal with angry parishioners.
This week, he's doing both. Faced with a severe priest shortage and changing demographics, the 69-year-old leader of the Camden Diocese is reshaping many of its 124 parishes.
 |
| Bishop Joseph Galante (right) blesses the palms on Palm Sunday at Camden's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Photo by Denise Henhoeffer |
Before his arrival four years ago, the Philadelphia native collected a reputation for dealing with difficult issues during the dozen years of his assignment in Texas.
Described as "down to earth" and open-minded, the former Vatican official was also willing to challenge the status quo. As bishop of Beaumont, Galante fixed the financially strapped Texas diocese by cutting programs and ordering parishes to provide more money.
While serving as coadjutor bishop in Dallas, he publicly disagreed with his superior over the treatment of a priest accused of misconduct.
As spokesman for sex-abuse issues for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Galante faced the worst public relations crisis to hit the church and earned praise from church critics for his response.
Church watchers nationwide have noted Galante's leadership style in the Camden Diocese, especially for enlisting the laity in the planning process.
Rocco Palmo, a Philadelphian who writes the Whispers in the Loggia blog, said dioceses across the country and especially in the Northeast are pruning parishes because of the priest shortage.
"I don't know of any other bishop who has gone parish to parish and spent two hours saying to the people, "Talk to me,' " Palmo said.
Galante once said he hoped the Camden Diocese would be his last assignment.
In his Easter message, Galante said the changes facing the South Jersey church "will involve self-sacrifice, suffering, pain, uncertainty and a great sense of loss over what was."
"Leaving the comfort of status quo is sometimes frightening," he said, "even when we know that something better lies ahead."
Reach Kim Mulford at (856) 251-3342 or kmulford@courierpostonline.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.