By Dan Horn
Neosho Daily News
October 19, 2008
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081019/NEWS01/810190378
The Most Rev. Dennis Schnurr has about a year to get to know the Archdiocese of Cincinnati before he takes over as leader of the region's 500,000 Catholics.
He said he will spend the next several months traveling the archdiocese's 19 counties and learning as much as he can, as fast as he can, so he'll be ready to take over for the retiring Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk.
The big issues he'll face include a shortage of priests, financial struggles and lingering anger over the clergy abuse scandal.
He doesn't have a plan yet; he's only visited Cincinnati a few times in his life. But he does have a long track record as a canon lawyer, treasurer of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, Minn.
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| The Most Rev. Dennis Schnurr speaks at a news conference Friday with retiring Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk. |
The pressure will be on for him to act quickly when he moves into the top job. He will have to balance the interests of Catholics who demand sweeping changes with those who believe the church already has changed too much.
"Just because there's a new person, doesn't mean there would be a new approach," said Kris Ward, leader of the Voice of the Faithful chapter in Dayton. "I hope this archbishop would have an open mind.
"As a Catholic, I believe a lot of things on faith. But after the abuse scandal, seeing is believing."
Here's a primer on Schnurr and how he might handle the job:
How will the transition from Pilarczyk to Schnurr work?
Schnurr is the "coadjutor archbishop," which is church lingo for the archbishop-in-waiting.
He will serve as the No. 2 man in the administration for at least a year, when Pilarczyk turns 75 and will be eligible to retire. He then will take over the top job.
What are Schnurr's priorities?
Youth ministries and priest recruitment are top priorities. Schnurr named himself vocations director in Duluth to personally oversee priest recruitment. Under his watch, the number of seminary students tripled to 22. He also organized World Youth Day in 1993 in Denver, an achievement he described as a "life-changing event."
What are his politics?
Schnurr said he adheres strictly to church teachings, but he has urged caution to clergy about getting involved in secular politics.
He said he does not view himself as a liberal or a conservative in terms of theology. "I really don't like to use those terms," he said.
What's his plan for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati?
He said he'll spend the next year or so getting familiar with the archdiocese's 19 counties and meeting some of its 500,000 Catholics. Until then, he said, he'll reserve judgment on what approach he'll take.
How will he reach out to his new flock?
He said he hopes to expand education for all Catholics, and to encourage more of them to attend Mass. "We find ourselves in a situation where there are several generations of Catholics that I think we have failed to provide with a solid Catholic education," Schnurr said. "The reason for the fall in Mass attendance is that Catholics don't have an understanding of what it is they are not participating in.
"It shouldn't be seen as an obligation. It's an opportunity to know Christ better."
How will he handle the clergy abuse scandal?
The problem was much less severe in Duluth than in Cincinnati, where more than a dozen priests have been suspended for alleged misconduct. In Duluth, the most recent accusation came in 1995 - six years before Schnurr took over as bishop. But he said helping victims heal and move on is crucial.
"I encourage priests to meet with these individuals and I have met with these individuals, just to listen and to apologize on behalf of the church."
What does he see as the most important job of the archbishop?
"A bishop is to bring hope to his people," Schnurr said. "This is what building the Kingdom of God is all about."
Contact: dhorn@enquirer.com
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