BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop Michael Saltarelli (1933-2009) By Allan Loudell WDEL October 8, 2009 http://www.wdel.com/blog/post.php?postid=2011 Our WDEL newsroom got the word just after 5:30 a.m. The 8th bishop of the Roman Catholic diocense of Wilmington - Michael Saltarelli - has died after battling cancer. He was 77. Bishop Michael Saltarelli was to bishops what Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli - John XXIII - was to popes, a "people's priest" who happened to become a bishop. To use a term frequently used in Catholic circles, he was pastoral. (I feel I have some basis of comparison, as I've covered and interviewed a number of bishops and other clergy over the years.) I still remember covering Bishop Saltarelli's installation. I recall the new bishop - in his homily - indirectly poked fun at himself with a "salt of the earth" reference. I interpreted that as a signal of the sort of bishop Saltarelli intended to be. And he was. Even though some say Saltarelli was somewhat introverted, he easily interacted with his flock. Although Saltarelli never ruled out refusing communion to pro-choice, Catholic politicians, he preferred "active engagement and dialogue" much to the dismay of ardent, pro-lifers. Diocesan guidelines DID constrain Catholic schools and other institutions from officially hosting or honoring such politicians. Bishop Saltarelli was pleased he was able to ordain 23 men as priests during his time in Wilmington. Of course, he would've wanted vastly more. Still, the Wilmington diocese seems to have done better with vocations than many other dioceses. Of course, school-closings and particularly the priest abuse scandal tested Saltarelli in a way he could not have imagined when he first became bishop. Even attorney Thomas Neuberger praised Saltarelli for taking a more open approach than many U.S. bishops, for not engaging in a "scorched earth policy" when victims sought redress. I got to know Bishop Saltarelli a little better as we would chitchat in the lobby of WHYY TV 12's (then) Wilmington studio. (We both appeared on TV 12 to offer analysis on the death of Pope John Paul II, the Papal conclave, and ultimately, the election of Pope Benedict XVI.) On at least one of those occasions, a nun joined us. Somehow we got to talking about priest sex abuse scandal. That nun seemed to suggest that at least some of the victims bore some responsibility. The bishop would hear none of it. The bishop rebuked her. But, as tributes to the late Bishop Saltarelli come in, I believe we'll hear repeatedly how he defended Church teaching on the usual contentious issues without being disagreeable. He loved his flock.
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