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	Galeone Was Reluctant Bishop By Jeff Brumley St. Augustine Record November 13, 2010 http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-11-13/galeone-was-reluctant-bishop Then-parish priest Victor Galeone said no in 2001 when he was notified he'd been selected to lead the Diocese of St. Augustine as its bishop. "I tried to decline, citing my age and my lack of adequate experience for such a position," Galeone said. It was then that he realized Rome was making an offer he couldn't refuse. "The previous papal nuncio rejected my reasons," he said after nearly a decade leading the Jacksonville-based diocese. Galeone submitted his letter of resignation as bishop on his birthday, Sept. 13, as required of all bishops when they turn 75. Now waiting for word about who will replace him and when, Galeone answered questions by e-mail about his tenure and what challenges would face the next leader of the 181,000 Catholics who live in Northeast Florida. Q: What are your plans for retirement? A: Presently, I have made no definitive plans. ... Before being named bishop [at age 65], I had envisioned -- on reaching the age of 70 in Baltimore -- to return to spend the rest of my years in the missions of Peru, where I had served for 11 years. However ... due to my declining energy level, I have discarded that as a viable option. I will more than likely remain in the Jacksonville area, devoting more time to reading, reflection and some occasional fishing. Q: What qualities and qualifications does your successor need? A: In addition to administrative skills, he should be bi-lingual, that is, have a good command of at least English and Spanish. Knowing Creole would be icing on the cake. Q: Any idea as to the timing of your replacement? A: I have no indication of when my successor will be appointed. From my predecessor's [Bishop John J. Snyder] 75th birthday until I was installed as bishop, almost 10 months elapsed. Q: What are the biggest challenges you've faced during your time as bishop? A: The first occurred within six months of my arrival in the diocese -- the sex scandal that surfaced in early 2002. Almost all the cases dealing with the sexual abuse of minors had occurred decades ago. ... We bishops addressed the matter effectively, which resulted in the mandatory screening and training of all employees and volunteers who have contact with minors. The second challenge is the budgetary shortfall that continues to stretch our financial resources -- especially over the past two years. This challenge has resulted in salary freezes, staff layoffs at the Catholic Center and assessing parishes with a temporary two-year tax. Q: What are the major challenges facing your successor? A: If the financial downturn continues unabated for any length of time, my successor will be faced with the same challenges that I have encountered over the past two years. Another challenge will be replacing a number of our priests who are approaching retirement age. Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the Church as a whole? A: Relativism has infected almost everyone. We're told that objective truth no longer exists. ... Secularism holds most First World citizens in its grip. The only thing that matters is what's visible, tangible or pleasurable. Spiritual matters, the hereafter, and the like are of no concern. The breakdown of the traditional family with its resulting litany of woes: Cohabitation, divorce, serial marriages, fatherless households, impoverished single mothers struggling with their children, etc. Q: How much of a challenge is the continued growth of the Catholic population in this diocese? A: During my tenure, the Catholic population has increased from 143,000 to 181,000. The challenge will be to build and staff new parishes where needed, and to minister to the needs of the growing Hispanic community, especially in our eastern counties.
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