BishopAccountability.org
	NH Gets New Roman Catholic Bishop By Holly Ramer Boston Globe September 19, 2011 http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/09/19/nh_gets_new_roman_catholic_bishop/ Guided by the motto "arise and walk," the new leader of New Hampshire's 300,000 Roman Catholics said Monday he is eager to learn about his new home and confront its challenges. The Rev. Peter Anthony Libasci wasted no time in embarking on what he said would be his first goal -- listening carefully to his parishioners and getting a feel for the state's culture. On the same day the Vatican named him to succeed Bishop John McCormack as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester, Libasci held an introductory news conference, followed by visits to a Catholic high school, a food bank and a convent. During the news conference, Libasci described how his motto -- drawn from a scriptural passage about what the apostle Peter is said to have told a lame beggar -- has helped him to forge ahead when confronted with obstacles. He recounted volunteering to become pastor at St. Therese of Lisieux parish in Montauk, N.Y., in 1999, when the parish was deeply divided over what to do about its crumbling church. Under his leadership, the parish came together and decided to build a new church, he said. "When you're paralyzed by fear, in the name of Jesus Christ, let's try this, we can do this. When we don't know what to do, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazerene, arise and walk. We can do this," he said. "And so I am eager to ask God, can we do this again, wherever it might be." Libasci will be officially installed as bishop Dec. 8. McCormack, who announced his retirement in August when he reached the Vatican's mandatory retirement age of 75 in August, called his successor a "true servant of the church," who will serve the state well as the diocese's 10th bishop. Before being named bishop of Manchester in 1998, McCormack served as a top aide to Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston. When the clergy sex abuse scandal erupted there in 2002, victims and grass roots Catholic groups called on McCormack to resign in New Hampshire, citing his role in investigation misconduct charges in Boston. Also in 2002, the Diocese of Manchester averted unprecedented criminal charges by agreeing that it had harmed children by moving abusive priests from parish to parish. It promised to enact strict child protection policies and opened the diocese to audits by the state attorney general's office. Libasci said addressing any lingering harm from the scandal will be an important part of his new position. "The most important thing right off the bat is the compassion, and the desire to heal. To help restore and heal and rebuild individual lives, family lives, life of the church, life of the community," he said. Michele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, said while McCormack's legacy has been somewhat tainted by the scandal, in many respects, most Catholics seem to have moved beyond it. She said Libasci's challenges include revitalizing the participation of Catholics in the church, finding resources to help the poor across the diocese and knitting together new parish communities formed during the closing or consolidation of churches. But before he can do any of that, he needs to learn about the state, she said. "I think the first thing that Bishop Libasci will need to do is really get out there and get to know the people of New Hampshire," she said. "The best way he can really establish credibility for himself and inspire confidence in his leadership and trust in his leadership is to really visit as many of these parishes as possible and see for himself what the issues are, rather than staying within the confines of the diocesan offices."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.