Brooklyn Bishop Named to Lead Bridgeport Diocese

Brooklyn Daily Eagle
July 31, 2013

http://brooklyneagle.com/articles/brooklyn-bishop-named-lead-bridgeport-diocese-2013-07-31-170000

Photo is courtesy Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn

The new bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport calls his new job "an awesome and exciting ministry" and is pledging to listen and learn about the needs of the diocese and collaborate with others.

The Most Rev. Frank Caggiano, an auxiliary bishop in Brooklyn, New York, will take over a post left vacant since the departure of Bishop William Lori, who was named Archbishop of Baltimore in March 2012.

The 54-year-old Caggiano praised Lori's handling of the sex abuse crisis and says all bishops have the same commitment to protect children but it takes time to rebuild trust.

Caggiano, who was ordained a priest in 1987 for the Diocese of Brooklyn, has served in a number of pastoral and administrative positions. He has been both a pastor and also responsible for the formation of men for the permanent diaconate. Since 2006, Caggiano has served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

He was twice selected to offer catechesis to the young people at World Youth Days, both in Madrid in 2011 and just recently in Rio de Janeiro.

“For twenty-six years, Bishop Caggiano has faithfully served the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens, and I can attest that he is an outstanding priest. He has been one of my closest collaborators,” said Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, in a press release. “I had the privilege of ordaining Bishop Caggiano to the Episcopacy, and I can unequivocally state that he will be an outstanding pastor to the faithful of Bridgeport.”

Caggiano said gays are loved by God and welcomed in the church, but he reiterated the church's opposition to gay marriage.

He called himself an avid New York Mets fan, joking he is a man of hope.