George Lucas — the Omaha Archbishop, That Is — Among Possibe Contenders to Replace Cardinal

By Michael Sneed
Chicago Sun-Times
May 22, 2014

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/27616155-452/sneed-george-lucas-the-omaha-archbishop-that-is-among-possibe-contenders-to-replace.html#.U4oln_l_uSq

The Most Rev. George Lucas, is installed as the new Archbishop of the Omaha diocese at St. Cecilia's Cathedral, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Lucas, 60, had been the bishop of the Springfield, Ill., diocese when he was selected last month to replace retiring Omaha Archbishop Elden Curtiss. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

By, George!

Sneed hears the search to replace retiring Cardinal Francis George, which just moved quickly out of first gear, could include another person named George.

George Lucas.

No, not George Lucas the “Star Wars” movie mogul who is hoping to bring his cultural museum to Chicago’s lakefront.

Sneed is told Archbishop George J. Lucas, 64, of Omaha, Nebraska, who was dispatched to Nebraska in 2009 after serving almost 10 years as the bishop of Springfield, Illinois, could also be on the list.

“No one knows how many names are on the Vatican’s list, but they are going full steam ahead now to replace Cardinal George,” said a top Sneed source.

“This will be the new pope’s first major U.S. decision, and it’s a huge flock to manage, so it’s likely an archbishop with experience will be named,” the source said.

Technically, Sneed is told, a priest could be chosen to lead the archdiocese.

“Possible, but unlikely,” said the source.

Hmmmm. Could the Rev. Michael Pfleger, whose ministry has embraced the poor — Pope Francis’ favored flock — a possibility?

“I doubt it,” said the source, adding that the door wasn’t necessarily closed on the idea. “He’s controversial, but he gets things done. And anything is possible with this pope.”

P.S. Add this name to a list of possibilities: Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, 63, who rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and speaks fluent Haitian Creole and Spanish. Wenski has been archbishop in Miami since 2010.

Running with Rauner . . .

Hmmmmm: Despite talking tough on public pensions, Sneed hears GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner is working hard behind the scenes to block both pieces of pension reform legislation being proffered by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the closing week of this year’s legislative session.

? The Rauner rationale: ”Bruce is doing this so he has leverage in getting his own pension legislation passed if he were to be elected in November,” said a top GOP source.

Caviezel’s craft . . .

Hmmm. Art imitating life? Not quite. But actor Jim Caviezel’s recent treatment at Cleveland Clinic for a heart problem must have felt familiar.

? Translation: Caviezel, who feared his encounter with lightning while playing Jesus Christ in the film “The Passion of the Christ” had affected his heart, is now awaiting release of a film where he plays a football coach who suffered a heart attack.

? Caviezel plays Bob Ladouceur, coach of the De La Salle High School football team, in the upcoming film, “When The Game Stands Tall,” just before the 2004 season when Ladouceur had a heart attack.

? In fact, Caviezel had to be coached to portray the heart attack by an on-set doctor, according to former Sun-Times sports reporter Neil Hayes, who wrote the book the movie is based on.

? “We talked the other morning when he was in the hospital,” Hayes told Sneed. “He said he got out of the ICU. Jim did not have a heart attack, but I asked him if it was art imitating life or life imitating art!”

I spy . . .

Sandra “Grey’s Anatomy” Oh, Raul Castillo and John “Public Enemies” Judd dined in Al and Pam Capitanini’s home for an intimate Victory Gardens Theater fundraiser Sunday. All three will star in “Death and the Maiden” at the theater this summer . . . Hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Denis Savard had dinner at Chicago Cut Steakhouse after the Blackhawks game Wednesday night.

Sneedlings . . .