MEMPHIS (TN)
Localmemphis.com
March 5, 2019
By Brad Broders
After orders from Pope Francis at The Vatican, Tuesday was the introduction of the new leader of the Memphis area’s 62,000 Catholics. Bishop David Talley will now take over the challenged local Catholic diocese.
Several priests and parishioners Local 24 News spoke with who were critical of the last bishop at the helm, applauded Bishop Talley’s appointment. They said Bishop Talley, who was raised as a Southern Baptist, is the right person to lead a new chapter of the Memphis diocese and make the needed adjustments and improvements in local parishes.
Bishop Talley came to the Bluff City with a simple goal and a simple message.
“It’s fundamental,” Bishop Talley said. “We preach the gospel and we pay the bills. In that order.”
Bishop Talley replaces Bishop Martin Holley, who Pope Francis removed in October. Holley’s rocky two-year tenure included complaints of financial mismanagement, the re-assigning of certain priests, and his role in the closing of 11 catholic schools.
Bishop Talley promised to listen, to learn, and to lead.
“None of us can undo what we’ve done in the past,” Bishop Talley said. “What we can do is accept the present and find our way out of the path of the present.”
“The people see themselves as part of the church, so that they need to be looked at, listened to,” Retired Bishop Terry Steib said.
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