WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE -
The Vatican named Bishop Jerome Listecki, a retired military man who has been outspoken in promoting Catholic issues in political arenas, as the new archbishop of the Milwaukee diocese on Saturday.
The Vatican said Listecki, 60, will lead the archdiocese of some 675,000 parishioners and 211 churches, according to a statement from the Milwaukee archidiocese. He will succeed Timothy Dolan, who was named archbishop of New York earlier this year.
Listecki said in a statement he was "humbled" by his selection as the archdiocese's 11th archbishop, and his only regret was leaving the Diocese of La Crosse, which he has led since March 2005. The Chicago native will be installed as archbishop in January.
Dolan said he was excited about his replacement, calling him a good friend and an effective, generous bishop.
"Pope Benedict XVI has chosen wisely," Dolan said in a statement.
Listecki, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, has been more outspoken on political issues than his predecessor. He once admonished House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her interpretation of Catholic teachings on the beginnings of life, and earlier this year criticized the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor Barack Obama.
He also testified before a Wisconsin legislative committee last month, arguing against a bill that would make it easier for victims of clergy sex abuse to sue their perpetrators.
Father John Yockey of St. Jerome Parish in Oconomowoc told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he appreciated Listecki's willingness to stand up for Catholic doctrines.
"I applaud that," Yockey said. "I loved Archbishop Dolan, but I wished he would have been more assertive in doing exactly that."
But progressives and reformists may be concerned, said Ray Stroik, a retired professor and college administrator who worked on the La Crosse diocese's justice and peace commission.
"He's very strong in terms of Catholic identity, basic issues of pro life, gay marriage, stem cell research," Stroik said. "Yet not doing much on social justice, or global peace."
Listecki will face a number of challenges in Milwaukee.
The archdiocese launched a $105 million fundraising campaign several years ago and expects to hit its target in the spring. But it also faces 14 lawsuits related to clergy sexual-abuse allegations, which could force it into bankruptcy.
Through June 30, 2009, the archdiocese said it paid out $28 million to settle charges related to clergy sexual abuse.
The Vatican said Listecki, 60, will lead the archdiocese of some 675,000 parishioners and 211 churches, according to a statement from the Milwaukee archidiocese. He will succeed Timothy Dolan, who was named archbishop of New York earlier this year.
Listecki said in a statement he was "humbled" by his selection as the archdiocese's 11th archbishop, and his only regret was leaving the Diocese of La Crosse, which he has led since March 2005. The Chicago native will be installed as archbishop in January.
Dolan said he was excited about his replacement, calling him a good friend and an effective, generous bishop.
"Pope Benedict XVI has chosen wisely," Dolan said in a statement.
Listecki, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, has been more outspoken on political issues than his predecessor. He once admonished House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her interpretation of Catholic teachings on the beginnings of life, and earlier this year criticized the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor Barack Obama.
He also testified before a Wisconsin legislative committee last month, arguing against a bill that would make it easier for victims of clergy sex abuse to sue their perpetrators.
Father John Yockey of St. Jerome Parish in Oconomowoc told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he appreciated Listecki's willingness to stand up for Catholic doctrines.
"I applaud that," Yockey said. "I loved Archbishop Dolan, but I wished he would have been more assertive in doing exactly that."
But progressives and reformists may be concerned, said Ray Stroik, a retired professor and college administrator who worked on the La Crosse diocese's justice and peace commission.
"He's very strong in terms of Catholic identity, basic issues of pro life, gay marriage, stem cell research," Stroik said. "Yet not doing much on social justice, or global peace."
Listecki will face a number of challenges in Milwaukee.
The archdiocese launched a $105 million fundraising campaign several years ago and expects to hit its target in the spring. But it also faces 14 lawsuits related to clergy sexual-abuse allegations, which could force it into bankruptcy.
Through June 30, 2009, the archdiocese said it paid out $28 million to settle charges related to clergy sexual abuse.
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