Priest Council Shows Support For Embattled Cardinal Egan

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The New York Sun

The Archdiocese of New York’s Priest Council yesterday afternoon threw its support behind Edward Cardinal Egan, the embattled cardinal whose ouster some diocese priests are advocating.

The council’s 30-plus members spent about two hours with the cardinal discussing an anonymous letter that called Cardinal Egan “vindictive,””arrogant,” and “cavalier” and asked for a no-confidence vote. Circulated earlier this month among area priests, the letter was written by a group calling itself the Committee of Concerned Clergy. The letter accuses the low-profile cardinal of devoting attention to fiscal matters at the expense of the “spiritual needs and concerns” of clergy and laity.

Following the meeting, which took place at the cardinal’s Madison Avenue residence, the Archdiocese released a statement expressing dismay that “our Archbishop has been personally vilified in this manner,” as well as confidence in “his continued ministry.” The Priest Council — a consultative body composed of priests who are elected by fellow clergy members — meets every four to six weeks, but the cardinal convened a special meeting to address the letter, an archdiocese spokesman, Joseph Zwilling, said. Calls to a half dozen priests who sit on the Council were not immediately returned last night.

The cardinal turns 75 in April. At that age, bishops are required to submit a letter of resignation that the pope can accept or reject. According to the anonymous letter, a no-confidence vote would encourage the “Holy Father to strongly consider accepting the Cardinal’s resignation.”

To critics of the cardinal’s priorities, Cardinal Egan “would much prefer to spend all his time on the pastoral responsibilities of the archbishop, but his first responsibility is to keep the diocese solvent,” a Catholic lay leader who has worked closely with the cardinal, Peter Flanigan, 83, said. Since his appointment in 2000, Cardinal Egan has eradicated the Archdiocese’s $20 million annual operating deficit.

Some New York Catholics, who refused to be identified, said they agreed with the content of the letter but said a strongly worded mailing is not the appropriate way to address diocesan problems or communicate with the Vatican.

“If they thought their views were so good and constructive, why were they afraid to put their names on it?” the Reverend Anthony Kelly, 72, who said he supports Cardinal Egan, said.

Rev. Kelly, who serves at Harlem’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel, said the cardinal is “gracious and interested” and not at all vindictive. “I saw that word on paper, and I couldn’t believe it for one second,” he said, adding: “My opinion is that the no-confidence vote is going to be very, very small.”


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