A Look Ahead – 2009 in the USA Hierarchy

As another year wraps up, its time to once again look ahead at what changes in the Catholic Hierarchy of the USA might be anticipated for the upcoming year.

First, there are the Cardinals. Cardinal Maida (Archbishop of Detroit) turns 79 in March. It seems very likely that his retirement and the naming of a replacement will occur this year. In April, Cardinal Egan (Archbishop of New York) turns 77. His retirement and the naming of his replacement might also occur this year, or perhaps next. One other deserves a mention, Cardinal Stafford. Although he is not an ordinary, he is from the US (Baltimore) and also turns 77 in the coming year. He is also likely to retire as Major Penitentiary in the next year or two.

There are 9 other ordinaries already over 75 (marked with an * below) and another 8 that reach that age in the coming year. First, the archbishops:

• Eusebius Joseph Beltran: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  
• Alexander Joseph Brunett: Seattle, Washington
  
• Elden Francis Curtiss*: Omaha, Nebraska
  
• Alfred Clifton Hughes*: New Orleans, Louisiana
  
• Daniel Edward Pilarczyk: Cincinnati, Ohio
  (Coadjutor: Dennis Marion Schnurr)
  

Next, the bishops:

• Edmond Carmody: Corpus Christi, Texas
  
• Patrick Ronald Cooney: Gaylord, Michigan
  
• Edward Peter Cullen*: Allentown, Pennsylvania
  
• John Michael D'Arcy*: Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana
  
• Bernard Joseph Harrington*: Winona, Minnesota
  (Coadjutor: John Michael Quinn)
  
• William Leo Higi*: Lafayette in Indiana
  
• John Jeremiah McRaith: Owensboro, Kentucky
  
• James Michael Moynihan*: Syracuse, New York
  
• James Albert Murray*: Kalamazoo, Michigan
  
• Raymundo Joseph Peña: Brownsville, Texas
  
• William Stephen Skylstad: Spokane, Washington
  
• Arthur Nicholas Tafoya*: Pueblo, Colorado
  

In addtion, there are 8 diocese that are already vacant, namely:

• Biloxi, Mississippi
  
• Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Cheyenne, Wyoming
  
• Duluth, Minnesota
  
• Gallup, New Mexico
  
• Juneau, Alaska
  
• Knoxville, Tennessee
  
• Saint Louis, Missouri (archdiocese)
  

Over the coming weeks, I hope to again do an overview of each province of the USA. You may also find the two web pages below useful (both are frequently updated): Active Bishops Near Age Limit (USA) and Currently Vacant Dioceses (USA).