…in the Diocese of Richmond.

(For those not aware of the history of the Diocese. For years it was led by Bishop Walter Sullivan, one of the most liberal bishops in the US (the one exception to this general direction being his complete openness to the Tridentine Mass in his diocese.). He was succeeded, after his almost 30 years as ordinary of the diocese, by Francis Xavier DiLorenzo, previously Bishop of Honolulu. Bishop DiLorenzo is not on the same page as Bishop Sullivan, and is perhaps working out of a different book as well. One of his earliest moves, for example, was to appoint a Diocesan Theologian who would be responsible for, among other things, approving speakers at events in the diocese. Believe me, after 30 years of Bishop Sullivan, the diocesan bureaucracy was fully entrenched and of a single mind. The new bishop had his work cut out for him, and there has been wailing and gnashing of teeth, as well as cautious crowing, some of which is beginning to filter into the blogosphere.

And for once, it’s coming from both sides – which is a thoroughly good thing.  A Voice in the Diocese is the product of Sullivanistas, who waste no time trashing the new bishop in quite specific terms. Richmond Catholic is happy with the new bishop and has no sympathy for A Voice.

Should be interesting to watch.