The people of the Diocese of Wilmington should be heartened to have the caliber of a man such as William Francis Malooly as their next bishop.

His statements that "he will meet with anyone who wants to discuss the issue" of sexual abuse give us hope because as Bishop Malooly says "it's an insidious, horrible crime, and nothing makes it right."

Members of the group known as Voice of the Faithful also welcome Bishop Malooly to our diocese.

As Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson has said repeatedly as he addressed catholics across the country, "what is needed is an open and honest discussion of such matters by the whole church," and "changes in external structures can help,but they cannot of themselves produce a new church. The more important change is the change of mind and heart."

And the works of Mark from Chapter 10: 42-45 are especially appropriate:

"You know that among the Gentiles their seeming ruler lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave,and to give his life a ransom for many."

We look forward to that dialog with our new bishop.

Welcome, Bishop Fran.

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com