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Pope Francis Names Wilton Gregory As DC Archbishop

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Joshua Gill Religion Reporter
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  • Pope Francis named Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the archbishop of D.C.
  • Supporters of Gregory have hailed what they see as his moderate or progressive approach to church social teaching and theology.
  • Conservative Catholics voiced concern over Gregory’s appointment in light of his close ties to Theodore McCarrick, and Cardinals Donald Wuerl and Blase Cupich.

Pope Francis named Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the archbishop of D.C., appointing a theological progressive and the archdiocese’s first black archbishop as Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s successor.

Gregory, who has served as Atlanta’s archbishop since 2005, is seen as a theological and political ally of Francis, especially with regard to prioritizing and elevating minority groups like the LGBT community. His nomination as the archdiosese’s first black archbishop comes on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

The archbishop is also a strategic choice to lead the archdiocese that has been at the epicenter of the U.S. church’s abuse, as Gregory led the U.S. conference of bishops through the Boston Spotlight scandal and persuaded the church to adopt the 2002 Dallas Charter, which included a “zero tolerance” policy toward sexual abuse, according to The Associated Press. (RELATED: Conservative Catholics Are Worried About The Vatican’s Likely Pick For DC Archbishop. Here’s Why)

“Gregory has impeccable credentials for dealing with the sex abuse crisis, which is essential for healing the church,” Rev. Thomas Reese wrote for Religion News Service.

Washington auxiliary bishop Roy E. Campbell, a member of the Black Catholic Bishops of the United States, lauded Gregory’s intersectional approach to ministry.

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: Bishop Wilton Gregory, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, addresses the annual conference of Catholic Bishops, 10 November 2003, in Washington, DC. Gregory urged his fellow prelates Monday to repair the bonds with rank-and-file Catholics that have been broken during nearly two years of crisis over clergy sex abuse. (STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: Bishop Wilton Gregory, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, addresses the annual conference of Catholic Bishops, 10 November 2003, in Washington, DC. Gregory urged his fellow prelates Monday to repair the bonds with rank-and-file Catholics that have been broken during nearly two years of crisis over clergy sex abuse. (STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images)

“Archbishop Gregory will be able to identify with, and compassionately serve all of the people of this archdiocese, who represent very diverse ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds,” Campbell said. “I look forward to working closely with him in his ministry of leading and healing all who make up this Church and this community.”

D.C. archbishops have also historically received appointments as cardinals, meaning Gregory could potentially become the first-ever African-American cardinal. While some Catholic clerics applauded Francis’ choice of what they see as a moderate or progressive prelate, others among the Catholic faithful voiced grave concerns over what they see as a prelate cut from the same cloth as his disgraced predecessors Wuerl and former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick who will not usher in the conservative reforms for which they hoped in D.C.

“Another appointment from the same clique of prelates who have done so much damage to the many souls entrusted to their care would be devastating  and would only confirm that the Holy See does not take the current sexual abuse scandals seriously and intends to continue with business as usual — a slap in the face to victims, their families, and beleaguered faithful,” the Catholic Laity for Orthodox Bishops and Reform wrote in response to Gregory’s reported appointment.

Critics of Gregory noted his defense of LGBT-affirming clerics, like Rev. James Martin and Msgr. Henry Gracz, and his support of groups that reject traditional Catholic teaching on human sexuality, like Faithful and Fortunate Families and the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. Conservative Catholics have also questioned Gregory’s stance on abortion, given his hesitancy to implement cannonical sanctions against Catholic politicians who support abortion.

The archbishop also faced scandal in 2014 Atlanta parishioners protested the archdiocese’s use of $2.2 million worth of donations to purchase and renovate a lavish house for Gregory. Gregory later apologized for the purchase of the house and the archdiocese sold it.

Gregory was also mentored by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, whose legacy was mired in accusations of actively recruiting gay seminarians and one allegation of sexual abuse and who was a close associate of McCarrick.

Gregory’s nomination as D.C. archbishop marks the third time Francis has instituted a major change in the hierarchy of the U.S. church. Francis appointed Cardinal Blase Cupich as archbishop of Chicago in 2014 and appointed Joseph Tobin as a cardinal and as the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, in 2016, both of whom, like Gregory, are seen as allies of Francis and supporters of his vision for the church.

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