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Bishops' Group Elects Leader

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By RACHEL ZOLL, The Associated Press

Published: November 14, 2007

BALTIMORE - The cardinal elected Tuesday to lead the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops' conference was already one of the most influential men in the American church.

Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago for a decade, earned two doctorates in philosophy and theology, knows six languages and has deep ties within the Vatican.

As new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he will host Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Washington and New York in April. He also will guide church leaders through a presidential election season during which religion will once again figure prominently.

George, 70, received 85 percent of the vote out of a field of 10 candidates at the bishops' fall meeting.

He had served the past three years as the conference vice president. The prelate holding that job customarily is elected to the top post.

George succeeds Bishop William Skylstad, of Spokane, Wash., who is ending his term.

Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., was elected as the new vice president on the third ballot.

Public policy issues, from war to politics, are part of the agenda of this week's event.

Skylstad released a statement on Tuesday that called conditions in Iraq "unacceptable." He also stressed the need for a bipartisan "responsible transition" out of the country.
Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, vehemently opposed the military strike, and his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, has condemned the "continual slaughter" in the country.

Benedict expressed his concerns directly to President Bush in their first meeting in June at the Vatican.

George takes over at a time of diminishing influence for the conference, which has cut jobs and committees to streamline its work and save money. Bishops said funds they give for conference work are needed in their dioceses.

The lay reform group Voice of the Faithful and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests protested his election. The archdiocese waited months to remove an accused parish priest in Chicago, the Rev. Daniel McCormack, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five boys ages 8 to 12.

George acknowledged he failed to act soon enough in McCormack's case.

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