The appointment puts Gregory in charge of one of the nation’s most politically important — and scandal-tainted — archdioceses.
By Chico Harlan and Chico Harlan Rome bureau chief covering southern Europe and sometimes parts beyond Email Bio Follow Michelle Boorstein Michelle Boorstein Religion reporter Email Bio Follow April 4 at 11:10 AM ROME — The Vatican officially named Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as the new leader of the Catholic Church in Washington on Thursday, an appointment that will put him in charge of one the country’s most politically important — and scandal-tainted — archdioceses.
But the move also is designed to stabilize a reeling archdiocese that has become symbolic of the church’s failures to fully contend with clerical sexual abuse. Gregory’s two predecessors, Cardinal Donald Wuerl and former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, had become embroiled in scandal — although in different ways. Wuerl resigned in October amid criticism that he had not responded properly to some abuse allegations.
“This is obviously a moment fraught with challenges throughout our entire church, but nowhere more so in this local faith community,” Gregory said. “It was pretty gutsy on his part. He’s certainly more forward-thinking on some issues,” Martin said, calling Gregory’s decision to invite him courageous. “But he’s just as traditional on other issues — for example, abortion. That’s why it’s hard to categorize him.
Gregory has been candid about racial issues and appeared on a panel at Georgetown University in 2017, months after a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Gregory described an experience he had had two weeks earlier, when he had been playing golf at a tony course on Sea Island, Ga. About 3 percent of the U.S. Catholic population is black, but in the D.C. archdiocese that share is about 13 percent.
[Former Vatican ambassador says Popes Francis, Benedict knew of sexual misconduct allegations against McCarrick for years] Early reaction among archdiocesan priests was mixed. The Rev. Raymond Kemp, a D.C. native, assistant to the president of Georgetown University, and adviser to students working on peace and justice issues, said his social media feeds “lit up” when word began leaking out in recent days about Gregory’s appointment.
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