Almost all U.S. bishops were named by Pope John Paul II

Published: 2003-10-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After 25 years, more than 95 percent of the active U.S. bishops owe their current appointments to Pope John Paul II. Of the 279 active members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as of Oct. 16, the 25th anniversary of the pope's election, only 12, or 4.3 percent, were named to their current posts by Pope Paul VI. An additional 19, or 6.8 percent, were originally named bishops by Pope Paul but were promoted or transferred by Pope John Paul. The remaining 248 active U.S. bishops -- 88.9 percent -- owe every episcopal appointment or promotion they have had to Pope John Paul. The last still-active U.S. bishop named by Pope Paul was Bishop Philip F. Straling, who is 70. Pope Paul named him first bishop of San Bernardino, Calif., July 18, 1978. Pope John Paul made him bishop of Reno, Nev., in 1995. The first one named by Pope John Paul is Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Morneau of Green Bay, Wis. Now 65, Bishop Morneau received his appointment Dec. 19, 1978, about two months after Pope John Paul was elected.

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