Bishop Gregory named to Atlanta; shrine rector to be W.Va. bishop

Published: 2004-12-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., has been named by Pope John Paul II to head the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He will replace Archbishop John F. Donoghue, whose retirement was accepted by the pope Dec. 9. The retirement of Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., also was announced. His successor will be Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield, 61, a Philadelphia priest who currently serves as rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States, made the announcements in Washington. Archbishop Gregory, 57, completed a three-year term as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November. Archbishop Donoghue, 76, has headed the Atlanta Archdiocese since 1993. Bishop Schmitt, also 76, has been bishop of Wheeling-Charleston since 1989. Archbishop Gregory was president of the USCCB during a turbulent time for the U.S. church, as the bishops dealt with the clergy sexual abuse crisis.

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