Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

TORKELSON: Denver welcomes new bishop

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 2, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  
After celebrating his first Mass in Denver, the archdiocese's new auxiliary bishop, James Conley, left, shares a laugh Sunday with a longtime friend, the Rev. Innocent Onyewuenyi, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Photo by Photos By Javier Manzano / The Rocky

After celebrating his first Mass in Denver, the archdiocese's new auxiliary bishop, James Conley, left, shares a laugh Sunday with a longtime friend, the Rev. Innocent Onyewuenyi, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

On Sunday, Al Coriz, left, and others pray at Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as new auxiliary Bishop James Conley celebrated his first Mass in the Archdiocese of Denver. Conley, who was ordained over the weekend, will assist Archbishop Charles Chaput.

On Sunday, Al Coriz, left, and others pray at Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as new auxiliary Bishop James Conley celebrated his first Mass in the Archdiocese of Denver. Conley, who was ordained over the weekend, will assist Archbishop Charles Chaput.

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

Sunday's Mass processional was about to launch. At the back of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a cluster of clergy - including Denver's brand-new auxiliary bishop - waited for a cue, looking solemn and prayerful.

Next came a disembodied voice announcing that the Mass was being celebrated by "His Excellency, Bishop James Conley."

At that, a wry grin swept the 53-year- old Conley's face, and he turned to whisper something which, from a few pews away, looked an awful lot like, "Well, that's gonna take some getting used to."

Excellency, teacher of the faith, regular guy - all fit the profile of the archdiocese's newest personality, ordained this weekend. He's the new "No. 2" to Archbishop Charles Chaput, who's gone solo since Bishop Jose Gomez left in 2005 to become San Antonio's archbishop.

OK, get your scorecard. Or travel book. Conley is a Presbyterian convert from Kansas who once lived in Arvada, was based in Rome and has friends from everywhere.

On Saturday night he helped shut down a LoDo tavern with a crowd of 20-somethings he came to know as their Rome-based university chaplain.

"We were just hanging out last night," said Colleen Tierney, who with husband Gene, graduated from the University of Dallas, a Texas-based Catholic university that sends students to Rome for study.

"The kids love him madly," said Kathy Fisher, a Denver mom. "They all pitched in and bought him a ticket from Rome to their (Texas) graduation - that's how much they love him."

The Rev. Aloysius Felder, Conley's spiritual director from Austria, filled in more: "He is able - how do you say it in English? - to be informal without being . . . "

A backslapper? That's it, Felder said. He's a friend, but never loses his dignity. At Sunday's reception, Conley could joke about his golf game ("I have to tell the truth?" he deadpanned, when asked his handicap. "Say 18 - no, better make it 20.") The next second he was blessing a family that dropped to their knees before him.

His sermon was serious, based on Sunday's scripture passage that "not all who say 'Lord,' Lord" are always following God.

In a seething political year, Conley took brief but unmistakable aim at high-profile Catholics who say "Lord" but dissent from church teachings, "It's troubling when public figures in any field take positions contrary to the Catholic faith," Conley said, "when so many honest Catholics are sincerely trying to live up to their faith."

The reception reflected so many deep friendships from so many places, it gave new meaning to the words "global warming."

"He's a great example of a strong Catholic who can also enjoy being around people," said Brian Burch, a pal from Phoenix. "There's a simplicity about him that's attractive."

torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055

Comments

  • June 2, 2008

    7:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    veritas4ever writes:

    The former Presbyterian Conley should feel quite at home since there really is no difference between his Protestant roots and what he has embraced. So Conley has it in with the college set. Good, get them to study, really study the Catholic Faith and let Conley do so as well.

    If all the so-called experts out there really studied the Catholic Faith as Conley claims he did, they'd all realize that it is the church that governs today from Rome that is responsible for the total lack of good fruits (see St. Matthew 7: 15-20). Therefore, said church CANNOT possibly be the Catholic Church built upon St. Peter the Rock and upheld throughout history through the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. It was the abominable Second Vatican Council that served as “Augsburg's Doors” for those who abandoned the infrangible truths and the perpetual propitiatory Sacrifice of the Mass for a Masonic mishmash that has gone further than Luther, Calvin or Stalin ever hoped.

    History will reveal that we’ve arrived at the Great Apostasy foretold in Scripture. Check out 2 Thessalonians 2 and see what St. Paul says about "the operation of error" and how God will allow those who should know better to believe the "LIE." While you’re at it, read 2 Timothy 4: 3-4.

    Remember, it's all about facts. The heresies and apostasy of the conciliar church of Vatican II are well documented at www.dailycatholic.org/credo.htm and www.traditio.com and www.christorchaos.com. Modern Rome and its Vatican II facade is a house of cards and when the people realize the emperor isn't wearing any clothes, maybe then they'll turn back to the truths and traditions that produced good fruit for nearly two millennia. "By their fruits you shall know them."

    The syllogism holds true: what was right before Vatican II is still right today and Catholic in every way even if only a few still observe Catholic truth. What followed and was spawned by Vatican II with the heresies of modernism, ecumenism, humanism, Hegelianism, universal salvation, and, yes, Americanism, is wrong and therefore cannot be with Christ but against Him.

    That, dear friends, is the real crux of the issue that no one is willing to confront and I would hope and pray that the RMN will not edit or delete this for I provide fact and sources to bear this out with no malice toward anyone but the devil. I offer intensified prayer for those flailing in the darkness of doubt and deceit sowed by the church of Vatican II, the very church Chaput, Conley and Ratzinger claim to represent.

    Wake up, Denverites, the greatest Revolution in history has happened right under your eyes and you had no clue. Neither have the vast, vast majority of 'Catholics' the world over. Ever hear the story of the boiled frog? That's it in a nutshell.

    Remember well Christ’s Own words in St. Luke 18: 8, "But yet, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find, think you, faith on earth?"