Change in Davenport

Two interesting pieces of related and not so related information have surfaced. While they may not be as connected as they see, the timing is definately interesting.

The first is from Catholic News Service:

DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNS) -- The Diocese of Davenport is now the fourth Catholic diocese in the United States to file for bankruptcy protection because of sex abuse lawsuits it faces. (...)

"We cannot continue on our present path," Bishop William E. Franklin of Davenport said in a letter announcing the bankruptcy petition. The letter appears on the front page of the Oct. 12 issue of the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Messenger.

"To do so would mean that victims who have already made claims through their attorney would consume the remaining assets of the diocese, leaving no money left for other victims who have not yet made the decision to come forward," he said. "In justice, I want to reach out not only to those who have come forward, but also to those who will have the opportunity to do so." (...)

Read the complete article here.

Then there was this morning's announcement from the Holy See regarding Bishop Franklin.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Martin J. Amos, auxiliary of the diocese of Cleveland, U.S.A., as bishop of Davenport (area 29,632, population 744,990, Catholics 105,650, priests 121, permanent deacons 46, religious 191), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop William Edwin Franklin, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

Interesting timing.