BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop Gregory Has Been an Inspiration through His Work The Southern Illinoisan [Illinois] December 12, 2004 It is with sadness that news was received that Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, who has served as head of the Belleville Diocese, has been re-assigned and will become Atlanta's sixth archbishop. He succeeds Archbishop John F. Donoghue, who is resigning. Pope John Paul II's appointment of Gregory to the Atlanta post was announced Thursday. The 57-year-old Gregory has become an extremely important figure in the Catholic church. Gregory served as was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for three years during the height of the clergy molestation crisis. Gregory was the first black president of the bishops conference when he was elected in November 2001. At the time, his election was seen by black Catholics as long-awaited recognition of their presence in the church. A week before his term expired as leader of the conference, Gregory said the pressure of guiding the church through the height of the sex abuse crisis "drove me to my knees" spiritually. Gregory led the bishops through nothing short of a revolution in their approach to abuse. They now have a binding policy on how to respond to allegations that includes barring offenders from church work and a national lay watchdog panel to help enforce the plan. Even so, Gregory was forced to handle warring factions: victims of priest abuse who said the policy is too weak, and priests who consider it too draconian. Gregory is to be admired for his devotion to the church and his outstanding work on the church's behalf. While many have seen Gregory on the national stage, his presence was especially felt here in Southern Illinois. Catholics and non-Catholics alike in our region admired his candor and felt themselves lifted up by his warmth. Gregory will be sorely missed. His service to the region has been greatly appreciated. But it is clear that God has a new mission for Gregory and the people of the Atlanta Diocese are blessed to have him joining their community. Gregory is a true man of faith. We have been enriched thanks to his service to our diocese.
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