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	Malooly New Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bishop Associated Press, carried in Baltimore Sun September 9, 2008 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-bishop0909,0,4378145.story Wilmington, Del. - The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington installed the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly as its ninth bishop Monday, and the new leader used the occasion to apologize to victims of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of priests. Malooly made the remarks in a homily he delivered to an overflow crowd of more than 800 people who packed St. Elizabeth's Church in Wilmington to greet him. The diocese oversees 58 parishes in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. "Sadly, the innocence of too many of our diocese's children was stolen by the very individuals whose duty it was to protect and safeguard it," he said. He vowed to continue the work begun by his predecessor, the Most Rev. Michael Saltarelli, to try to help bring healing to the victims and their families, and to restore the trust that was broken "when these sins, -- no these crimes -- were committed." Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year chose Malooly, a Baltimore native, to succeed Saltarelli, who had reached the church retirement age of 75. Malooly most recently served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and western vicar for 38 parishes in Maryland. "I am delighted to be here. I am grateful to our Holy Father for this assignment," Malooly said. He was escorted to the bishop's chair by the Pope's apostolic nuncio to the United States, the Most Rev. Pietro Sambi, and Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, metropolitan of the province of Baltimore. He also urged people to return to the Catholicism. "I want to personally ask you to consider a return to the Church, your Church, and I promise you today, before your sisters and brothers in faith, that we will never again allow the innocence of one more child to be taken away," Malooly said. In a reference to the many lawsuits resulting from the church sex abuse scandal, Malooly warned that the faith and unity of the diocese will be tested as the legal process plays out, but said he hopes the Church will emerge "purified and renewed." Saying he has no "predisposed plan" for what he will do as bishop, Malooly indicated that he will work in a cooperative spirit with members of his flock. "I will lead, but I want to walk with you, and I want you to walk with me," he said. While his tone was more folksy than preachy, Malooly did assert that he will continue to stress the Church's belief in the sanctity of human life, "from conception to natural death." On a lighter note, he compared his move from Baltimore to Delaware with that of former University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, who left Newark to join the Baltimore Ravens and led his team to a victory Sunday in his NFL regular season debut. Malooly suggested that Flacco's auspicious start could bode well for his own prospects. "I'm glad that Joe Flacco had a good game Sunday," he said. "I would hate to think the press would write that I should be replaced before next Sunday's Masses."
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