Vermont Welcomes New Bishop

By Alex Rose
MyChamplainValley
January 29, 2015

http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/d/story/vermont-welcomes-new-bishop/20607/DzUFrE0hrkuTxYGee5SNKQ

[with video]

Burlington, Vt.- "It is with great joy that we welcome you, Bishop Coyne, to the Diocese of Burlington," were the words Bishop Christopher Coyne heard after symbolically knocking three times on the door of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

Catholics, non-religious and members of the community packed into the cathedral to welcome the new type of religious leader.

"He's a joyful presence," said Diocese member Betty Wyhownanek.

"I've heard even from my non-catholic friends how they're watching him on the blog and stuff and he's just this wonderful personality," said Burlington Deacon Tim Gibbo.

Described as a well-built ship without a captain, the Burlington Diocese has been without a bishop for the past year.

"I think the most important for me for the first year is to be someone who listens and consults," Bishop Coyne said.

Bishop Coyne also hopes to visit every single parish in the Green Mountain State.

"I want to be a good citizen of the state of Vermont," Bishop Coyne said. "I'm a pastor. I'm not a politician, I'm not a policy maker and I want to be a person of faith who's a good neighbor."

Other members of the clergy know Vermont has a reputation when it comes to faith.

"Vermont is one of the least 'churched' or religious states in the union at least according to some surveys," said Father Rick Danielson at Underhill Center. "Bishop Coyne certainly seems to have a heart for that and a real social media presence. He's reaching out to people."

With over 10-thousand followers on twitter, Bishop Coyne hopes to engage a larger audience, to embrace people of all faiths.

"People of good will, whether they're people of good faith or not are trying to do the right thing for the right reasons and I want to be part of that," Bishop Coyne said.

But leading Vermont's catholic clergy comes with history. A national group, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, cites Vermont has 15 public accounts of accused, sued, and in one case convicted members of the state's clergy for varying accounts of sexual abuse.

Bishop Coyne says his reach doesn't have to be digital for those who need it most.

"As far as the present victims of the past abuse by priests, all I can say is, I'm willing to sit down, I'm willing to listen to you, I'm willing to hear what you have to say to me," Bishop Coyne said. "I was not someone who was a perpetrator, but I want to be someone who perhaps can help them gain a little piece of mind and maybe a little restoration of the faith that they lost."

Bishop Coyne's official installation will be Thursday at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Burlington. About 24 bishops from around the country are expected to attend.