Q&a: Syracuse’s New Bishop Opens up about Clergy Abuse, Favorite Getaways, Doubts

By Julie McMahon
Post Standard
June 7, 2019

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/06/qa-syracuses-new-bishop-opens-up-about-clergy-abuse-favorite-getaways-doubts.html

Syracuse’s next Roman Catholic bishop will take over leadership of an institution during perhaps its most difficult period.

Father Douglas Lucia, 56, will step into the highest post in the Syracuse diocese later this year, amid church closings and heightened international attention on the Catholic church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Lucia takes the reins from Bishop Robert Cunningham, who has served for 10 years as Syracuse’s religious leader.

Lucia brings to his role a background in canon law and experience working with new priests and managing his own parishes as a pastor in the Ogdensburg diocese.

Though he was called to serve unexpectedly -- bishops are selected by the Pope in a secretive process -- Lucia said he believes he can help the church and its followers through this difficult time.

A twin brother and avid Red Sox fan, Lucia shared personal stories and answered questions about his role in the church during a wide-ranging interview with syracuse.com. Lucia took questions over the phone from his current post in Ogdensburg, as he prepares for the transition to his new role in August.

The interview is lightly edited for length and clarity.

***

You said you wished someone had a camera to capture the look on your face when you received the news that you’d been selected as bishop, but can you bring us to that moment: Where were you when you got the call? What time of day was it?

When I got the call on Memorial Day, I had two cemetery masses. I realized I had forgotten my cell phone, so it was probably about quarter to 11 when I got back into the house. That’s when I saw the calls from Washington. I said, “oh this is interesting." I texted our bishop asking did he know what this was about. All he texted me back was: Make the call.

Had you ever spoken with Archbishop Christophe Pierre before? You both speak a lot of languages – in what language did he deliver the news?

I had met him once before at a dedication ceremony. We spoke in English. I don’t think I could have talked in any of the other languages.

How do you keep up your French, Italian and Spanish living in Upstate New York anyway?

The French I keep up because I have a good friend who is a French teacher, so we often converse. My Italian I keep up, even here in the office, I do a lot of the translating of Italian from the Vatican websites. Usually the most current is the Italian website. I’m translating or doing research for the bishop, one of my jobs over the last 20 years. Spanish is not as easy for me. I celebrate Mass in the prison at least once a month, so I do understand Spanish, but it’s probably, out of the three languages, the one I’m weakest in.

Father Douglas Lucia performs the Liturgy of the Eucharist at a wedding in this undated photograph provided by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. Photo credit: Jesse Sovie | North Country Catholic

Father Douglas Lucia performs the Liturgy of the Eucharist at a wedding in this undated photograph provided by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. Photo credit: Jesse Sovie | North Country Catholic

Tell me more about what you do in Ogdensburg.

A day in my life has usually been morning Mass in the parish, then come into the chancery office for a good part of the day. I’m judicial vicar so a lot of my work has been in the area of marriage cases and other legal matters for the church. Also, as vocation director and director of seminarians, I’d spend time on the road as well. There’s always something – my secretary always says I’m doing one thing and someone comes to see me about something else. I’d pretty much handle parish business in the evening hours and try to get some exercise.

How was your day in Syracuse on Tuesday? You had a busy schedule.

I had a great time. I didn’t know how nervous I would be, and I was surprised how relaxed I was! I went over to the Catholic Charities men’s shelter and I was really pleased to see that. I was really interested. I think Catholic Charities is an important work of the diocese and I really wanted to see firsthand what Catholic Charities does in Syracuse. I was glad to have a tour of the men’s center and learn of those folks’ socioeconomic situation. Then I wanted to go to a parish to have a chance to see a couple churches and some of the neighborhoods.

At the press conference, you talked a little about your twin brother and mentioned he was retired. What did he do for a living? Are you very similar?

He’s retired from the Department of Corrections, where he worked over 30 years. Growing up as twins, I have to tell you we were so identical people really could not tell us apart. Someone could call me David and it would not faze me. I got so used to being called David, even as an adult. We were close. When we went to kindergarten, the school district insisted we would be separated. So beginning in kindergarten, we really had our own separate lives. Many people say as far as looks, mannerisms, even speech patterns we’re the same. But as far as personality, they say we each have our own.

Father Douglas Lucia (left), Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, at his ordination at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg in 1989. (Photo provided by the Diocese of Ogdensburg.)

What other careers did you consider before entering the seminary?

When I was a kid I always really wanted to be a police officer. I really thought about being a lawyer. I was really interested in being a JAG (U.S. Military Judge Advocate General). When it came to either studying for the priesthood or going to law school, that’s what the tug-of-war for me was all about. So a few years after I was ordained, when I walked in one evening to talk with Bishop Paul Loverde, our bishop at the time, he asked if I would go back to school. He talked about whether I would teach theology, but said, I wonder if you would go to get your canon law degree. I start laughing because before I ever became a priest I really wanted to become a lawyer.

What is a canon lawyer, in lay man’s terms?

Basically it’s the church version of a civil lawyer. It’s really just like civil law, there is church law. The canon lawyer deals with the church’s legal code just like a civil lawyer deals with the code of the country they’re in.

Bishop-elect Douglas John Lucia and outgoing Bishop Robert Cunningham prepare to give communion to parishioners at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Syracuse, hours after Lucia's appointment was announced by Pope Francis. Julie McMahon

So for my next question, I have some good news and some bad. The good news is that lots of people have been asking me if you’re the youngest Syracuse bishop; the bad news is you’re not.

I wondered too. I’m not?

You’re actually the fifth youngest bishop [of 11]. Syracuse has had a wide range. Do you think your age – or your youthfulness, at least – is an attribute or a challenge?

I consider it an attribute. I think in a lot of ways it’s good for the young people, but even good for adults to see a person my age really interested in religion, interested in serving people. I think it’s great to witness in that sense. I think it’s an asset that I like sports, still like to play sports. I think it’s good for young people to see he’s not always in church, on his knees.

Young people, well, everyone today lives in a busy, chaotic world – but we all seek connection and purpose. What role does the Catholic church play in that in this day-and-age?

I think the answer is a sense of family. I think a lot of people today are looking for family ties, for connection. I think that’s something the church can help with. The church can help people to see they don’t walk this way alone. I think in today’s society, loneliness is one of the great challenges for many people. They feel they’re all alone, that no one is there for them. With phones, everything’s automated. We’ve heard the comment, could I get a real person, a real voice. That’s what I see the church as, that real voice, that real person, where people don’t feel that they’re a number but that they’re somebody.

The Catholic church is often described as going through a challenging time right now, from churches closing to the clergy abuse scandal. Do you agree with that characterization, and what’s your role as bishop during this period?

There’s no doubt, I do see this as a difficult time – especially the clergy abuse scandal has tarnished the church’s reputation and caused great scandal and harm to the faithful. People have, as I said yesterday, I think first of the victims. Their lives have been destroyed. My first concern is them. From that also comes collateral damage, those who put their trust in the church. To see that trust taken away because of the way people have been treated and abused. I think the best way I can describe it is, in my own parishes, we discussed how life is holy ground. The simple reason why we took that theme is how do we respect ourselves and respect and care for others.

You shared a personal connection to clergy abuse, of having a former pastor of yours dismissed because of a charge. Was that a priest you knew growing up? Can you share what that experience was like for you?

He had been the parish priest for 10 years. I was still a lay person when that happened. I have to admit it made me wonder whether I wanted to be a priest. I really struggled, I’ve got to be honest with you. Yet what I realized is: How can I make a difference? How can I help change things? One of the ways I really wanted to change things is for people to always know they are valued and respected.

As a bishop, what do you want to do for victims and to help victims? Is the financial compensation enough?

First of all, I just want anyone who is a victim to feel that they can come to me, talk to me, and I’m not going to disregard what they say to me. I really want to hear them. In hearing them, I know it’s not anything magical, but if there is any way that I can help them in their healing process, that’s what I want to do. Financial help is part of it, and I recognize that, but I also know sometimes it’s just someone who is willing to, shall I say, take a person at their word and not just sweep everything under the carpet.

It’s become more common among dioceses for bishops to release the lists of priests with allegations against them, as happened in both Syracuse and Ogdensburg. Do you have an opinion on releasing the names?

I personally think that people have a right to know. There’s a reason why we have the sex offender registry. I totally understand that people want to protect their children, and we can’t cover that up.

Who do you look to as role models, in both matters of the church and in life?

First of all, Pope Francis. One of my great heroes is Nelson Mandela, someone who was imprisoned and came out seeking reconciliation.

Do you have a favorite scripture?

Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd.” That particular passage.

You mentioned you love sports and the outdoors, and that you’d be bringing your kayak to Syracuse. Where’s your favorite place to kayak?

Lower Saranac Lake up in the Adirondacks. I love kayaking the lakes up there.

Do you have a favorite hike?

The Adirondack high peaks. I also like to hike Acadia over in Maine.

How did you become a Boston Red Sox fan, living in New York?

I grew up so close to New England, and in some ways felt like a New Englander living right there in the Champlain Valley. I always followed Boston.

Is there anything more you want the people of the Syracuse diocese to know about you, any message you have for them?

I want to let them know how excited I am to come there, to be with them, and serve them. I really feel privileged that I’ve been asked to come and walk the journey with them.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992