MINNESOTA
Canonical Consultation

11/17/2015

Jennifer Haselberger

There has been much speculation in recent weeks regarding the visit to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis by Msgr. Michael Morgan, a member of the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States. If the Catholic Spirit is to be believed (and I find that it rarely is) Msgr. Morgan’s visit was intended to allow him to observe some of the ‘listening sessions’ held throughout the Archdiocese which are supposedly intended to give the faithful a role in the selection of the new Archbishop.

Interestingly, according to the Spirit, Catholics who attended the listening sessions were asked to comment on the ‘strengths and challenges’ of the Archdiocese, as well as the ‘characteristics desired’ in the new Archbishop.

As someone who was frequently involved in the selection process of bishops (despite much inaccurate commentary on how lay people have not been…