BOSTON — In a sign of how much the Catholic sex abuse scandal has energized parishioners in the pews, members of a Boston-based reform group have asked the Vatican to conduct a poll on what qualities they want in the next archbishop of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia chapter of Voice of the Faithful recently wrote to the pope’s representative in Washington to ask to provide input on the successor to Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who is widely expected to retire when he turns 80 in June.
“While it is understood that the Holy Father alone will select our new archbishop, all baptized Roman Catholics in this area have essential needs that should be considered in recommending candidates to serve them in the office of archbishop,” the group wrote to Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the papal nuncio.
The letter asks the Vatican to solicit suggestions by e-mail from local pastors and parishes, and proposes that “properly designed polling could provide valuable insight” from the laity.
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