This has been quite a defining year for the Catholic Church. Since the death of Pope Francis and the election of the first American to head the denomination, change has been in the air all year. Now, even more shakeups are coming. Here are three events that could redefine what happens next in the Catholic Church.
1. Pope Leo named a successor for New York’s Archbishop.
After the resignation of Cardinal Dolan, Leo named Bishop Ronald Hicks, 58, as the next Archbishop of New York. As the Catholic News Register reported, Hicks is also from the Chicago area, where Leo originally hails from, and was raised in South Holland, Illinois. Hicks was serving as the Bishop of Joliet before his appointment to this prestigious position.
2. This change of leadership happens right as the Archdiocese of New York addressed claims regarding assault in the Catholic Church.
According to Prime Timer, the Archdiocese addressed the claims of a thousand different people who accused former staff members of sexual abuse while they were minors. The settlement totaled to $300 million, with Dolan providing an official apology on behalf of the Catholic Church, which read, “…I once again ask forgiveness for the failing of those who betrayed the trust placed in them by failing to provide for the safety of our young people.”
3. The Catholic Church is attempting to raise millions of dollars to deal with the alleged abuse cases.
As The New York Post noted, the Church plans to sell land located underneath the Lotte New York Palace Hotel for $490 million. This would cover the $300 million suit, with the additional money made used to pay off other lawsuit debts. The Church also plans to raise an extra $100 million by selling the former central archdiocese hub, which will be used for housing development.
As these developments unfold, the long-term impact on the Vatican and the broader Catholic Church remains to be seen. For now, the world is watching closely to see how these choices will ripple through the Vatican and influence the future direction of Catholicism.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
