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• Dec 15, 2005 5:05 pm US/Pacific
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  Pope Appoints San Francisco's New Archbishop

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Pope Appoints San Francisco's New Archbishop

SAN FRANCISCO (Bay City News) ― Pope Benedict XVI tapped Salt Lake City Bishop George Niederauer to be the next archbishop of San Francisco Thursday.

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Niederauer, 69, fills former Archbishop William Levada's post, which has been vacant since August when Levada left for the Vatican to serve the Roman Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In a news conference at the headquarters of the archdiocese, St. Mary's Cathedral, Niederauer vowed to reach out to San Francisco's multicultural community by "getting past labels."

"I look forward to meeting and getting to know all of the various people who live and work here," Niederauer said. "I have much to learn about the Catholic Church and the community here."

As the next regional leader of the church, Niederauer, a Los Angeles native, will preside over more than 425,000 Roman Catholics living in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties.

"We are deeply grateful to our Holy Father for this appointment," said Bishop John Wester in an introductory speech today. "His compassion, competence, humor and enthusiasm are some of the many strengths that he will bring."

Not all were as pleased to welcome Levada's replacement.

"We are troubled by this choice because of Niederauer's close relationship with Levada and his membership on the U.S. bishop's sex abuse committee which has been painfully ineffective in preventing or addressing" widespread allegations of sexual abuse by priests, David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said in a statement.

Clohessy urged Niederauer to compile a comprehensive Web site listing of all credibly accused clerics in the archdiocese.

Before beginning his priesthood studies at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo in Ventura County, where he received a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1959, Niederauer went to Stanford University during his freshman year. He went on to earn a second bachelor's degree, as well as a master's and Ph.D. in English literature.

Niederauer was bishop in Salt Lake City for 10 years.

"His sharp mind, quick wit, compassionate heart and generosity are qualities we will greatly miss," Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, wrote in a prepared statement. "The bishop's ecumenical outreach and frequent presence at both civic and Catholic events leaves a significant impact on Utah."

Niederauer, who has voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage, said he believes marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want to serve every member of the church," he said. "I want to meet everyone who wants to meet me. There is nobody off my list and certainly no labels."

(Bay City News)