PITTSBURGH - Mayor Ravenstahl announced this morning at his weekly news conference that he has appointed former O’Connor administration Chief of Staff Dennis Regan as the twelfth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, succeeding Donald Wuerl, who was appointed Archbishop of Washington, D.C.Ravenstahl said area Catholics could no longer wait for the Vatican to name a successor to Bishop Donald Wuerl, who was installed as Archbishop of Washington D.C. in June.
City council member Twanda Carlisle said she was "deeply disappointed" that a white male was elevated to Bishop because it shows "an insensitivity to diversity." She called on the Mayor to abide by the recommendation of her paid consultant, her mother's boyfriend, who recommended that Carlisle be named Bishop.
Diocesan spokesman Father Ron Lengwin said the Mayor’s decision is not recognized by the Church. Father Lengwin also expressed concern about Regan’s qualifications. "In the first place," said Lengwin, "he’s not a priest. I don't know if he's Catholic, and that whole live-in girlfriend business is also a problem." When told of Lengwin’s reaction, the Mayor scoffed. "Do you think I worry about things like qualifications when I’m trying to find Dennis Regan a job?"
Bishop Regan is scheduled to make a televised address on EWTN later today. The new Bishop is expected to announce the dismissal of Father Lengwin as diocesan spokesman.
Diocesan officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, believe Regan will use the speech to name his live-in girlfriend, City of Pittsburgh senior secretary Margaret Cassidy, as Lengwin’s successor.
