Debate topic: The future of the Michigan episcopate

This is a busy week for me, so posting will be less frequent. On the upside, however, I'll be trying to focus on topics and questions that provoke debate and welcome contributions, like this one, concerning the future of the Michigan episcopate.

Rocco reports today that, after a month of near-silence, several rumors broke out that Pope Benedict was about to nominate a new Archbishop for Detroit. Those rumors just as quickly went bust. But Rocco concludes, "That's not to say an appointment isn't closer than it had been... just don't expect anything immediately." Yeah, I've been hearing those kinds of things for years.

Rocco lists these bishops as having been mentioned as possible successors to Maida at one point or another:

• Archbishop John Myers of Newark
• Bp. Robert Carlson of Saginaw
• Bp. Terry Steib of Memphis
• Bp. Thomas Wenski of Orlando
• Bp. John Nienstedt of New Ulm
• Msgr. Robert Sable of Detroit

The current favorite in Rocco's opinion? Bp. Allen Vigneron of Oakland, "himself a former Detroit auxiliary and rector of its Sacred Heart Major Seminary." Vigneron is well-regarded by Cardinals Maida and Szoka.

Here's the roundup for Michigan dioceses, and the bishops who are currently serving them:

• Archdiocese of Detroit, under Cdl. Maida, is 2.73 years past the retirement age limit.
• In second place, the Diocese of Lansing, Bp. Mengeling is 2.13 years past retirement.
• In third place, the Diocese of Kalamazoo, where Bp. Murray is 0.43 years past 75 (since July).
• Bp. Cooney, of the Diocese of Gaylord, will reach retirement in 1.75 years.
• Bp. Hurley, of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, will reach retirement in 4.47 years.
• Bp. Carlson of the Diocese of Saginaw, meanwhile, is almost 11.55 years away.
• And finally, Bp. Sample, the second-youngest bishop in the U.S., has 27.81 years to go.

In other words, in the next five years, Michigan could see 5 out of its 7 dioceses change hands.

Back in 1995, my father Ed Peters published an article in Homiletic & Pastoral Review entitled "The Coming Bishop Crunch", available online here. In it, he says:

"The question I want to consider now is simple: during just the three years from 2005 to 2007, where will we find 45 men "outstanding for their solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and other virtues and talents, possessing advanced degrees or true expertise in scripture, theology, canon law..." (1983 CIC 378) to fill those episcopal slots? If only for mathematical reasons, we can't count on the present pool of bishops to cover the bases." [Read on.]

Looking to the particular situation in Michigan, many folks expect (with some good reason) that one of the four currently-serving Detroit auxiliaries will be tapped to take over a Michigan diocese eventually:

• Earl Alfred Boyea, Jr - 56, native of Pontiac, MI. He would be a good candidate, I think.
• Daniel Ernest Flores - The youngest U.S. Bishop (I believe) at 46. Ordained a priest for Corpus Christi, TX. Gauranteed, in my humble opinion, his own diocese eventually, but I doubt it will be in Michigan.
• John Michael Quinn - Almost 62, born in Detroit. I've heard him proposed for Lansing.
• Francis Ronald Reiss - 67, also born in Detroit. I've never heard much about him.

Of the above, I'd say Bp. Quinn taking over the Diocese of Lansing from Bp. Mengeling has the highest probability of happening. Second to that would be Boyea taking over either Lansing or *maybe* Kalamazoo. Flores is performing a critical service among the spanish-speaking communitees in Detroit, and I don't think there is anywhere (in Michigan) he could be more fruitfully employed. I'd be surprised to see Reiss go anywhere.

Allright, that's my $0.02, the comments are open.... have at it.

update: Publius brings up a line of speculation that slipped my mind:

"Boyea has been rumored to take over Fort Wayne-South Bend when the over-75 Bishop D'Arcy retires...Of course thats just a rumor. It does make some sense though, FW-SB has a history of recieving auxiliary Bishop's from elsewhere and Boyea has an academic background which would help him deal with Notre Dame. Regardless, Fort Wayne-South Bend is a see not to be overlooked namely because of Notre Dame."

To which I would add that Boyea served as the academic dean of Sacred Heart Major Seminary (where most Michigan seminarians receive formation ) and he still maintains a presence there.

update 2: An on-the-ground source adds that Boyea also served as rector of the Josiphinum in Columbus (thanks to J.D. Aquila in the combox as well), and used to write the Q. & A. for the Michigan Catholic.