- Cardinal Robert McElroy named Washington, D.C. archbishop following Archdiocese of Washington head Cardinal Wilton Gregory’s resignation Monday.
- McElroy is among the most progressive-leaning and outspoken voices within the U.S. Catholic Church, especially on immigration.
- Following Trump’s election, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in statement and and 35-plus U.S. Catholic leaders in additional statements have expressed support for immigrants.
- McElroy’s appointment could lead to tension with the incoming Trump administration on issues such as immigration.
A leading U.S. Catholic voice for immigrant rights and an outspoken proponent of other progressive-leaning causes will become the new archbishop in the nation’s capital as tensions are likely to rise between President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and some Catholics.
Cardinal Robert McElroy will succeed Cardinal Wilton Gregory as the archbishop of Washington, Pope Francis announced Monday after Gregory notified church leadership of his resignation and intention to retire.
McElroy’s appointment comes at a time of heightened conflict between moderate and progressives U.S. Catholics and an increasingly politicized traditionalist faction, which has deepened its alliance with Republicans and Trump. Immigration and the support for migrants by Catholic-affiliated organizations is already becoming a central issue in this dispute, especially with McElroy and other Catholic leaders expressing concern about Trump’s plans for mass deportations.
according to Religion News Service. McElroy has served as the San Diego bishop since 2015.
Early into Trump’s first term in 2017, McElroy said, “We must disrupt those who would seek to send troops into our streets to deport the undocumented,” according to National Catholic Reporter.
More recently, McElroy and California’s 11 other Catholic bishops co-signed a letter on Dec. 12 showing support for migrants. They were among 30-plus U.S. bishops signing similar statements — including in Arizona, Tennessee and Kentucky, New Mexico, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas — along with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops which issued a collective statement to show solidarity with immigrants following Trump’s election.
Politico and Religion News Service. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, isn’t a practicing Catholic but is famously part of the nation’s most well-known family of Catholic Democrats.
Burch’s organization sued the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security in February 2022 over President Joe Biden’s border policies, alleging the federal agencies were conspiring with Catholic Charities and other organizations to incentivize a surge in illegal immigration. Burch’s nomination to Vatican ambassador is significant due to his reputation as an antagonist toward the Vatican.
In contrast, McElroy is seen as a key ally of Pope Francis among U.S. Catholic leaders. As part of that, the incoming Washington archbishop has expressed a softened stance toward LGBTQ+ Catholics and support for women’s ordination as deacons.
Contributing: Reuters
