Wednesday, June 18, 2003

See. They can move when they have to.

Vatican appoints Archbishop of Santa Fe Apostolic Administrator of Phoenix.

Archbishop Michael Sheehan, credited with righting New Mexico's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese after a devastating priest sex abuse scandal a decade ago, is being asked to stabilize another trouble spot.The Vatican has appointed Sheehan, head of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, as apostolic administrator of the troubled Diocese of Phoenix.The archdiocese made the announcement early today after Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas O'Brien of Phoenix, who has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident.Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, informed Sheehan of the appointment during a telephone call Tuesday. As apostolic administrator, Sheehan, 63, has been granted full authority over the Phoenix Diocese until the Vatican appoints a new bishop.