No Greater Love by William Kienzle Read Free Book Online

my health problems?”
    â€œYou would not be the first bishop in a delicate state of health.”
    â€œB … but how could this happen?” As the words left his lips, McNiff realized they were the words spoken by Mary when the angel announced her divine maternity. To McNiff, they somehow seemed just as appropriate now. “A bishop!” he mused. “I can’t imagine myself a bishop. I never in my life imagined myself a bishop.”
    â€œYes.” Boyle allowed time for the concept to sink in.
    It had been no surprise when Mark Boyle began to climb the ecclesial ladder. A native of Cleveland, he spent little time in parish work—the service for which he had been trained. Always obedient to his bishop, Boyle filled one administrative post after another … including, oddly, that of rector of the local seminary.
    Then, as would be expected, he was named an auxiliary bishop in Cleveland. Then Bishop of Pittsburgh, then Archbishop of Detroit. Finally, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Edward Mooney, he became a Cardinal.
    All as if it were foreordained.
    Not so with Patrick McNiff.
    While it was true that he had performed some special jobs on the parochial level, no one, including himself, could ever have suspected that he would be named even a monsignor, let alone a bishop.
    â€œIs this tentative?” McNiff asked. “I want to be clear about this whole thing. You are offering me the position of rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary.”
    Boyle nodded.
    â€œI am free to accept or refuse your offer.”
    Again Boyle nodded.
    â€œIf I accept, I can forget about retiring in a couple of years.”
    Boyle shrugged slightly, but nodded … as if to say this was true—unfortunately true, but true nonetheless.
    â€œThis appointment,” McNiff rattled on, “doesn’t have to be ratified by anyone … I mean, it doesn’t have to be cleared through Rome?”
    â€œNo. Not your appointment as rector. But we will have to get the approval of our Holy Father to ordain you a bishop.”
    â€œThat was my final question. And I guess there is no guarantee that the Holy Father will consent. I mean, excuse me, Eminence, but scuttlebutt has it that your track record is not all that certain when it comes to naming auxiliaries. I mean, rumor has it that you generally get an auxiliary when you want one—and not many Ordinaries can say that—but—and I know this is hearsay—you don’t always get the man you ask for.
    â€œWouldn’t this be a concern if you asked for my appointment—especially to a job as sensitive as that of seminary rector?”
    Boyle fingered the chain of his pectoral cross. “That, Father, is where your rather conservative reputation comes into play. I feel confident my request will be granted, not only to have a bishop as rector of the seminary for the first time in our local history but also that that bishop be you.”
    Then it was true! At least it seemed true. Boyle had not been getting the priests he’d been requesting. The Vatican must be extremely cautious, perhaps even fearful, in the face of Boyle’s reputed liberal bent. Boyle had just admitted that the Vatican screened his nominees, substituting conservatives for supposed liberal candidates. The Roman hierarchy must feel exceptionally defensive to treat a Cardinal like this.
    Maybe the entire scuttlebutt is true, starting with the Pope’s refusal to accept Boyle’s resignation.
    Mark Boyle was at least perceived to be that rare creature, a liberal Cardinal. The Pope, as well as his administration, was staunchly conservative. With that as a premise, it would be logical to assume that when the liberal Cardinal submitted his resignation, the conservative Pope would accept it with pleasure.
    Yet over and over again, the Pope had rejected the resignation.
    Instead, the Vatican Curia, doubtless at the Pope’s direction,