New archbishop and bishop

After being sed vacante for just about a week longer than a year, my "home" diocese, the Archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa has a new archbishop, William Slattery O.F.M.

Until now Archbishop elect Slattery has been the bishop of Kokstad, and the bio below comes from the website of that diocese.

Bishop William Slattery OFM was born in Tipperary , Ireland, 6 Sept 1943. He Studied secondary school with the Franciscans and then joined that Order in 1962 and made final vows in 1966. Studied for a B.A. at the National University of Ireland in Galway. Studied theology and got licence in S Th in Rome 1970. Came to South Africa in 1971. He worked in Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Boipatong in the Vaal Triangle of Johanessburg diocese.

Appointed novice master of the Franciscans and parish priest Besters 1975-1983, in the diocese of Dundee. Set up formation program in Malawi. Superior of the Franciscans in the Transvaal and then appointed by the Bishops' Conference as Rector of St John Vianney Seminary 1984-1991. General visitator of the Franciscans in East Africa. Postulant Master and parish priest in Amatikhulu\Gingindlovu in the diocese of Eshowe.

Returned to Besters 1993 and appointed Bishop of Kokstad Nov 1993, consecrated bishop Feb 19, 1994. On the Board of the SACBC 1997-2006 as Chair of the department of Seminaries and now 2006-2009 Head of Department of Evangelisation. Have published religious and spiritual books in Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Sepedi.

The Holy Father has also announced a new bishop for the Diocese of Kimberley, our old parish priest, Mgr Abel Gabuza, who has served as the Apostolic Administrator for Pretoria for the last year.

What's going on in Pretoria?

The Archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa is where I was baptised (Sacred Heart Cathedral) and where I spent the first 30 odd years of my life. The Archdiocese was established in 1948 and for it's first 60 years, until 2008, only had two bishops, + John Colburn Garner and + George Daniel.

Archbishop Daniel retired in November 2008 and was replaced by + Paul Khumalo CMM. I see now, although the SACBC website still doesn't have the news, that + Khumalo has resigned. Why? That's a tenure of only 13 months! Sounds strange to me.

The Apostlic Administrator is my one time parish priest Mgr Abel Gabuza. His first act was to cause scandal to the church in circumstances that are almost a repeat of the Ted Kennedy fiasco. South African Catholic reports that the pro-death abortionist politician Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (who denied anti-retroviral drugs to millions with HIV) was granted a funeral in Sacred Heart Cathedral by Mgr Gabuza. Moreover I understand there was an oration during the funeral.

Sadly, nothing about this surprises me.