USD Magazine, Fall 2002

Leading in TRO

TAPPED AS AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR THE SAN DIEGO CATHOLIC DIOCESE, SALVATORE CORDILEONE '78 FACES THE MAJOR CHALLENGE OF RESTORING FAITH IN THE MINISTRY DURING THE CHURCH'S SEXUAL ABUSE CRISIS. IT IS A TALL ORDER FOR A SAN DIEGAN ,i\THOSE ONLY DREAM WAS BECOMING A PARISH PRIEST.

Stories by Susan Herold T he phone call came just days after his plane couched down chis summer in San Diego, where he headed each year co visit his parents at his childhood home. The bishop wanted co see him, the caller said, and it couldn't wait. Monsignor Salvatore Cordileone's heart sank. He wondered how much trouble he was in. Meeting with San Diego Bishop Robert Brom was always part of his annual vacation from his duties in Rome, but there never was chis sense of urgency. When he returned home from the meeting, Cordileone's mother, Mary, knew something was bothering her son. Solemnly, Cordileone sat her down and made her swear out a "papal promise" chat she would not repeat what he was about co tell her - he had been named an auxiliary bishop for his hometown diocese, news that had to be kept secret until the church made the announcement. "I knew my whole world was going co change," Cordileone says of that July day, "and I was so nervous that I really didn't wane anyone to know. Ocher than my parents, it wasn't hard to keep it a secret." Cordileone's mother knew instinctively why her son was so reluctant. He was entering the Catholic Church's hierarchy during some of its darkest days - a sexual abuse crisis loomed over U.S . dioceses, and bishops were the target of much of the anger and criticism. "People would expect a lot from him, and he worried about not coming up to their expectations," she says. "Bue I could've cried, I was so happy. How could I keep chat news co myself? I had a son who was going co be a bishop." Six weeks later, Cordileone's one-time secret was ceremoniously celebrated in The lmmaculata before Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahoney, head of the largest diocese in the United Scates, along with 19 bishops,

dozens of priests and scores of Cordileone's former parish– ioners and relatives. Cordileone is San Diego's second assistant bishop, joining Brom and Auxi liary Bishop Gilbert Chavez in leading the diocese's 901,000 Roman Catholics. Cordileone's mother and father watched from the front pew as he donned a miter, a bishop's symbolic headpiece. On his right hand was placed a ring, designating a bishop's spousal relationship co his diocesan church. In his left, he held a shepherd's staff for guiding the Rock.

CORDILEONE WILL EXPERIENCE COURT TO USE

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