News Release: Archbishop-elect Vigneron to Succeed Cardinal Maida as Chairman of Michigan Catholic Conference

(LANSING)—The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland and former auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, will soon become the fourth chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors following an announcement from the Vatican today that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, and has appointed Archbishop-elect Vigneron as his successor. According to the by-laws of the Conference, the Archbishop of Detroit perpetually serves as chairman of the organization’s board.

“It is with open arms and prayerful greetings that we welcome Archbishop-elect Vigneron to the Michigan Catholic Conference,” said Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., Michigan Catholic Conference President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is a jubilant transitional period for the Conference and I can think of no better person than Archbishop-elect Vigneron to lead the organization in its mission to serve and to develop and promote sound public policy for the State of Michigan.”

Said Sister Monica of Cardinal Maida: “For nearly two decades Cardinal Maida has shepherded the Michigan Church’s public policy voice with love for all human life by providing sterling leadership, insightful guidance and providential wisdom on many critically important issues of the day. He leaves a legacy of kindness and strong public policy advocacy for the disenfranchised, the voiceless and the unborn populations of our state.”

Cardinal Maida spent nearly nineteen years as chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors, taking strong positions on public policy matters related to human life, social justice, education and many others that sought to enhance the common good and moral fiber of the State of Michigan. Cardinal Maida’s leadership and guidance has also been a powerful presence at the ballot box as he brought to the public square the Catholic perspective on assisted suicide in 1998, school vouchers in 2000, constitutional protection of marriage in 2004, affirmative action in 2006, and stem cell research in 2008.

Following the Mass of Installation at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on January 28, Archbishop-elect Vigneron will become the fourth chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors, serving in the lineage of John Cardinal Dearden (1963–1980), Edmund Cardinal Szoka (1981–1990) and Adam Cardinal Maida (1990–2009).

Editor’s Note: An interactive web page that includes streaming video, photographs, and a detailed timeline of significant events and policy issues that the Michigan Catholic Conference board of directors experienced under His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida is online at www.micatholic.org

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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