From One Midwestern Priest to Another

Well, it’s official. The Vatican has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan. I’ll confess: Over the last few years, I’ve gotten into the habit of laughing when someone tells me they have the inside scoop on Vatican plans for New York’s Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Last February, he submitted his letter of resignation, as the ordinary of a diocese does when he turns 75. The pope can choose to ignore the letter for a time, or accept it and appoint someone new. No one really expected Pope Francis to accept Dolan’s immediately. And then there were some things to take care of in Rome after Pope Francis died Easter Monday.