After Cardinal Mahony: What will change?

The pope has named Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, Texas, to take over the Los Angeles archdiocese when Cardinal Roger Mahony retires. Gomez could thus become the highest-ranking Latino in the American Catholic hierarchy and possibly the first U.S. Latino cardinal.

Gomez, 58, is an archbishop of Opus Dei, the conservative movement which enjoys favor at the Vatican. As head of the Los Angeles diocese Gomez would inherit the fallout from the abuse scandal that came to light during Mahony's tenure.

What's your reaction to the likely succession of Mahony by Gomez? How will having a Latino at the head of the Los Angeles diocese change the church or your role in it? What difference does it make that Gomez came up in the Opus Dei group?

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