OK, Sal, here you go!
You may wish you hadn’t asked, because I’m writing of Milwaukee, Weakland, and Dolan.
I criticized the former Archbishop of Milwaukee in a comment below and was told that I should not dredge up what had been dredged before and that I get my facts straight. I was not callously criticizing; I simply wished to express my support of Archbishop Dolan, who, by all that I can see, is infinitely more suited to his current position than was his predecessor.
The age of the male person was not the issue. That the archbishop wrote (or attempted to write; it makes no difference) him a check out of diocesan funds was. He (Weakland) further showed his stripes by saying that he had given so much of his money to the diocese over the years that it was acceptable for the diocese to pay the male person. That is sophomoric reasoning at its best.
I am not judging the state of Archbishop Weakland’s soul. I am saying that his actions are inconsistant with those of a man of faith who happens to be a shepherd of souls. What the archbishop has done publicly has caused scandal. I hope he has repented.
Now, as to the comments about the cathedral renovation (sought by Weakland, denounced by Rome, finshished by Weakland anyway, and I do mean any way):
The comment about the jacuzzi was meant to be sarcastic. I don’t think there is any architectural reason to install a full-immersion baptismal pool in the aisle of a cathedral, notwithstanding the description of the baptistry found on the Cathedral’s web page that says “Situated prominently in the Cathedral, the baptistry now takes its proper place in the celebrations of the community of believers.”
What garbage.
That the pillars surrounding this wading pool (that’s also sarcastic, of course) have been fashioned from the baldacchino is an additional insult.
That the choir has been moved out of its loft to be a visual center of attention is silly.
The Dali-esque “crucifix” with its giant crown of thorns, which has replaced the original, is so stylized as to be useless in a liturgical setting.
There are many more problems with the new interior of the cathedral, including the location of the altar, the seating, the pastels, &c. Go have a look at the website (and remember Lex orandi, lex credendi).
Finally, as for the soon-to-be installed portrait of Archbishop Dolan, I know the best location for it: at the back on the north side, right over that of his predecessor.