COLUMBUS (WBNS) — In a packed Saint Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus, Bishop Robert Brennan was installed as the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Columbus.
Brennan drew applause while showing parishioners a copy of his installation letter signed by Pope Francis.
“He is a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of Bishop. We found out that already in short order,” said Father Michael Lumpe, who is the rector for Saint Joseph Cathedral. “He’s full of energy. His faith is on fire. So strap yourselves in folks. It’s going to be fun.
“He’s going to be out in the parishes and the schools and the streets preaching the word of God.”
Friday’s service including celebratory remarks from bishops across the country and visit from Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Brennan’s installation came on the same day Pope Francis pushed forth Vatican legislation aimed at helping victims of sexual abuse.
According to Reuters, the changes signed by Pope Francis require Vatican superiors and co-workers to report abuse allegations and punish those who fail to do so.
Brennan was not made available for interviews, but we asked Father Michael Lumpe about the Vatican legislation and about what he expects from Bishop Brennan.
“I don’t know about what Pope (Francis) did, but I am very happy that Bishop Griffin, Bishop Campbell and certainly Bishop Brennan that if an abuse is brought forth of any type that it is Investigates thoroughly and investigated — properly so. And if people need to be held accountable, they will,” Father Lumpe said.
This month, the Diocese of Columbus followed others in releasing a list of priests who have had substantiated allegations of abuse leveled against them.
Judy Jones, with SNAP or the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said that there are additional names that need to be added.
“They are trying to police themselves. An institution cannot police themselves especially this one. We don’t expect this bishop to do anything different than the other ones,” Jones said.
Jones suggested that the diocese should get police involved and hire a trauma-informed therapist to address victims rather than clergy.
Father Lumpe said he thinks Bishop Brennan — who was not made available for interviews — will look into the list Jones mentioned. He said that the diocese wants to have a “thorough list rather than a slipshod list.”