Pope Benedict chooses new bishop for North Country

The Diocese of Ogdensburg, which includes most of the North Country’s Roman Catholic parishes, has a new Bishop.

Pope Benedict named a local, Rev. Terry LaValley from Clinton County, to the post.

He has served in parishes across the North Country.

One interesting note is that Rev. LaValley was the man chosen to implement the Church’s child protection policies following the priest-abuse scandal.

A national sex-abuse victims’ group called SNAP quickly issued a statement today condemning the nomination.

David Clohessy of St. Louis, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests:

“LaValley’s promotion raises a troubling question: Is it that hard for the Vatican to find good, smart priests who have not been accused of secrecy surrounding clergy sex crimes?”

Clohessy points out that as recently as 2003, the Diocese of Ogdensburg was criticized in a Conference of Bishops audit for not conducting background checks.

Rev. LaValley will have to grapple with some other thorny issues, including declining enrollments in RC schools and the growing priest shortage.

Here’s the official announcement from Ogdensburg:

This morning, the Holy See announced that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Reverend Terry LaValley, currently Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, as the fourteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg to succeed the Most Reverend Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse, NY.

Bishop-elect LaValley, the second of six children of Ronald (deceased) and Doris LaValley, is a native of Mooers Forks, NY and was raised in St. Ann’s Parish.

He was born on March 26, 1956 and completed his primary and secondary education at Mooers Central in Mooers, NY and Northeastern Clinton Central School in Champlain, NY.

He received a B.A. from the University of the State of New York and a Certificate of Studies in Philosophy from Wadhams Hall Seminary-College.

Prior to his entrance into Wadhams Hall Seminary-College in January 1983, Bishop-elect LaValley served a six-year tour of duty with the United States Navy. He completed the Pre-Theology Program at Wadhams Hall in May 1984 and received his Master of Divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora in May 1988.

The bishop-elect was ordained to the Diaconate on February 27, 1988 and to the Priesthood on September 24, 1988 by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana.

Upon ordination, he served as deacon and parochial vicar at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Massena.

During this time, he was named as the Associate Secretary of the Marriage Tribunal and was elected to serve on the Council of Priests.

In 1992, the bishop-elect began studies in Canon Law at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where he was awarded his M.C.L. and J.C.L in May 1994.

Upon the completion of his graduate studies, Bishop-elect LaValley was named as Administrator of St. Peter’s Church in Hammond and St. Patrick’s Church in Rossie and was appointed Adjutant Judicial Vicar.

In 1996, Bishop Paul S. Loverde named him Episcopal Vicar for Diocesan Services and Chancellor of the Diocese of Ogdensburg with residence at Wadhams Hall Seminary-College.

In January 1998, in addition to his diocesan responsibilities, the bishop-elect was named Pastor of St. Raphael’s Church in Heuvelton.

In June 1999, he became Administrator of St. James Church in Gouverneur while continuing to serve in his diocesan positions.

In June 2000, he returned to St. Raphael’s Church in Heuvelton as Pastor and continued to serve as Episcopal Vicar and Chancellor for Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito.

In July 2003, Bishop-elect LaValley became Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral while retaining his diocesan offices.

In August 2004, Bishop-elect LaValley was relieved of his duties as Episcopal Vicar and Chancellor by Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, and appointed the Bishop’s delegate to implement and oversee compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

In this capacity, he continued to serve as Chairperson of the Diocesan Review Board.

On May 28, 2009, the College of Consultors elected Bishop-elect LaValley as Diocesan Administrator, upon the installation of the Most Reverend Robert J. Cunningham as Bishop of Syracuse.

The bishop-elect will continue as the Diocesan Administrator until his Ordination and Installation as the 14th Bishop of Ogdensburg on Friday, 30 April 2010.