Refreshing Change At The USCCB?

As I mentioned before, John Carr is leaving his post as Director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the USCCB.  As I wrote before, Michelle Boorstein thinks we're worried.  I suspect she's the one who's beside herself at this time.  A few days ago it was announced that Carr's replacement will be Jonathan J. Reyes.  He's a former director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, who made plain his beliefs that evangelism and Christian charity are inseparable.  Moreover, he's a former vice-president of Christendom College, a traditional Catholic college that has yet to accept one penny of government funding.

Much of the Catholic blogosphere is overjoyed by this appointment.  I'm happy, but my optimism is guarded.  Folks, I just don't trust these nameless bureaucrats at the USCCB.  If they manage to hog-tie Reyes, he won't be their first victim.  Moreover, bear in mind that after January, John Carr will be setting up shop at Catholic University.  Those unfamiliar with the layout of Washington DC probably don't realize that the USCCB offices and Catholic University are within easy walking distance of each other.  Carr could still make his influence felt; the impact of a 25-year tenure doesn't just vanish overnight.

So pardon me for sounding cynical, but I'm not prepared to break out the bubbly just yet.  However,I believe the optimism generated by Reyes' appointment will be justified if:

• Ralph McCloud, current national director of CCHD (and former campaign treasurer for pro-abort Texan Wendy Davis), is fired and replaced with someone with traditional credentials similar to Reyes's
• Serious, immediate and palpable reforms are made to the CCHD grant-awarding processes - with transparency
• Reyes dismantles that Catholic Climate Covenant boondoggle
• Reyes expels Just Faith from the social concerns offices of all levels of Catholic ecclesiastical structures
• The mishmosh known as Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship is replaced by a clear, unambiguous document that clearly lays out the necessity of voting for pro-life, pro-traditional-marriage candidates and the sinfulness of voting for a "pro-choice" candidate.

This list of needed reforms is by no means exhaustive.  I'll be happy if he can make steady progress on these.  Who knows?  Maybe I can cease calling for the abolition of the USCCB!