Bishop Poses Challenge

The installation of the Most. Rev. Michael P. Driscoll as the new auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange will help bring the services of the Catholic Church closer to the 600,000 members of Orange County’s Catholic community. That is important to members of that faith.

But the impact of Driscoll’s appointment is not limited to the Catholic community. The most serious and disturbing problems facing all of Orange County’s 2.3 million residents are nondenominational in nature. Drug use, physically disabled and troubled children, homelessness, hunger and the desperation of the poor know no religious bounds. They are indiscriminate in their assault on the human condition and take their toll of the entire community.

Efforts to combat those social ills go beyond the religious arena and become ecumenical for dedicated people like Driscoll. He has a strong background in social work and is vicar for charities in the diocese, carrying out work for Bishop Norman F. McFarland. Among many other things, the diocese has been active in teaching deaf immigrants English and civics so they can complete amnesty requirements; in working with developmentally disabled children and adults; in dealing with drug abuse, and in feeding the homeless and poor.

When named auxiliary bishop, Driscoll declared his intention to keep reaching out to the poor, the homeless, disabled children and troubled youth.

Last Sunday, in celebrating his first Mass as a bishop, Driscoll, continuing his efforts to heighten public awareness of the needs of the less fortunate, urged others to bear their share and “help feed the hungry, share their resources with the poor and homeless, and fight against racism, sexism, injustice and prejudice.”

That is a worthy challenge for the county’s 600,000 Catholics--and for its 1.7 million other residents too.