* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: Councilmembers Welch, Curran, D'Adamo, Clarke, Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL concerning
Title
In Appreciation of Cardinal William H. Keeler
FOR the purpose of expressing appreciation to Cardinal Keeler for his 18 years of spiritual leadership to Baltimore's Catholic faithful, his untiring efforts to promote interfaith communication among Baltimoreans of divergent faiths, and his exemplary ministry of tending to the physical hunger, as well as to the spiritual needs, of the less fortunate among us; and providing for a special effective date.
Body
Recitals
As the 14th archbishop in Baltimore City, Cardinal William H. Keeler will be remembered for leading the more than $32 million restoration of the Basilica of the Assumption, the 1st cathedral constructed within the United States, at the same time restoring recognition of the Archdiocese of Baltimore as the Premier See - the 1st American diocese.
As the spiritual leader of Baltimore's 500,000 Catholics and 151 parishes, he is loved as a leader who embraced diversity, making an effort to address his congregants in their native tongues. As a member of the larger faith community, he is recognized by Jews, Protestants, Muslims, and those of all faiths as a tireless champion of interfaith dialogue. And as an advocate for the poor, he is admired for expanding the services of Our Daily Bread soup kitchen.
Archbishop Keeler spent more than half of his career in the Diocese of Harrisburg - first as a parish priest, then becoming an auxiliary bishop in 1979, and becoming Bishop of Harrisburg in 1983. He served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs from 1984 to 1987, before being appointed Archbishop of Baltimore on April 11, 1989. After being elected President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1992, he was named a Cardinal on November 28, 1994, by Pope John Paul II.
By October 2005, the Archbishop had served as a priest for 1/2 century and celebrated this milestone during a special Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, with hundreds of parishioners and well-wishers. On that occasion, the Archbishop said "These years have been years of blessings". The years that Cardinal William H. Keeler spends with us are, indeed, years of blessings to all the citizens of Baltimore City.
SECTION 1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body and the citizens of Baltimore City express appreciation to Cardinal Keeler for his 18 years of spiritual leadership to Baltimore's Catholic faithful, his untiring efforts to promote interfaith communication among Baltimoreans of divergent faiths, and his exemplary ministry of tending to the physical hunger, as well as to the spiritual needs, of the less fortunate among us.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be presented to Cardinal William H. Keeler.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution takes effect on date it is enacted.
DRAFT 13JUL07 DRAFT 05OCT06
dlr07-1438~intro/13Jul07
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DRAFT 13JUL07 DRAFT 05OCT06
dlr07-1438~intro/13Jul07
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