Congratulations and praise pour in for Cardinal-designate Thomas Collins

By Deborah Gyapong
Canadian Catholic News

OTTAWA (CCN)—Congratulations and praise for Cardinal-designate Thomas Collins’ elevation to the College of Cardinals poured in from politicians, brother bishops and organizations.

“The appointment of Thomas Collins to the College of Cardinals is a great honour for His Grace as well as the Archdiocese of Toronto and all members of the Catholic Church across Canada – a testament to his hard work and faithful devotion to the Church and spiritual life,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper Jan. 6 in a message of congratulations.

Harper remarked on the leadership role the College of Cardinals plays in the Catholic Church and described Collins career as “long and distinguished.”
Archbishop Collins, who turns 65 on Jan. 16, will remain archbishop of Toronto but will 'be more involved in the life of the Church,' he said in an interview with Newstalk Radio in Toronto. CNS Photo/Bill Wittman
“I was delighted to her of his nomination to the College of Cardinals,” said Liberal Leader Bob Rae, who described the appointment as a “great honor” to him and to Canada.

“He’s been a tremendous leader across the country,” Rae said. “He has a tremendous social conscience for the people of this country.”

Rae said he is a “great fan” of the archbishop and has enjoyed his meetings with him.

The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith extended congratulations on behalf of the Bishops of Canada, noting the appointment reflects the importance of the See of Toronto in “in the life of the Universal Church.”

“Cardinal-designate Collins has already provided excellent leadership for the Church in Toronto and throughout Canada by his dedication to and involvement in lectio divina, the quality of his preaching, and for his insistence on safe and secure environments in our communities for the vulnerable and the young,” said Smith.

In his role as a member of the CCCB’s Permanent Council, Collins has contributed with “wisdom, balance and good humour,” Smith said.

“These will be the same qualities that he will bring in advising the Holy Father, which is one of the key responsibilities of every Cardinal,” he said.

“As a former seminary professor, a biblical scholar who has specialized in the Book of the Apocalypse, and as a former Bishop of Saint-Paul and a former Archbishop of Edmonton, Cardinal-designate Collins knows well the challenges and opportunities facing our Church across Canada,” Smith said.
Collins was among the Visitators to Ireland who advised the Holy Father on a healing response to the sexual abuse crisis rocking the Irish Church. Fellow Irish Visitator Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast said he was “absolutely thrilled” for Collins and the Toronto Archdiocese.

“From work we have done together I know he is wise and prayerful and what else could the Holy Father ask for in terms of advisors for the good of the Universal Church?” Prendergast said. “He is also courageous in his civic leadership on health and education matters and in labouring quietly for the well-being of all citizens, evident especially in his welcome and support for refugees particularly of Christians from Iraq and elsewhere.”

Salt and Light Media Foundation CEO Fr. Thomas Rosica lauded the appointment, writing that Collins has served Toronto over the past five years as “shepherd, pastor, teacher, wise and prudent steward and leader, a man steeped in the Word of God because he lives in the house of that Word each day.”

“May the Lord bless him with good health, courage and peace of mind and heart as his responsibilities increase for the universal Church,” said Rosica. “May he never lose the common touch that has endeared him to so many people these past years, especially the young!”

The cardinal-designate also received high praise from the Catholic Civil Rights League and other organizations.

“We have always appreciated Archbishop Collins’ leadership, especially on life issues and the defense of authentic Catholic teaching,” said League President Philip Horgan. “Among countless other efforts, Archbishop Collins’ participation in the national March for Life and his openness to the media have helped improve the public presence of the Church and provided welcome example for laity organizations.”

International Christian Voice (ICV) founder and chairman Peter Bhatti, the brother of assassinated Pakistan Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, congratulated Collins and praised him for his firm stand protecting “the downtrodden and vulnerable minorities of Pakistan and around the world.” ICV advocates for persecuted religious minorities.

LifeSiteNews.com also praised Collins as “one of the more outspokenly pro-life bishops in Canada.”

The Toronto archbishop “took the lead in a difficult situation of correcting” the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P) after LifeSite “exposed” the CCCB’s development agency’s “funding of groups advocating for abortion,” wrote LifeSite editor John-Henry Westen.