Ep. 4.47: Rigali’s Builders: Bishops, Battles, and a Church Still Rising

Archbishop Rigali’s years in St. Louis produced a remarkable wave of new bishops, and this episode traces that legacy through the lives of three men shaped by the archdiocese—Joseph Naumann, Michael Sheridan, and George Lucas—each carrying St. Louis’ pastoral DNA into their own dioceses. Monsignor recounts Bishop Naumann’s rise from pro‑life coordinator to Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, including his high‑profile clash with Governor Kathleen Sebelius over abortion and conscience protections. Bishop Sheridan’s path leads from St. Louis classrooms to Colorado Springs, where he issued a bold pastoral letter urging Catholics not to support politicians who advance abortion, euthanasia, or same‑sex marriage. Bishop Lucas’ story moves from teaching at Kenrick‑Glennon to leading Springfield and later Omaha, navigating both growth in vocations and the painful suppression of the Intercessors of the Lamb. Through these portraits, the episode highlights Rigali’s eye for leadership, the national reach of St. Louis clergy, and the way each bishop carried forward the archdiocese’s commitments to education, orthodoxy, and the dignity of human life.