WASHINGTON -- Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, California, 56, ninth archbishop of San Francisco, and accepted the resignation of Archbishop George H. Niederauer, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

The appointment and resignation were publicized in Washington, July 27, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Archbishop-elect Cordileone's installation Mass will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral Oct. 4, the feast of the city's patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Niederauer announced.

The plaintiffs had sued—asking that their claims be “disposed on the merits” rather than on procedural grounds, i.e., they wanted to file a sex abuse case in another year than that designated by the Legislature.   Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye authored the 5-2 opinion, in which she quoted from the Legislature which formulated the policy: “We have seen, over the years…that a recognition that the right to be free of stale claims in time comes to prevail over the right to prosecute them.”

The Most Rev. Gerald E. Wilkerson, auxiliary bishop for the San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and president of the California Catholic Conference, issued the following statement on the death of Rev. Donald Charles McDonnell, longtime friend and associate of United Farm Workers (UFW) Founder Cesar Chavez:

“We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Fr. Donald Charles McDonnell, who died on February 20, 2012 at the age of 88. He was a priest of generous and hope-filled heart.

“Fr. McDonnell was born in Ireland and ordained by San Francisco Archbishop John Mitty at St. Mary’s Cathedral in 1947. Soon thereafter, he began serving the Spanish-speaking people of Santa Clara County, where his extensive ministry to Mexican workers led him to make the acquaintance of Cesar Chavez—and perhaps changed the course of history.