Clarence Richard Silva

Clarence Richard Silva, popularly known as Larry Silva (born August 6, 1949 in Honolulu, Hawaii), is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and fifth Bishop of Honolulu, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on May 17, 2005 to oversee the Diocese of Honolulu. Previous to his appointment to the epicopacy, he served as a diocesan priest and later vicar general of the Diocese of Oakland in California. He is the first person born in Hawaii to lead the Roman Catholic community of the Hawaiian Islands. He is also the second person of Portuguese ancestry to serve the community as its ordinary.

Hawai?i ministry

Silva assumes the episcopacy as successor to Francis Xavier DiLorenzo, fourth Bishop of Honolulu, considered the most conservative and dogmatic of the Hawai?i prelates. DiLorenzo oversaw the largest overhaul and reorganization of the Diocese of Honolulu since its creation, in keeping with the established doctrines of the faith, moving away from what was considered the liberalization of the Hawai?i Catholic Church under Joseph Anthony Ferrario, third Bishop of Honolulu. DiLorenzo also became widely known for being one of the first to establish zero-tolerance for priests accused of abusing their powers to endanger the well-being of their parishioners. It remains to be seen whether or not Silva will continue the stringent conservatism of DiLorenzo or govern as a moderate, if not as a liberal like Ferrario was deemed.

Related Topics:
Francis Xavier DiLorenzo - Conservative - Dogma - Joseph Anthony Ferrario

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Important issues facing Silva upon assuming the episcopacy include the decline of vocations, need for parish clustering and the sex abuse scandals. He will also be a principal promoter for the causes of sainthood for Blessed Damien of Moloka?i and Blessed Marianne of Moloka?i.

Related Topics:
Blessed Damien of Moloka?i - Blessed Marianne of Moloka?i

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One of his first acts as bishop-elect was to travel on pilgrimage to Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka?i on May 19, to pay homage to Blessed Damien and Blessed Marianne. Blessed Marianne had only been beatified and raised to the title of Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI a few days earlier on May 14. Speaking of his pilgrimage Silva said, "I will let that empower me in my ministry to the people of Hawai?i. Damien has been my hero since I was a boy." Silva's great grandfather was a patient of the leper colony.

Related Topics:
Pilgrimage - Kalaupapa - Island - Moloka?i - May 19 - Pope Benedict XVI - May 14

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