Oregon is a very progressive/liberal state. I am sure Pope Leo XIV knows this. Thus it is fascinating that he has appointed a priest from Davenport, Iowa, Msgr. Thomas Hennen to be the new Bishop of Baker. He has been active in the “Courage” ministry and you can hear his position in the video I link below. His appointment in one of the most progressive states in the USA is indeed good news.
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Liam Cary, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Baker, Oregon and has appointed Reverend Thomas Hennen, as Bishop-elect of Baker. Father Hennen is a priest of the Diocese of Davenport and currently serves as the diocese’s vicar general and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on July 10, 2025, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Hennen was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Father Hennen was born July 4, 1978, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Bishop-elect Hennen pursued studies at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport. He also studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a bachelor’s in sacred theology (2003). He received a licentiate of sacred theology (2005) from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome. Father Hennen was ordained to the priesthood on July 10, 2004.
Bishop-elect Hennen’s assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar, Prince of Peace parish in Clinton (2005-2010); campus minister and parochial vicar, Newman Center and Saint Mary in Iowa City (2010-2011); chaplain and theology teacher at Assumption High School in Davenport (2014-2017). He also served at Sacred Heart parish in Oxford Junction, Saint James parish in Toronto, Sacred Heart parish in Lost Nation and Saints Philip and James parish in Ground Mound (2015); chaplain and director of campus ministry at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport (2017-2021); parochial vicar at Saint Anthony parish in Davenport (2017-2018). Since 2021, he has served as priest moderator of Saint Andrew parish in Blue Grass and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
Bishop-elect Hennen’s additional responsibilities for the Diocese of Davenport have included: director of vocations (2011-2018); associate director of vocations (2018-2021); consultor and vicar general (2020-present). Bishop-elect Hennen speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.
The Diocese of Baker is comprised of 66,826 square miles in the State of Oregon and has a total population of 532,734 of which 33,356 are Catholic.
21 comments:
You have been misled by the fact that the diocese of Baker is in the state of oregon. Oregon is actually two different geographical and political entities in one state. Western Oregon is liberal, highly populated, and loud; in terms of climate, it is temperate rainforest.. Eastern Oregon is thinly populated and quite conservative; it is desert. Things change when you cross the summit of the Cascades. Having lived in the diocese of Baker for 22 years, I can say that with confidence.
In regard to the story in question: Bishop Strickland has unleashed vicious comments against His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV.
Bishop Strickland declared...excerpts:
"Some will cry “too harsh” but enough is enough…
"With the appointment of Fr. Thomas Hennen, bishop-elect, as bishop of Baker, Oregon, we face a troubling reality: instead of correcting the trajectory set by Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV is doubling down on it – deepening the ambiguity that has plagued the Church.
"Fr. Hennen is not merely a well-meaning pastor – he was intimately involved in drafting pastoral guidelines that blur the clear lines of Catholic teaching on sexuality and gender.
"His work with Davenport’s LGBTQ+ directive may carry the veneer of welcoming language, but in substance it echoes the rhetorical strategies of gender ideology, undermining Catholic clarity and weakening the call to chastity.
"This doctrinal smokescreen is the hallmark of the Lavender Mafia...Its tentacles now reach into the Leo papacy, and Fr. Hennen’s appointment is proof.
"Pope Francis presided over a doctrinal collapse: Fiducia Supplicans green-lighted blessings of same-sex unions, plain and simple.
"That rupture has not been undone by Pope Leo – it is being compounded."
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Bishop Strickland has represented the nonsense and extremism that has flowed from the Church's right-wing.
Holy Pope Francis (requiescat in pace), from literally the first seconds of his Pontificate to date, dealt with hatred, lies, and nonsense generated by right-wing extremists.
Now, unfortunately, it is holy Pope Leo XIV's turn to deal with hatred, lies, and nonsense, generated by right-wing extremists. Nevertheless, I, a nobody, will stand with Pope Leo XIV.
I thank Pope Benedict XVI for having taught me to grant unto the Vicar of Christ my "unconditional reverence and obedience."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Bishop Strickland has a right to his opinions. Fortunately he is simply a loose cannon. If only Pope Francis had treated the heterodox left bishops in Germany and here who deserve the same as Bishop Strickland. Focus on those still in office on the heterodox left. I am sure you can dig up a lot!
In regard to Bishop Strickland's rights, at least within the Church::
Does Bishop Strickland have the right to trample Pope Leo XIV's good name via, for example, the claim that His Holiness is "doubling down" in regard to the supposed quest to destroy Church teaching?
Does Bishop Strickland have the right to claim that Pope Leo XIV has thrown in with the "Lavender Mafia" to destroy Church teachings related to marriage and chastity?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
You are very unaware of canon law and canonical trials. Only the pope or the Vatican can do that. Since you have found him guilty of all these things, write the pope with your verdicts.
Confirmed: Leo is Francis 2.0. I've been suspicious but am now convinced. Here we go again!
MT,
You are more fixated on Bishop Strickland than any other commenter here. Has anyone brought him up out-of-the-blue other than you? Is anyone spouting his talking points? Honestly, in a bit of self-sabotage, you're giving his views more "air" than they would otherwise get or deserve.
"Bishop Strickland has represented the nonsense and extremism that has flowed from the Church's right-wing."
Shall we count the fallacies, shades, and errors in this statement?
In the meantime, you continue to turn the pope into the Catholic Muhammad. Thank God, no pope deserves that level of recognition.
"I thank Pope Benedict XVI for having taught me to grant unto the Vicar of Christ my 'unconditional reverence and obedience.'"
Pope Benedict didn't teach that you were to do so, and thankfully he did not, as it is clear that that is not how Catholics (except, maybe, popes emeriti, which, MT, you are not) are to relate to the pope.
Nick
Fr. AJM,
The verdicts of the Lay High Inquisitors of Papal Majesty are only valid when two out of three of Mark Thomas, Mike Lewis, and Austen Ivereigh agree. We must consult them, as well!
Nick
Are you familiar with with Courage? It helps those with same sex attractions to live a chaste life. F. Scalia, the late Supreme Court Justice’s son, works closely with this group in the Diocese of Arlington.
Father Hennen had answered questions via a column (The Question Box) that he had written for his diocesan newspaper. Whether he will govern as bishop via certain replies that he had offered will remain to be seen.
A couple of examples from The Question Box:
Father Hennen:
"What Catholics often refer to as the “Traditional Latin Mass” was called the “extraordinary form” of the Roman Rite by Pope Benedict XVI when he first allowed greater usage of this in his letter Summorum Pontificum in 2007.
"Why did he do this...Pope Benedict’s primary intention was to foster greater unity within the Church."
"Whether that has happened is a good question.
"Pope Benedict wanted to do what could be done to reconcile Catholics who had broken communion with the Church over this and other issues, specifically followers of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre..."
"Did this work? Not really. If anything, it may have further exposed the fissure, which was less about the liturgy and more about the Second Vatican Council as a whole."
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Q. When on vacation recently we went to a church that still had and used a Communion rail. Are Communion rails coming back?
A. "For those who may be unfamiliar, many churches in the past had a low railing at the base of the steps to the sanctuary...and the priest would distribute Communion typewriter-style (left to right and back again).
"This is still, typically, how Communion is administered in the pre-conciliar liturgy (“Traditional Latin Mass”) and in places where the Communion rail is still in use.
"I suppose there may be some advantages to this. It might be slightly more efficient. Then again, efficiency is not exactly a liturgical virtue, at least not at the expense of reverence.
"In general, perhaps an argument could be made for how the Communion rail facilitates a deeper sense of reverence for the Eucharist.
"Of course, there are disadvantages as well. For one, it would not seem to allow for the distribution of the Precious Blood.
"Another disadvantage: the Communion rail may also take away from the sense of the Communion procession, the idea of the Church on pilgrimage in this communal act of receiving the Eucharist. It is not a “me and my Jesus” moment.
"For some, the Communion rail is not only a physical barrier but a psychological and spiritual one as well...as a wall to Communion than a gate.
"A hybrid option that has popped up is setting out kneelers in the main aisle for those who wish to receive kneeling.
"To my mind, the placing of kneelers is a bit cumbersome if not an actual tripping hazard.
"At the very least, we should be careful about “magical thinking” that says, “If we only put back (or removed) Communion rails, all the Church’s problems would be solved.”
"If only it were so simple."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Bishop Strickland declared:
"Fr. Hennen...was intimately involved in drafting pastoral guidelines that blur the clear lines of Catholic teaching on sexuality and gender.
"His work with Davenport’s LGBTQ+ directive may carry the veneer of welcoming language, but in substance it echoes the rhetorical strategies of gender ideology, undermining Catholic clarity and weakening the call to chastity.
"This doctrinal smokescreen is the hallmark of the Lavender Mafia...Its tentacles now reach into the Leo papacy, and Fr. Hennen’s appointment is proof.
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Here are the Diocese of Davenport Guidelines for Pastoral
Accompaniment of Sexual and Gender Minorities that Bishop Strickland has deemed horrific:
The document is brief:
https://files.ecatholic.com/13543/documents/2023/10/Accompaniment%20of%20Sexual%20and%20Gender%20Minorities%2010.4.2023x.pdf?t=1696343672000
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT,
The bishop-elect admits the Church has problems?! I'm shocked, scandalized, appalled! How dare he issue such vile, ugly, hateful attacks against the Church as led by Her chief sanctifier, teacher, and governor selected to be the Voice of God?!
Nick
MT Suit ruins another thread with his pious piffle.
I only have media (yuk) about the new Bishop, but it seems rather positive. In BJJ, wrestling, and Judo we have reversal techniques used when someone thinks they have you wrapped up and ready to submit. It seems this new AB may be such a move.
Bishop Strickland has posited that Pope Leo XIV's promotion of bishop-designate Thom Hennen has signaled that His Holiness has gone even farther than Pope Francis (requiescat in pace) in regard to the advancement of the "Lavender Mafia."
I agree, to the following extent, with Bishop Strickland: Via his promotion of bishop-designate Thom Hennen, Pope Leo XIV has signaled...
-- That he is on board with Pope Francis' holy, orthodox, outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
-- Has again made clear that he is on board with Pope Francis' Synodality. As National Catholic Register has noted, bishop-designate Thom Hennen:
"For the last almost four years, he has also been the Davenport diocese’s leader for the Synod on Synodality, which he described in a 2021 homily as “about how we go about listening to each other, how we go about our mission as the Church, the Body of Christ, in our present age, to better communicate and better embody the Kingdom of God on earth.”
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Pope Leo XIV has, time and again, manifested continuity with Pope Francis. That is evident via his promotion of Father Thom Hennen to the rank of bishop.
Pope Leo XIV had done so via his repeated references to Pope Francis, as well as Pope Francis' Encyclicals Laudato Si’, as well as Fratelli Tutti, during Wednesday's Holy Mass For the Care of Creation.
Father Thom Hennen served as a powerful advocate for Pope Francis' Pontificate. Soon, as bishop, Father Hennen will continue to do so via the many ways that holy Pope Leo XIV has/will promote Pope Francis' wonderful teachings.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Pope Leo is not Pope Francis but rather Pope Leo VIV. What you wrote is somewhat insulting to His Holiness and his human dignity as a different pope. A biological clone His Holiness is not.
There's a huge difference between Courage apostolate supported by Cardinal Burke and New Ways ministry pro LGBT etc. If the priest in question is a supporter of Courage whats the problem?
Some people are saying he used to be solid with the Courage stuff, but lately has been following the Jimmy Martin line--I'm not sure either way, personally.
Nick
It is "somewhat insulting" to have noted that which Pope Leo XIV has, time and again, made clear? That is, in one instance after another, he will continue Pope Francis' (requiscant in pace) teachings.
Again, just two days ago, during his Holy Mass For The Care of Creation homily, His Holiness promoted Pope Francis/Encyclicals Laudato Si’, as well as Fratelli Tutti, 10 times.
Two months ago, His Holiness noted that Pope Francis had gifted us with the "blueprint" (Pope Leo XIV's word) to implement Vatican II successfully.
His Holiness signaled, via bishop-designate Thom Hennen, the continuation of Pope Francis beautiful, orthodox, outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
Pope Francis' Synodal vision for Holy Mother Church has remained in place.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Pope Leo has shown in many marvelous ways that he’s his own pope and not a clone of any other pope. He’s reversed Pope Francis on the Mozzetta and papal stole, reversed Pope Francis’ intransigence on the Liturgy of the Syro-Malabar rite allowing both ad orientem and facing the nave and thus restoring liturgical peace and an end to violence of the progressives there, a template to reverse the reignited liturgy wars of the Latin Rite that Pope Francis lit. Pope Leo has made clear that true synodality will be Christo-centric based upon receiving Christ and His Holy Teachings, not receiving Vatican II disembodied for the Deposit of Faith and the perennial magisterium of the Church. Pope Leo has given a wonderful gift to the town of Castel Gandolfo destroyed by Pope Francis by returning there for papal rest and vacation in continuity with Pope Benedict XVI and all previous popes since it was erected. This is a beautiful gesture to the people of Castel Gandolfo whereas Pope Francis marginalized them by refusing their hospitality for vacations and rest. Pope Leo has reversed the dismal attendance at papal audiences and papal events which Pope Francis brought about. Pope Leo XIV has become the new Pope John Paul II in this regard. Pope Leo is doing something about Fr. Rupnick and Bishop Zanchetta, unlike Pope Francis and Pope Leo had Rupnick’s art removed from the Vatican News site unlike Pope Francis who even had Rupnick’s art in his papal apartment and photographed there and shown on Vatican News. There are many more reversals and clarity coming. I can’t wait. Pope Leo XIV is our pope now, no other pope do we have. Pope Leo is bringing the Pope John Paul Insittue for life back to Pope JPII’s vision not that of Pope Francis. Pope Leo has appointed a new bishop for Baker who supports “Courage” rather than Fr. James who support New Ways Ministries which is trying to change the Church’s sexual moral teachings to make it more ideologically in tune with the LGBTQ+. Pope Leo will treat the Heterodox right and the Heterodox left equally and try to bring about unity in the Church by pulling everyone to the Orthodox middle, thus reversing Pope Francis lopsided animus to the right and coddling the left.
MT,
At least get your Latin declension right, if you're going to be so simperingly, nauseatingly un-Catholic about the pope.
Nick
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