SEATTLE -- Seattle's new archbishop officially assumed his new position Wednesday. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was installed with a Mass at St. James Cathedral. Sartain replaces Archbishop Alex. J. Brunett, who retired last year at the age of 75.
As the new archbishop of Seattle, Sartain will be the chief spiritual leader of nearly one million Catholics in Western Washington. At age 58, Sartain will become the fifth archbishop of Washington's largest diocese. He'll also be the youngest archbishop in the United States.
Sartain is considered a moderate, not likely to seek political confrontation, here to strengthen an already healthy archdiocese.
"So many diocese around the country especially in the Midwest and the east are actually closing schools, closing churches, we've been opening parishes and opening schools," said church spokesman Greg Magnoni.
He learned Spanish in his previous position to connect with followers. In an interview this fall, he showed a continuing interest in immigrants and immigration policy.
"Governments have the right to protect their borders and so that's not an issue for us, it's certainly a right of e very country," he said. "However recognizing people can be caught in situations not of their creation."
Magnoni calls Washington's diverse immigrant population a challenge for the new archbishop.
"Not only the large Hispanic population but the large Asian population that's migrating into the Archdiocese of Seattle and accommodating them culturally within the body of the church," he said.
A few protesters handed out leaflets outside St. James, critical of Sartain's judgment in ordaining a priest in Illinois who was later convicted in a child abuse case, and worried about the precedent it could set here.
"So other bishops in the country if they have problem priest they might just say 'Maybe Sartain will take this guy, maybe he can help him," said John Shuster.
Father Paul Magnano, a priest with Christ Our Hope Catholic Church, says the new archbishop will be inheriting a church that has dealt with the sexual abuse issue.
"We haven't skirted the issue, we haven't run away from it. I think he will find a church here that has a good history of responding to abuse cases and tending to victims. And as the Pope said this filth of the church, and this church has dealt with it up front," said Magnano.
But for the faithful, it's just not an issue.
"I guess I have faith in the Pope's choice, and I'm optimistic also," said Anne Woster, who came with her family from Vancouver, Wash.
"The Holy Father says he's good and that's good enough for me, absolutely," said Mike Woster.
Archbishop Sartain comes to Seattle from the diocese of Joliet in Illinois. He's a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and held numerous positions there. Pope John Paul II appointed Sartan as bishop in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2000, and in 2006, Pope Benedict appointed Sartain bishop in Joliet, and now as archbishop of Seattle. Read: Archbishop Sartain's biography
The official welcome for Sartain began Tuesday night with the Rite of Reception at Saint James Cathedral. He was welcomed by a Lutheran bishop, the director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Mormon representatives as well as Catholics from a wide range of ethnic communities. By tradition, Sartain banged on the front door of Saint James Cathedral and was received by outgoing Archbishop Alex Brunett.
For more information: Archdiocese of Seattle website
KING 5's Natalie Swaby contributed to this report.
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