By Tim Harfmann
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo is resting in a Texas hospital after suffering a mild stroke Friday, March 15th. He’s the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and also the archbishop of the Galveston-Houston archdiocese.
“We call it a ‘brain attack,’ said Doctor Margaret Eckert-Norton. She is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Brooklyn’s Saint Joseph’s College; “A stroke means your brain is not getting enough oxygen, and that could be very detrimental to your functioning.”
Eckert-Norton urged people to call 911 immediately if they have the following warning signs: numbness in your face, arms or legs; blurred vision; difficulty speaking; trouble with coordination or walking; and headache. One way to prevent a stroke is living an active lifestyle. “Sitting is the new smoking. We really want to make sure we have activity to make our blood vessels healthy,” said Eckert-Norton.
Church officials in Houston released a statement, reading, “It is expected that Cardinal DiNardo will remain hospitalized for a few more days of testing and observation, followed by a transfer to another facility for rehabilitation.”
The 69-year-old cardinal has been keeping a very full schedule. At last November’s general meeting of U.S. bishops, he talked about accountability. “We’ll work on finalizing the standards of accountability for bishops, finalizing the protocol for removed bishops, and studying national guidelines for the publication of lists of names of those clerics facing substantiated claims of abuse,” said Cardinal DiNardo.
While Cardinal DiNardo recovers from the stroke, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, who’s the conference vice president, is taking over day-to-day responsibilities.
Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio reacted to the news, releasing a statement: “On behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn, we send our prayers for Cardinal DiNardo’s complete recovery and a speedy return to his ministry.”
Cardinal DiNardo was elected USCCB president in November 2016. His three-year term expires this November.