There’s a new bishop in town: Catholics welcome William McGrattan

William McGrattan is stepping into the role of bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, replacing a leader whom he calls a bold figure, who was sometimes provocative with his views.

Pope Francis appointed McGrattan to serve as the eighth bishop of the diocese after Bishop Fred Henry resigned for health issues.

McGrattan, a London, Ontario native, previously held bishop positions in Toronto and Peterborough. Before his theology studies, he graduated in chemical engineering and long heard the call to come this way.

“That phrase, ‘go west young man, go west,’ echoed in my heart,” he said during an introductory news conference Monday morning.

McGrattan said he knows his predecessor, and acknowledged Bishop Henry’s approach to subjects such as HPV vaccines, doctor-assisted death and gay-straight alliances in schools, drew attention.

“I’m sure that he has created controversy,” McGrattan said. “I don’t think it’s for that purpose. I think he wants to be provocative. He wants to allow people to sort of understand the truth that might be at stake in some of these social issues.”

McGrattan noted, although he may communicate differently, his comments may not be so far off from Henry’s. He pointed to the argument against gay-straight alliances and said in Ontario they preferred to say “respecting differences”, which doesn’t label youth or promote a certain lifestyle.

“I don’t think we want to categorize young people,” McGrattan explained. “We don’t want them to simply see themselves as identified in one specific way. So I think in some of the statements I would probably, if they are pushing in those directions, would be making the same types of statements.”

He said pastoral visits are key to his role as bishop and he plans to spend days with many of the 69 Catholic churches in southern Alberta and at the city’s nursing homes and Catholic schools.

“I’ve come to realize as a bishop, such decisions affect people’s lives,” he said. “I choose to respect that and not to make those decisions too rationally. I want to get to know the priests, many of them come from different cultures; many of them serve in very challenging situations.”

McGrattan said the Calgary diocese is one of the largest in Canada and as the City of Calgary struggles to build infrastructure to keep up with the growing population, so does the Catholic Church.

An official, private installation ceremony for McGrattan will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.