By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service
Media reports indicate Pope Benedict XVI is moving closer to naming an American, Archbishop William Levada of San Francisco, to his old job as chief enforcer and guardian of Catholic faith and doctrine.
As first reported by Religion News Service on May 3, Levada appears to be the top contender to succeed Benedict -- the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -- as prefect for the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
According to one quoted official, it's a done deal that could only be changed if someone specifically went in to change the Pope's mind.
Levada was appointed archbishop of San Francisco in 1995 and previously served in Portland from 1986 to 1995. In both posts, he confronted many of the social issues roiling the U.S. church, including euthanasia, homosexuality and Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.
Levada is widely considered a doctrinal conservative but has also shown a pragmatic streak. For example, he brokered a deal with San Francisco city officials that continued public funding to church ministries by allowing employees to enroll a person outside his or her immediate family in health plans.
The policy met the city's requirement of providing coverage for domestic partners but it did so without giving official church recognition to couples, both gay and straight, living together out of wedlock.
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