Media welcomes Toronto's Archbishop Collins.

Toronto -- Most Rev. Thomas Collins, 60, who was installed as tenth archbishop of Toronto on January 30, 2007, and is known as an accessible pastor, good teacher, and man of deep prayer, has been well received by the media. "He's intensely clever, entirely humble, refreshingly orthodox and eminently gentle without compromising an inch on truth and justice" enthused Michael Coren in the Toronto Sun (Dec. 30, 2006).

Previously the Archbishop of Edmonton, Thomas Collins, succeeded retiring Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, 77. The Globe and Mail's religion correspondent, agnostic Michael Valpy recalled that "the publicly stern Cardinal Ambrozic was a superb academic but blunt in his episcopal managerial style and somewhat removed from the Church's public life in the city." Valpy--who himself has been evidence of media antagonism toward the Church--also complained the Cardinal was known for his "marked dislike of the media in general and its reporting on the Church in particular" (Globe and Mail, Dec. 23, 2006).

In contrast, Archbishop Collins--whose father was circulation manager of termed a "breath of crisp, Western Canadian air" by Salt + Light TV's Fr. Thomas Rosica in the Toronto Sun (Jan. 28, 2007).

The new archbishop hit the ground running in Canada's largest archdiocese, by making himself available for multiple interviews before and after his installation. He also reaches out to ordinary people, not just reporters; several stories told of his warm Edmonton interactions in places like the donut shop across from his cathedral.

Lifesite News concurred: "He is noted as a man of joy who is eminently approachable and has a real heart for youth" (Dec. 18, 2006).

"He even gave out his phone number to people from the pulpit, inviting them to contact him directly. And many did," wrote Ft. Rosica. (He has continued the practice in Toronto.)

Archbishop Collins, a Scripture scholar, is a competent authority in the classroom. He spent 19 years at London, ON's St. Peter's Seminary, ultimately becoming its rector.

Still, he is capable of meeting people just where they are so that he can lead them to better knowledge of Christ. When a young caller to radio station CFRB (John Moore Show, Jan. 31, 2007) described her disengagement with the faith, he readily suggested she visit www.bustedhalo.com, a website for spiritual seekers.

Not yet known is whether and how Archbishop Collins would deal with those "Catholic" politicians who are not sincere seekers of the truth. Clearly he is not yet as outspoken as the Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary.

In 2005, Archbishop Collins said: "If it was clear that the [pro-abortion] politician ... [umistakenly] rejected the Gospel, then I think the bishop would say to that person, 'Come to Mass, listen to the words of the Gospel, but it's really not appropriate for you to receive communion'" (LifeSiteNews, Dec. 18, 2006).

At last year's plenary meeting of Canadian bishops, Archbishop Collins worried that confrontations with straying politicians could scare other Catholics away from considering the vocation to public service. He looked instead to celebrate and encourage politicians, and find new ways to address their massive "pastoral needs" (Cath. Online, Dec. 18, 2006). Interviewed by LifeSiteNews subsequent to his Toronto appointment, Archbishop Collins only said he would seek God's guidance about these situations (Dec. 18, 2006).

Nevertheless, when pressed on the matter by CFRB, Archbishop Collins said that a Catholic politician who is "presenting views which are against the culture of life, against justice, against life itself," must be helped to see the truth; and he did not rule out excommunication for obstinate dissent. "If I were to excommunicate someone, I would do it very thoughtfully and with great prayer and fasting" (LifeSiteNews, Jan. 31, 2007).

Archbishop Collins is known for his "deep faith and intense prayer life, according to LifeSiteNews (Dec. 18, 2006). In Edmonton he "launched numerous pastoral programs, including ... perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ... and a monthly Lectio Divina at St. Joseph's Basilica" (New Freeman, Dec. 22 & 29, 2006).

The Globe described Archbishop Collins' new See as "a large and rich--but somewhat demoralized--diocese" (Dec. 23, 2006). "To the rest of us who are watching and waiting," Fr. Rosica asked, "let us work together to make his burden light, and to be open to the many lessons this new shepherd will teach us" (Tot. Sun, Jan. 28, 2007).

And the burden will otherwise be heavy indeed. Said Coren, "No Catholic leader can remain silent while virtues are rejected, while the poor are mistreated, while the unborn are killed, while racism exists, while genuine marriage is under attack, while the family is torn apart and while the cult of the self dominates."