In celebration of its 35th year anniversary, Texas Monthly has released a list of 35 people who will shape the future of Texas. Cyclist Lance Armstrong tops the list (no surprise there). Texas Monthly Editor Evan Smith says, via press release, the list “highlighted the people most likely to have a material impact on all of our lives, beginning with Lance Armstrong, who may yet lead us down the path to a cure for cancer….”
It’s doubtful that any of the people from Houston are going to cure cancer, but they’re still good folks, people Houston can be proud to call its own. Among H-town big shots on the list is rapper Chamillionaire (we’re big fans of his), Matthew Simmons, who has the suspicious job title of “energy pessimist,” and Off the Kuff blogger Charles Kuffner. There’s also Pastor/Christian Singer Marcos Witt and pitcher/coach Cat Osterman. We’ve got no problem with any of those folks – they all seem to be talented, earnest people. (Thank you Texas Monthly for including only one woman from Houston – even if she does have the unfortunate name of ‘Cat.’)
Then, there’s Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, the head of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. This is where we get tripped up. Wasn’t DiNardo the guy who recently delayed the reporting of sexual abuse by a local priest for at least two months? Isn’t he the guy who wouldn’t disclose the whereabouts of the accused priest? (Our lawyers make us say “accused”.) And on a recent trip to Rome, didn’t DiNardo visit Cardinal Bernard Law, the man who made “Catholic church” and “sexual abuse scandal” synonymous?
Oh, my. That’s nowhere near a cure for cancer, is it? – Olivia Flores Alvarez
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2008.
