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Though he has been a priest only 13 years, Simonis is articulate enough to have become a natural leader for Roman Catholic conservatives in The Netherlands—a Dutch William F. Buckley. He seemed to gravitate to conservative leadership shortly after returning from biblical studies in Rome, soon became the conservative spokesman on television and in public discussions. The loyalty was returned. On Dec. 31, as the uproar broke over his appointment, a group of influential conservatives hired a plane to fly over The Hague, fluttering a banner: LONG LIVE BISHOP SIMONIS.
Simonis will need all the loyalty he can get. All 14 Rotterdam deans and nearly 200 pastors in the area have publicly spoken against the appointment. His vicar general has said that the diocesan staff "cannot work with this man." The Pastoral Council of Rotterdam has asked Simonis to resign. "A bishop can function not only because he has been appointed by the Pope, but also because he has been accepted by the community," the council declared.
Next week, Bernard Jan Cardinal Al-frink and two other Dutch bishops will make a previously scheduled journey to the Vatican to discuss with the Pope the celibacy issue and perhaps—if Paul permits it—the Simonis appointment. It is possible for the Pontiff to yield on an unpopular bishop: in 1967, Ruthenian rite Catholics in Pittsburgh objected to the regime of Bishop Nicholas T. Elko; Elko was eventually invited to a job in Rome, and a replacement was named. But Paul can be adamant, too—and the fury of Dutch liberals may only serve to heighten his resolve.