Pope Benedict has appointed an Irishman, Bishop Kevin Farrell, to lead Dallas' one million Catholics.
Bishop Farrell succeeds Bishop Charles Grahmann who has retired for age reasons.
The 59-year-old Dubliner will move from Washington DC where he has been an auxiliary bishop since 2001.
Nine years ago, after a $120m award against his diocese because of its gross neglect in a clerical sexual abuse case, Bishop Grahmann got permission from the Vatican to sue for bankruptcy.
In the event, he did not, but ended up paying over $23m to nine former altar boys who claimed they were abused by Fr Rudolph Kos.
The diocese ended up selling many valuable properties to fund the payment.
Among Bishop Farrell's qualifications is a master's degree in business and administration from the University of Notre Dame.
His brother, Brian, is also a Bishop and serves in the Vatican as the number two official in its Council for Christian Unity. He belongs to the Legionaries of Christ Order which Bishop Farrell left 24 years ago for service in the Washington diocese.
