40. William Murphy

We have to give him credit. Murphy tenaciously clung to his job in the face of public calls for his resignation from the nonprofit Long Island Voice of the Faithful. But while hundreds were asking him to leave, more than 6,000 others were signing a Catholic League petition asking him to stay. We admire the loyalty he inspires, but in the wake of the abuse scandal, hope he uses this power to make improvements within the diocese and recover the laity’s trust. So far, the word is: The diocese is cleaning up its act.