Cardinal Timothy Dolan did the reasonable thing. He submitted his resignation when he turned 75 and baton has been passed to a younger bishop (actually younger by almost two decades). Dolan turned 75 in February and submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required when the Archbishop of New York hit the magic number. And the Pope accepted it.

The new appointment of 58-year-old Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet, Illinois was announced on Thursday, December 18.

While I am not Catholic, I have always had a fondness for Dolan – his moral clarity, his sense of humor, and his general good cheer.

The whole thing got me thinking – wouldn’t it be nice if politicians had to do the same thing? At 75, they should have to submit their resignation to the president and he or she can decide whether they get to stay in power or not.

That would clear out many of our elderly politicians who need to hit the road: Senators Chuck Grassley (92), Mitch McConnell (83), and Bernie Sanders (84). Also House members Nancy Pelosi (85), Steny Hoyer (86), Jim Clyburn (85), Maxine Waters (87) and more.

That’s right – it isn’t just a “few old timers,” it’s a full-blown golden years club with walkers and dementia medication. The average age in Congress is creeping into the decade where most people are starting to plan bingo games and choosing orthopedic shoes.

If the Catholic Church can say “thanks, but you’ve rung enough bells,” then maybe Uncle Sam should too. Because at a certain point, dominating the political landscape shouldn’t qualify as a longevity challenge with constituents as unwitting participants.