Christopher J. Coyne

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For other people named Christopher Coyne, see Christopher Coyne (disambiguation).

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Christopher James Coyne
Bishop of Burlington
Most Rev Christopher Coyne.jpg
Bishop Christopher Coyne in 2012
ChurchRoman Catholic
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseBurlington
AppointedDecember 22, 2014
InstalledJanuary 29, 2015
PredecessorSalvatore Ronald Matano
Orders
OrdinationJune 7, 1986
by Bernard Francis Law
ConsecrationMarch 2, 2011
by Daniel M. Buechlein, Richard Lennon, and Paul D. Etienne
Personal details
Born (1958-06-17) June 17, 1958 (age 63)
Woburn, Massachusetts
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis
MottoTRUST IN THE LORD
Styles of
Christopher James Coyne
Coat of arms of Christopher James Coyne.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Christopher James Coyne (born June 17, 1958) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 2015, he has been the Bishop of Burlington in Vermont. Coyne previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from 2011 to 2015.

Early life and education[]

Coyne was born in Woburn, Massachusetts to Rita and Bill Coyne.[1] He attended public schools in Woburn, graduating from Woburn Memorial High School in 1976. In 1980, Coyne received a BA in Business Management from UMass Lowell.[2] For two years after graduation, Coyne worked as a bartender.[2] In 1986. Coyne graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from St. John's Seminary in Boston.

Priestly ministry[]

On June 7, 1986, Coyne was ordained a priest by Cardinal Bernard Law. Coyne's first assignment after ordination in 1986 was as parochial vicar for St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Milton, Massachusetts, staying there until 1989.[2][1] In 1992, he earned his licentiate and in 1994 his doctorate in Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome.[1][2]In 1994, Coyne was appointed director of the pre-theology program at St. John's Seminary In 2004, he became an adjunct faculty member there.[2] In 2000, Coyne became director for the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of Boston.

In 2002, Coyne became cabinet secretary for communications and archdiocesan spokesman in the middle of the sex abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Boston. According to Coyne, he turned down the Archbishop's offer twice. On accepting the job, Coye said he told Law that he would not lie or disparage victims and wanted full access to archdiocese records.[3]

In 2005, Coyne became pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton, Massachusetts. The appointment raised controversy in the parish because Coyne had been the archdiocesan spokesman under Law and the former pastor had been allegedly replaced for speaking out against Law.[4][2] On February 1, 2003, after four months in Our Lady, Coyne requested a transfer from Archbishop Sean O'Malley.[5]In 2006, Coyne was transferred to Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood, Massachusetts

Episcopal career[]

Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis[]

In January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Coyne an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and titular bishop of Mopta. On March 2, 2011, he was consecrated in St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis. He was the first auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis since 1933.[6] Also in March 2011, Coyne was named vicar general for the Archdiocese, a post he would hold until 2016.[2]

On September 21, 2011, Coyne was appointed the apostolic administrator for the archdiocese by Benedict XVI. This was due to the early retirement of Archbishop Daniel Buechlein because of ill health.[7] Coyne served as apostolic administrator until the installation of Archbishop Joseph Tobin in 2012. In November 2014, Coyne was elected chairman of the Committee on Communication of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).[8]

Bishop of Burlington[]

On December 22, 2014, Pope Francis named Coyne as Bishop of the Diocese of Burlington.[9] His installation occurred on January 29, 2015.[10]

On September 28, 2016, Coyne announce the waiver of non-disclosure agreements for all sexual abuse victims of the St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington who had settled lawsuits against the diocese. He stated that he wanted these victims to come forward with their stories without fear of being sued.[11]On December 17, 2020, Coyne apologized to the abuse victims of St. Joseph's. This came after the release of an investigation by the State of Vermont that verified sexual abuse crimes there. Coyne remarked:

I absolutely believe that children were abused at the orphanage. No one is contesting that at all. Any victim of abuse at the hands of clergy of the church is an awful thing and I can’t apologize enough.[12]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Pope names Father Christopher Coyne auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis". www.thebostonpilot.com. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Bishop Coyne's Biography". Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Davis, Mark. "Orphanage Controversy Puts Bishop in a Familiar Setting — the Spotlight". Seven Days. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sex-abuse victims rip promotion for pastor". Boston Herald. January 15, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "New Pastor Will Leave Embattled Newton Parish, by Matt Viser and Michael Paulson, Boston Globe, February 1, 2006". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "† Archindy.org: The Criterion Online Edition - March 11, 2011". www.archindy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  7. ^ "Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein". archindy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  8. ^ Winters, Michael Sean (November 11, 2014). "Elections at the USCCB". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Pope nominates Bishop Coyne to diocese of Burlington, USA". Vatican Radio. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  10. ^ Donohue, Mike (December 22, 2014). "Coyne to become 10th Bishop of Burlington". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Bishop Coyne: survivors 'free' to tell their stories, waives nondisclosure agreement with diocese". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Perron, Darren. "Bishop Coyne apologizes to victims of Burlington orphanage abuse". www.wcax.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Burlington
2015–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis
2010–2014 		Succeeded by
-
Retrieved from ""