George Joseph Lucas

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George Joseph Lucas (born June 12, 1949) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Archbishop of Omaha, having previously served as Bishop of Springfield in Illinois from 1999 to 2009.

Styles of George Joseph Lucas
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography[]

Early life and education[]

George Lucas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, as the eldest of the four children of George and Mary (née Kelly) Lucas; he has one sister, Catherine, and two brothers, James and John. He attended from 1963 to 1967. He studied at until 1971, when he obtained his BA in philosophy. Lucas studied theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary from 1971 to 1975.

Ordination and ministry[]

Lucas was ordained to the priesthood by John Cardinal Carberry on May 24, 1975. He served as associate pastor of St. Justin Martyr Church in Sunset Hills until 1980, and of St. Dismas Church in Florissant until 1981.

While part-time associate pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in St. Louis (1981-1984) and of Ascension Church in Normandy (1984-1986), Lucas furthered his studies at St. Louis University from 1982 to 1986, earning his Master's degree in history. He was a professor (1981-1987) and vice-principal (1982-1987) at as well.

Lucas was part-time associate pastor at St. Ann Church in Normandy (1986-1989) and St. Peter Church in Kirkwood (1989-1990). In 1987, he began teaching at the newly merged , becoming its dean of students that same year.

From 1990 to 1994, he served as chancellor of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and private secretary to Archbishop John May. Lucas was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness on September 5, 1994, and was vicar general of St. Louis for a year before becoming rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in 1995. He was a member of the Priests' Personnel Board of St. Louis from 1987 to 1990, being named its secretary in 1988. He also sat on the editorial board of the archdiocesan newspaper The St. Louis Review (1988–1999), the board of directors (1990–1995), and board of rrustees (1990–1999) of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, and the Council of Priests of St. Louis (1994–1999).

Bishop of Springfield, Illinois[]

On October 19, 1999, Lucas was appointed the eighth Bishop of Springfield by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 14 from Francis Cardinal George, OMI, with Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo Higuera and Bishop Daniel L. Ryan serving as co-consecrators.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, Lucas announced the establishment of a diaconate formation program for the diocese. Men prepared for the diaconate by going through a five-year formation program through the diocesan Office for the Diaconate, in cooperation with Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. On June 24, 2007, Lucas ordained the first class of eighteen men to the Order of Deacons. Since 2007 permanent deacons have been serving at parishes throughout the diocese by assisting at liturgies, where they proclaim the Gospel and preach at some Masses. They are also baptizing, witnessing marriages, and presiding at wakes and graveside services.^[1]

In January 2002, Bishop Lucas launched an endowment/capital campaign called Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope, the first campaign of its kind in the history of the diocese. The program raised over $22.1 million, which was used to establish endowments to promote Catholic education through tuition assistance and continuing education for Catholic school educators. The endowment was also used to support the work of Catholic Charities, to assist in the formation of seminarians and deacon candidates, and for the care of retired priests of the diocese.^[1]

Jubilee 2003, the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, officially began on December 9, 2002. The highlight of the year-long Jubilee was the day-long celebration at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. On Saturday, June 28 an estimated 20,000 Catholics from all over the diocese enjoyed the day's activities, which included exhibits, rides on a living rosary, Eucharistic adoration, food, concerts and fireworks. The highlight of the day was a Mass attended by 15,000 people. Lucas welcomed seventeen bishops from across the country to celebrate with him. Participants in a procession carried banners representing each of the parishes close to the altar, which was situated on a stage in front of the grandstand. The Jubilee closed with a Mass celebrated on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.^[1]

According to a 2012 report,^[2] in February 2004 Bishop Lucas "reached a $3 million out-of-court settlement with 28 victims of clerical sex abuse in the Springfield Diocese including Matthew McCormick whose lawsuit was dismissed." Lucas personally apologized to the victims and their families, promising to enforce the diocesan norms of Omaha on sexual abuse.^[3]

Lucas spearheaded the Built in Faith campaign to raise the $11 million dollars needed to restore the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For 80 years the Cathedral served as the mother church of the diocese, but it was beginning to show its age. Lucas was promoted to the Archbishop of Omaha before the renovation was completed, but he was able to return for the Cathedral dedication, December 2, 2009.^[1]

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lucas sits on the Subcommittee on the Catechism and Sapientia Christiana Committee.^{[citation needed]}

Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska[]

George Joseph Lucas talks to worshippers

On June 3, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named Lucas as the fifth Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska. He succeeded Elden Francis Curtiss, and was installed at St. Cecilia Cathedral on July 22, 2009, by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the United States. In attendance was Archbishop Emeritus Curtiss (his predecessor in Omaha), and Cardinals Francis Eugene George, OMI (of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the metropolitan see of Illinois, where Archbishop Lucas's previous post was); and Justin Francis Rigali of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (he had been Archbishop Lucas's superior when Lucas was a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis). As Archbishop, Lucas serves as the spiritual leader of 220,000 Catholics in Nebraska.^[4]

He received the pallium, a vestment worn by metropolitan bishops, from Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009, in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica.^{[citation needed]}

Archbishop Lucas suppressed the Association of the Faithful titled "Intercessors of the Lamb" in October 2010 after the civil board "Intercessors, Inc." opposed his request for reforms.^[5][6] This came after the initial report of a canonical visitation conducted by Father James Conn, a noted Canon Lawyer. The visit was a necessary step after a request by the founder, Nadine Brown, to have the group made a full religious institute. Many discrepancies and issues were uncovered during the visitation, which led to Brown's resignation. Currently, 56 of the 68 members are residing together under the protection and guidance of the Archbishop, known as Intercessor Relief. They are currently discerning their future and the possibility of beginning a new order/association with the guidance of Archbishop Lucas. Ten members continue to reside at their community of "Bellwether".

At the end of the 2010s, he signed norms stronger than the 2002 Essential Norms (so called Zero Tolerance norms related to sexual abuse of parishioners).^[3] In 2018, the Omaha Archdiocese published a list of the names of 38 priests and deacons with credible claims of sexual abuses.^[7]

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct[]

In 2021, a verified complaint was filed in New York alleging discrimination against a former seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. As part of the complaint, the plaintiff alleged that Archbishop George Lucas participated in an orgy with a subordinate. The orgy took place in front of seminarians and another bishop. The claim was reviewed by a retired FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) and was found to be credible based on the evidence. This case is before the New York court, and Archbishop Lucas has not made a statement regarding the matter. ^[8]

Apostolic Administrator of Lincoln[]

Archbishop Lucas became the Apostolic Administrator of Lincoln on December 13th, 2019, when Bishop James D. Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln announced he would be going on a personal temporary leave of absence. His term as Apostolic Administrator ended when Pope Francis announced that Bishop James Conley would be returning to active ministry service on November 13, 2020.

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha official site

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Episcopal succession[]