Gerard William Battersby

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The Most Reverend

Gerard William Battersby
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Titular Bishop of Eguga
ArchdioceseDetroit
AppointedNovember 23, 2016
Other post(s)Titular Bishop of Eguga
Orders
OrdinationMay 30, 1998
ConsecrationJanuary 25, 2017
by Allen Henry Vigneron, John M. Quinn, and Paul F. Russell
Personal details
Born (1960-05-15) May 15, 1960 (age 61)
Detroit, Michigan
MottoIn sinu Patris
With the Father
Coat of armsGerard William Battersby's coat of arms
Styles of
Gerard William Battersby
Coat of arms of Gerard William Battersby.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Gerard William Battersby (born May 15, 1960) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit since 2016.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Battersby was born in Detroit on May 15, 1960, to Christopher and Helen (Buckley) Battersby. He attended St. Benedict Parish and Lamphere Public Schools in Madison Heights, Michigan[1] [2] Battersby attended Wayne State University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. While on a college trip to the British Isles, Battersby said he first realized that he would eventually become a priest

“When I was in Ireland, I had an experience over the Easter week — actually I was at a youth hostel in Scotland — and I was musing about my life. One morning I woke up very early and I had what I guess I now would call an illumination: I knew I was going to be a priest. I had no previous desire or inkling — as a typical Catholic boy that was always somewhere in the background, but it was never in the forefront — but I really felt very strongly that that was the case.[2]

Although his original plan was to go to medical school, Battersby decided after graduation to work for a pharmaceutical company. He later became an appraiser in his father' business.[3][2]In 1993, Battersby decided to enter seminary. He graduated from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit with a Master of Divinity degree in 1998.

Priesthood[]

On May 30, 1998, Battersby was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit. [1] Battersby then served as an associate pastor at St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township, then at three parishes in Detroit: Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Gerard.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit[]

On November 23, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Battersby titular bishop of Eguga and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit .[4][5] On January 25, 2017, Battersby was consecrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

Battersby's episcopal lineage[6] dates back through Popes Pius X (1884),[6] Clement XIII (1743), Benedict XIV (1724), and Benedict XIII (1675).[7]

In March 2020, Battersby sent a letter to Father Victor Clore, the pastor of Christ the King Parish in Detroit. It said that the local support group for families of LGBTQ Catholics, Fortunate Families, was forbidden to meet at his church, or other church facility in the archdiocese. The letter also said that the group must discontinue its claim to be "Catholic operating in the Archdiocese of Detroit". Battersby wrote that the group's dissent from Catholic teaching presented a danger to their membership. He suggested that their members join with EnCourage, an approved ministry operating in the archdiocese.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Bishop Gerard Battersby". Archdiocese of Detroit. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  2. ^ a b c "Scaling 'mountains,' Bishop Battersby found love at the top". Detroit Catholic. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  3. ^ Hicks, Mark. "2 auxiliary bishops named for Archdiocese of Detroit". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  4. ^ "Pope Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Detroit, Michigan, and Orange, California". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "BREAKING: Pope Francis names Fr. Battersby, Fr. Fisher as Detroit's new auxiliary bishops". Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Bishop Gerard William Battersby, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, accessed 2020-06-03
  7. ^ Pope Pius X - St. Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto , catholic-hierarchy.org, accessed 2020-06-04
  8. ^ Detroit Archdiocese expels support group for families of LGBT Catholics, Peter Feuerherd, National Catholic Reporter, 2020-03-28

External links[]

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