Peter F. Christensen
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Peter Forsyth Christensen | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Boise | |
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Boise |
| Appointed | November 4, 2014 |
| Installed | December 17, 2014 |
| Predecessor | Michael Patrick Driscoll |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 25, 1985 by John Roach |
| Consecration | September 14, 2007 by Harry Joseph Flynn, Raphael Michael Fliss, and William Henry Bullock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 24, 1952 Altadena, California |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Residence | Boise, Idaho |
| Parents | Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen |
| Occupation | Catholic bishop |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Superior |
| Alma mater | University of St. Thomas, and Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity |
| Motto | Tu es Christus Filius Dei Vivi |
| Styles of Peter Forsyth Christensen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Peter Forsyth Christensen (born December 24, 1952) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who serves as bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho.
On November 4, 2014, Pope Francis named Christensen the eighth bishop in the Diocese of Boise, Idaho. He was installed as bishop in Boise on December 17, 2014, at St. John's Cathedral.[1]
Biography[]
Early life and education[]
Born in Altadena, California, he was the fourth of eight children[2][3] born to Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen. The family later moved to Palos Verdes, and in 1964, Robert and Ann obtained a divorce. Christensen attended Palos Verdes High School.
He moved to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1975 and there studied at the University of St. Thomas, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in art history. Christensen then worked as a graphic designer before entering St. Paul Seminary in 1981. During his seminary education, he studied in Israel for a semester.
Ordination and ministry[]
Christensen was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Roach on May 25, 1985, and then served as assistant pastor of St. Olaf parish in Minneapolis before becoming spiritual director (1989) and rector (1992) of the archdiocesan minor seminary until 1999.
In June 1999, he was made pastor of Nativity of Our Lord parish in St. Paul, where he continued traditional practices, such as perpetual Eucharistic adoration. He also reconstructed the church and rectory.
Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin[]
On June 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Christensen Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin. After receiving a telephone call from Archbishop Pietro Sambi bringing news of his appointment, he "sobbed for about 15 minutes" as he had not sought the episcopal office.[4] During a press conference, Christensen promised to be a "good listener" in his new role as bishop.[3] Christensen was consecrated at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 14, 2007, and installed as Bishop of Superior on September 23, 2007.
Christensen joined with other Wisconsin bishops in issuing a warning against the use of POLST, Physician (or Provider) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, in a statement published Wednesday, July 25, 2012. In “Upholding the Dignity of Human Life,” the bishops wrote that the use of POLST has grave implications for the dignity of human life and they “encourage all Catholics to avoid using all such documents, programs and materials.” In January 2014, Christensen announced that Common Core would not be allowed in the Catholic schools of his diocese.
Bishop of Boise, Idaho[]
On November 4, 2014, Christensen was named the new bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho. He was installed as the eighth bishop of Boise on December 17, 2014, in St. John's Cathedral. In April 2020, Christensen issued a memo containing orders for the priests of the Diocese of Boise, including a controversial order banning them from celebrating Mass Ad orientem, facing in the same direction.[5]
See also[]
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References[]
- ^ "Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen, M.A., D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ Leibowitz's Canticle. Soon to be: His Eminence, Bishop Peter F. Christensen June 30, 2007
- ^ a b Catholic Herald. Christensen named Fliss' successor[permanent dead link]
- ^ Duluth News Tribune. St. Paul priest chosen to take over Superior diocese[permanent dead link] June 29, 2007
- ^ "Boise bishop bans 'ad orientem' posture in 'ordinary form' Masses". Retrieved 7 April 2020.
External links[]
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Peter F. Christensen |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Forsyth Christensen. |
- Diocese of Boise
- Diocese of Superior
- Whispers in the Loggia: "Appointments: Not Just for Tuesdays"
- Catholic News Agency: "Pope Benedict names new bishop for Diocese of Superior"
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- 1952 births
- Living people
- People from Pasadena, California
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Religious leaders from Wisconsin
- Roman Catholic bishops of Superior
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Roman Catholic bishops of Boise
- People from Palos Verdes, California
- Catholics from California