Roger Joseph Foys

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Roger Joseph Foys

D.D.
Bishop emeritus of Covington
Bishop Roger Foys preaches at an ordination.png
Bishop Foys in 2013
ArchdioceseLouisville
DioceseCovington
AppointedMay 31, 2002
InstalledJuly 15, 2002
Term endedJuly 13, 2021
PredecessorRobert William Muench
SuccessorJohn C. Iffert
Orders
OrdinationMay 16, 1973
by Anthony John King Mussio
ConsecrationJuly 15, 2002
by Thomas C. Kelly, Gilbert Sheldon and Robert William Muench
Personal details
Born (1945-07-27) July 27, 1945 (age 76)
Chicago, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materFranciscan University of Steubenville
MottoLUCEAT LUX VESTRA
(Let Your Light Shine)
Styles of
Roger Joseph Foys
Coat of arms of Roger Joseph Foyss.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Roger Joseph Foys is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop of Covington, in Kentucky, United States, from 2002 to 2021.

Early life and priesthood[]

On July 27, 1945, Roger Joseph Foys was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his religious studies for the Diocese of Steubenville at St. John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale, Ohio, part of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He completed his graduate studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Bishop Anthony John King Mussio ordained Foys a priest on May 16, 1973, in Holy Name Cathedral of Steubenville, Ohio. Throughout his years with the Diocese of Steubenville, Foys served as Diocesan Treasurer, Chairman of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, and Moderator of the Curia. He was appointed Vicar General in 1982 and made a monsignor in 1987. He also taught Canon Law for one year at St. John Vianney Seminary. Pope John Paul II made him a Prelate of Honor in 1986 and a Protonotary Apostolic in 2001.

Episcopal career[]

Bishop of Covington[]

Foys was appointed Bishop of Covington on May 31, 2002, by Pope John Paul II and was consecrated at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption on July 15, 2002.[1]

Sex abuse scandal[]

Foys came to the Diocese of Covington as it was in the midst of a class action lawsuit concerning the sexual abuse of minors by over 80 diocesan employees including priests.[2] The lawsuit was filed one day before Foys was appointed by the pope to the See of Covington. The claim was originally for $50 million,[3] but eventually grew to be much more over the years of litigation.

Foys vowed to meet with every victim of abuse who was willing to meet saying, "Those harmed by these shameful, despicable deeds now need the institutional Church and, more importantly, the pastoral Church to provide as much comfort and peace as possible. Our hearts must remain open, like Christ's".[4] He eventually met with over 70 victims of abuse personally and agree to create a system of payment where victims who were abused between 1948 and 1998 could receive compensation while not having to undergo the process of a trial.[citation needed]

The settlement eventually cost the diocese $120 million; $80 million of which came from insurance while $40 million came from the mortgage of diocesan properties (most notably Catholic Center/Marydale property in Erlanger). No parish properties were affected by the settlement. Each victim received between $5,000 and $450,000 depending on the severity of their case. Foys said "While no amount of money can compensate for the atrocities that were committed here, I pray that this settlement will bring victims some measure of peace and healing to victims and their loved ones".[5]

Vocations[]

The number of priestly vocations in the Diocese dramatically increased under his tenure. This can possibly be attributed to the fact that the Bishop was a vocation director in Diocese of Steubenville and devotes significant diocesan resources to vocation promotion, including the hiring of a full-time Vocation Promoter (Father Greg Bach) for the Diocese.[6] As of 2013, the diocese had 28 seminarians studying for the priesthood.[7]

Pater Noster controversy[]

In anticipation of the release of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal and General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Foys issued a decree that discourages the laity from holding hands during the Pater Noster (or "Our Father") at the celebration of Mass. The decree states, "Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the Our Father. Only the priest is given the instruction to "extend" his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this. No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed."[8] The decree caused controversy in the diocese.[9]

Retirement[]

Pope Francis accepted his resignation on July 13, 2021.[10]

Coat of arms[]

Coat of arms of Roger Joseph Foys hide
Coat of arms of Roger Joseph Foyss.svg
Notes
Bishop Roger Foys' coat of arms combines his own design with the design of the Diocese of Covington. The left side of the shield displays the diocesan design, commissioned by Bishop William Mulloy after the 1953 elevation of the diocese's Cathedral to the status of minor basilica by Pope Pius XII. The coat of arms was designed by A.W.C. Phelps, Cleveland, Ohio, in consultation with the Most Reverend Roger Joseph Foys, D.D. Below the shield is the Latin phrase Luceat Lux Vestra, Latin for Let your light shine (Matthew 5:16).[11]
Escutcheon
Imposed on the blue upper portion is a gold fleur-de-lis set within the arms of a silver crescent moon. Below it is a red cross on a white field. Pointing upward on the vertical beam of the cross is a gold sword.
Symbolism
"Galero": a gold processional Cross topped by a galero, or wide-brimmed hat, signifies the rank of bishop.
Fleur-de-lis in the Crescent: the gold fleur-de-lis within the arms of a silver crescent moon is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.
Gold Sword: The red cross set against a white field containing a gold sword points upwards, symbolizes Saint Paul, patron of the Diocese of Covington.
"White Fleur-de-lis": Symbolizes not only Mary in this instance, but also the Cistercian Order and Blessed Roger Ellant.
"White Lilly": Represents Saint Joseph who, along with Blessed Roger Ellant, are baptismal patrons of Bishop Foys.

References[]

  1. ^ "Most Rev. Roger Joseph Foys, D.D." Diocese of Covington. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  2. ^ McKee, Tom (June 6, 2010). "Covington Diocese sex abuse settlement - 1 year later (archive)". KYPost.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  3. ^ O'Neill, Tom (July 15, 2002). "Bishop Foys says he won't be silent". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. ^ Foys, Roger Joseph (June 2005). "Letter from Bishop Foys About Abuse Cases". Diocese of Covington. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  5. ^ Cooperman, Alan (June 4, 2005). "Ky. Diocese to Pay Sex-Abuse Victims Up to $120 Million". Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Ziegler, Jeff (December 2007). "Priestly Vocations in America: Recent Trends". The Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010.
  7. ^ "Vocations Supplement" (PDF). The Messenger. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  8. ^ Gibson, David (December 1, 2011). "'Our Father' update: No hands please, we're laity". Commonweal. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  9. ^ Warren, Jay (November 30, 2011). "Covington Bishop: No Holding Hands at Mass". Kentucky Post.
  10. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 13.07.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  11. ^ http://www.covingtondiocese.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=88254&From=Home

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Robert William Muench 		Bishop of Covington
2002–21 		Succeeded by
John C. Iffert
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