Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington

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Diocese of Covington

Dioecesis Covingtonensis
051030 109 cov cath.jpg
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Coat of Arms of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington.svg
Location
Country United States
TerritoryNorthern Kentucky
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of Louisville
Statistics
Area3,359 sq mi (8,700 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)
513,971
92,456 (18%)
Parishes47
Schools38
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJuly 29, 1853
CathedralCathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Patron saintSt. Paul the Apostle
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Bishop electJohn C. Iffert
Metropolitan ArchbishopJoseph Edward Kurtz
Bishops emeritusRoger Joseph Foys
Map
Diocese of Covington.jpg
Website
covdio.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington (Latin: Dioecesis Covingtonensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Kentucky, covering 3,359 square miles (8,700 km2) that includes the city of Covington and the Kentucky counties of Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Grant, Owen, Pendleton, Harrison, Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Fleming, and Lewis. The cathedral church of the diocese is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. On July 13, 2021 Pope Francis appointed Monsignor John Iffert, a priest of the Diocese of Belleville, as bishop-elect of Covington.[1]

History[]

Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Covington on July 29, 1853, taking its territory from the Diocese of Louisville, and appointing the president of Xavier University in Cincinnati, George Aloysius Carrell, S.J., as its first bishop. The diocese originally consisted of the eastern half of Kentucky, with the Diocese of Louisville containing the western half.

Historically, the Catholic population of the diocese was composed primarily of descendants of German immigrants in the towns of Covington and Newport in the mid-19th century, who came to the United States in the wake of the German revolutions of 1848–49. The Catholic communities of Cincinnati and Louisville had a similar demographic. Much of the parish architecture in the diocese reflects this German cultural heritage.

On 10 December 1937, Pope Pius XI elevated the Diocese of Louisville to a metropolitan archdiocese, designating the Diocese of Covington as one of its suffragans.

On 14 January 1988, Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Lexington, taking its territory from the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Diocese of Covington. This action established the present territory of the diocese.

Clergy sexual abuse[]

In 2009, it was reported that 243 victims of clergy sexual abuse had received an average of $254,000 each, totaling approximately $79 million. Perpetrators included 35 priests.[2] In November 2019, it was reported that when the 2009 settlement was finalized, it totaled $90.5 million.[3]

In the early 21st century, the Roman Catholic Church in the United States was revealed to have covered up widespread sexual abuse of minors by priests that occurred in numerous dioceses; the scandal was first investigated in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2005 the Diocese of Covington announced that it had settled with more than 100 victims of sexual abuse by paying approximately $120 million.[4] The diocese agreed that any person who claimed to have been sexually abused by a member of the clergy or a lay employee could seek compensation regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. Under terms of the settlement, victims would be placed into one of four categories, depending upon the severity of their abuse. Payments would range from $5,000 to $450,000 for each victim, minus attorneys' fees. This was the largest settlement for any Roman Catholic diocese in the United States at the time. The diocese acquired $40 million by liquidating real estate assets, including the Marydale Retreat Center in Erlanger, and other investments. The remaining $80 million was paid by its insurance carriers.[5] Additionally, Bishop 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."[6]

In August 2019, Rev. David Glockner was arrested after being accused of inappropriately touching two high school girls who were volunteering in a construction project at a farm in Vanceburg.[7] Shortly after his arrest, the Diocese removed Glockner from ministry at his parish.[7] After being bailed out of jail, Glockner left the state of Kentucky and is required to live in Cincinnati, Ohio's Glenmary headquarters.[7]

On July 31, 2020, the Diocese of Covington released a report on sexual abuse which found that 59 Catholic priests and 31 others associated with the church had sexually abused children since at least 1950.[8] However, it was reported in November 2019 that 92 priests and brothers who served in the Diocese of Covington were accused of sexual abuse by not just the Vatican, but also prosecutors and civil litigation since 1959.[3]

Bishops[]

Bishops of Covington[]

The list of ordinaries of the diocese and their years of service:

  1. George Aloysius Carrell, S.J. (1853–1868)
  2. Augustus Toebbe (1869–1884)
  3. Camillus Paul Maes (1884–1915)
  4. Ferdinand Brossart (1915–1923)
  5. Francis William Howard (1923–1944)
  6. William Theodore Mulloy (1944–1959)
  7. Richard Henry Ackerman, C.S.Sp. (1960–1978)
  8. William Anthony Hughes (1979–1995)
  9. Robert William Muench (1996–2001), appointed Bishop of Baton Rouge
  10. Roger Joseph Foys (2002–2021)
  11. John C. Iffert (Bishop-Elect)

Former auxiliary bishop[]

Statistics[]

As of 2013, the diocese held 92,456 Catholics out of a population of 513,971, about 18% of the population of its territory. The diocese contains 47 parishes and 6 missions in 14 counties, the majority of which are concentrated in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties. As of 2006, there were 83 diocesan priests, 9 religious priests, 28 permanent deacons, 346 religious sisters, and 16 religious brothers.[9] The diocese also supports a private collegial institution, Thomas More University in Crestview Hills. In addition, the diocese also administers six area medical centers under the St. Elizabeth Healthcare system. The diocese also administers 28 cemeteries.

Parishes[]

Education system[]

The Diocese of Covington contains thirty-nine educational institutions. They are administered either independently, by the diocesan school board, by the parish with which they are affiliated, or by a religious order. In total, in 2013 there were 14,284 students under Catholic instruction.

High schools[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Diocese of Covington gets new bishop as pope as accepts Foy's resignation". Cincinatti Enquirer. July 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Largest sexual abuse settlements by Roman Catholic institutions in the U.S." San Diego Union Tribune. August 31, 2017.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/these-priests-credibly-accused-of-child-sexual-abuse-still-live-quietly-in-the-tri-state
  4. ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.church04jun04-story.html#:~:text=COVINGTON%2C%20Ky.,alleged%20victims%20of%20child%20molestation.
  5. ^ Huffstutter, P.J. (June 2005). "Kentucky diocese agrees to $120 million settlement". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  6. ^ Foys, Roger Joseph (June 2005). "Letter from Bishop Foys About Abuse Cases". Diocese of Covington. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/08/08/diocese-covington-priest-accused-inappropriately-touching-girls/1959005001/
  8. ^ Associated Press (August 2, 2020). "Diocese of Covington releases report on clergy sexual abuse". Crux. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "Covington (Diocese of Covington)". Retrieved 12 November 2013.

External links[]

Coordinates: 39°03′54″N 84°30′35″W / 39.06500°N 84.50972°W / 39.06500; -84.50972

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