Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville

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Diocese of Knoxville

Dioecesis Knoxvillensis
Sacred Heart Cathedral (Knoxville, TN) - exterior.jpg
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral
CoA Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.svg
Location
Country United States
TerritoryEast Tennessee
Ecclesiastical provinceLouisville
Statistics
Area14,242 sq mi (36,890 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2011)
2,350,312
63,000 (2.7%)
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMay 27, 1988 (33 years ago)
CathedralCathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Patron saintSt. John Paul II
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopRichard Stika Bishop of Knoxville
Metropolitan ArchbishopJoseph Edward Kurtz Archbishop of Louisville
Vicar GeneralDavid A. Boettner
Map
Diocese of Knoxville map.PNG
Website
dioknox.org

The Diocese of Knoxville (Latin: Dioecesis Knoxvillensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Tennessee. It was founded on May 27, 1988 from the eastern counties of the Diocese of Nashville. This diocese covers most of East Tennessee; in addition to the see city of Knoxville, it includes Chattanooga and Johnson City. The Mother Church is the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, located on Northshore Drive in Knoxville. The two oldest churches are Saints Peter and Paul Basilica Parish of Chattanooga and Church of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Knoxville, both founded in 1852.

As of 2020, there were an estimated 70,000 Catholics within the diocese, which covers approximately 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2).[1] The percentage of Catholic adherents within the diocese's borders constitutes the lowest among American dioceses.[2] The Diocese of Knoxville is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville.

Demographics[]

With a population of 70,000 Catholics, the diocese makes up about 2.8% percent of East Tennessee's total population. The diocese is currently home to 50 parishes and one mission. These parishes are served by 65 diocesan priests, 15 religious priests, 8 extern priests, 77 deacons, 9 brothers, and 45 sisters.[1] Eleven Religious Institutes are represented in the diocese.[3]

Perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament is available at many of the parishes and Masses are celebrated in a wide array of languages. This is chosen so that the spiritual needs of all parishioners are met. These languages include English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, American Sign Language, Polish, and Latin.[citation needed]

With the influx of large numbers of Hispanic Catholics looking for work, the diocese faces many new challenges. If the estimates are correct and there are about 50,000 new Hispanic immigrants in the area, their number nearly doubles the area's current official Catholic population. The clergy and laity of the diocese are working to welcome these new neighbors.[4][failed verification]

History[]

Immaculate Conception Church (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

While the Catholic Church has been a part of life in East Tennessee for over 166 years,[4] the Diocese of Knoxville was founded in 1988.[5] Before the creation, the area was part of the Diocese of Nashville.[5]

Because of his role in the creation of the Diocese, Nashville's Bishop James Daniel Niedergeses, was known as the "Grandfather of the Diocese of Knoxville"[6]

Sexual abuse cases[]

On January 1, 2020, the Diocese settled a sex abuse lawsuit involving a man who claimed two priests in the Diocese sexually abused him as a child in the 1990s.[7][8][9][10] Those accused were Monsignor Francis Xavier Mankel and the Diocese of Knoxville's first Bishop Anthony O'Connell;[7][8] O'Connell previously confessed in 2002 to committing acts of sex abuse before he joined the Diocese of Knoxville as well.[11] The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.[7][8][10][9] Originally filed in the Knox County Circuit Court, both parties involved in the lawsuit agreed to instead settle the lawsuit out of court.[7][8][10][9] Despite denying any wrongdoing concerning the two accused priests, who are both dead, the Diocese agreed to settle due to the financial burden which would have grown by continuing the lawsuit.[7][8][10][9]

COVID-19 response[]

Public Masses were suspended on March 20, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 6, 2020, Bishop Stika issued a decree for the resumption of public Masses with protocols to reduce spread of the virus, including directives which prohibit the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue.[12]

Coat of Arms[]

Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville hide
CoA Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.svg
Notes
Arms was designed and adopted when the diocese was erected. It was designed by Deacon Paul Sullivan.
Adopted
1988
Escutcheon
The arms of the diocese are composed of a cross in gold (Or) at center with three small red (Gules) crosses on it. The background of the shield that shows behind the cross is divided quarterly into areas of red and blue (Azure). Mountains, a dogwood blossom, river and a railroad trestle are charged in there.
Symbolism
The central cross in gold (Or) is taken from the coat of arms of Pope John Paul II, who established the diocese. Three small red (Gules) crosses represent the three dioceses in the state of Tennessee. Charges in these quarters allude to natural features that dominate the landscape of East Tennessee: mountains, a dogwood blossom, and the Tennessee River. A railroad trestle in the bottom right quarter honors the Irish immigrants who brought the Catholic faith to the area, many of whom worked constructing railroads, especially trestles.

Bishops[]

Bishops of Knoxville[]

The following is a list of bishops along with their dates of service:

  1. Anthony Joseph O'Connell (1988–1998), appointed Bishop of Palm Beach
  2. Joseph Edward Kurtz (1999–2007), appointed Archbishop of Louisville
  3. Richard Stika (2009–present)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop[]

  • James Vann Johnston Jr. appointed Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and later Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph

Education[]

High schools[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "About the Diocese of Knoxville". Diocese of Knoxville. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "USA, Statistics by Diocese, by Percentage Catholic [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ "Diocese of Knoxville History". DioceseofKnoxville.org. 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Diocese of Knoxville". DioceseofKnoxville.org. 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Diocese of Knoxville History". DioceseofKnoxville.org. 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  6. ^ "Diocese of Knoxville History 1987-1999". DioceseofKnoxville.org. 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e McRary, Amy. "Diocese of Knoxville settles sexual abuse lawsuit out of court". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Diocese of Knoxville agrees to settle sexual abuse lawsuit out of court". wbir.com.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Tennessee Catholic diocese settles priest abuse lawsuit". Crux. Knoxville, Tennessee. Associated Press. January 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d WTVC, The Associated Press (January 1, 2020). "Diocese of Knoxville settles priest abuse lawsuit". WTVC.
  11. ^ Ross, Brian; Schwartz, Rhonsa; Schecter, Anna (April 15, 2008). "Victims: Pope Benedict Protects Accused Pedophile Bishops". ABC News. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bishop Stika issues directives for resumption of public Masses". Diocese of Knoxville. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.

External links[]

Coordinates: 35°58′22″N 83°56′32″W / 35.97278°N 83.94222°W / 35.97278; -83.94222

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