Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
Diocese of Owensboro Dioecesis Owensburgensis | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | United States |
Territory | Western Kentucky |
Ecclesiastical province | Archdiocese of Louisville |
Statistics | |
Population - Catholics (including non-members) | 51,780 [2] (6.2%) |
Parishes | 78[1] |
Schools | 19[2] |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | December 9, 1937 |
Cathedral | St. Stephen's Cathedral[3] |
Patron saint | St. Stephen |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | William Medley Bishop of Owensboro |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Joseph Edward Kurtz Archbishop of Louisville |
Map | |
Website | |
rcdok.org |
The Diocese of Owensboro (Latin: Dioecesis Owensburgensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Kentucky. As of 2020, the diocese contained of 78 parishes and two Newman Centers in 32 counties of western Kentucky.[2][1]
The current bishop, William Medley, was the pastor of Saint Bernadette Parish of the Archdiocese of Louisville prior to his consecration which took place February 10, 2010.[2] The Diocese of Owensboro is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville.
History[]
Pope Pius XI erected the Diocese of Owensboro in territory taken from the Diocese of Louisville on 9 December 1937, simultaneously elevating the latter to a Metropolitan Archdiocese and designating the new diocese as one of its suffragans. The original cathedral for the diocese was to be established in Henderson, Kentucky at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, but was changed to the city of Owensboro. The diocese's cathedral is named after St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.[3]
Sexual abuse[]
In April 2019, the Diocese of Owensboro released a list of 15 priests who were accused of sexually abusing children while serving in the diocese.[4][5] Two of these priests, Joseph J. Pilger and Louis Francis Piskula, were convicted, with Pilger receiving a five-year probation sentence in 1995 and Piskula receiving a five-year prison sentence in 2014.[5] Piskula later died in prison in 2018.[5][6] Two other credibly accused priests, Richard M. Powers and Joseph Robert "Bob" Willet, were forced to pay settlements in 1999.[5] Pilger also was ordered to pay a $5.2M settlement to at least 27 accusers in 2003, the same year he was murdered.[5]
In 2018, the diocese removed Gerald Baker from active ministry in the diocese after determining that sexual abuse accusations against him were credible.[6][5] In March 2019, the diocese temporarily suspended Joseph Edward "Ed" Bradley after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were made.[7] In May 2019, the diocese recommended that Bradley be permanently removed from public service.[8] As of October 2019, the Vatican has not ruled on the recommendation.[9]
Bishops[]
Bishops of Owensboro[]
- Francis Ridgley Cotton (1937-1961)[2]
- Henry Joseph Soenneker (1961-1982)[2]
- John Jeremiah McRaith (1982-2009)[2]
- William Francis Medley (2009–present)[2]
High schools and university[]
- Owensboro Catholic High School, Owensboro
- St. Mary High School, Paducah
- Trinity High School, Whitesville
- Brescia University, Owensboro
See also[]
- Catholic Church by country
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Our Diocese". Diocese of Owensboro. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "The Bishop". Diocese of Owensboro. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "About Us". Saint Stephen Cathedral. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ WKYT News Staff (13 April 2019). "Diocese of Owensboro releases names of accused priests". WKYT. WKYT/WFIE. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Database of Publicly Accused Priests in the United States". BishopAccountability.org. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Permanently Suspended". U.S. News. Associated Press. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ White and Smith, Douglas and Beth (2 March 2019). "Father Ed Bradley, Rick Pitino's former team chaplain, suspended after sex abuse claim". Courier-Journal. Henderson Gleaner. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ "Diocese recommends permanent suspension for accused priest". WBKO. Associated Press. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Zimmer, Jay (2 October 2019). "Permanent Suspension Sought for Father Bradley". WIKY. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
External links[]
Coordinates: 37°45′28″N 87°07′06″W / 37.75778°N 87.11833°W
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro
- Christian organizations established in 1937
- Catholic Church in Kentucky
- Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
- Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States
- Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Louisville
- 1937 establishments in Kentucky
- United States Roman Catholic diocese stubs