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His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph Edward Kurtz
Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville
Archbishop Kurtz in 2016
Archdiocese Louisville
Appointed June 12, 2007
Enthroned August 15, 2007
Predecessor Thomas C. Kelly, O.P
Successor Shelton Fabre
Orders
Ordination March 18, 1972
Consecration December 8, 1999
by Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, Thomas C. Kelly, and Edward Peter Cullen
Personal details
Birth name Joseph Edward Kurtz
Born (1946-08-18) August 18, 1946 (age 77)
Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic
Residence Louisville, Kentucky
Parents George and Stella (née Zmijewski) Kurtz
Occupation Archbishop
Previous post
Alma mater St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
Marywood University
Motto Hope In The Lord
Styles of
Joseph Edward Kurtz
CoA Joseph Edward Kurtz.svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Archbishop

Joseph Edward Kurtz (born August 18, 1946) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville in Kentucky from 2007 to 2022. He previously served as the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville in Tennessee from 1999 to 2007. Kurtz was president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2013 to 2016.

Biography

Early life

Joseph Kurtz was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, to George and Stella (née Zmijewski) Kurtz. He is of Polish descent. One of five children (Rose Marie, Theresa, George, and Patricia), he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia in 1964. He obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy degree and a Master of Divinity degree from that school.

Priesthood

Kurtz was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Allentown by Bishop Joseph McShea on March 18, 1972. Kurtz completed his post-graduate work at Marywood University in Scranton, earning a Master of Social Work degree.

During his priestly ministry, Kurtz served as high school teacher, college lecturer, administrator, and pastor in Catasauqua and Bethlehem, both in Pennsylvania. He was raised to the rank of Monsignor in 1986.

Bishop of Knoxville

On October 26, 1999, Kurtz was appointed as the second bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on December 8. 1999. from Archbishop Gabriel Higuera, with Archbishop Thomas Kelly and Bishop Edward Cullen serving as co-consecrators, before an audience of approximately 5,000 at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville.

Archbishop of Louisville

Kurtz was named archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville on June 12, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI. His installation took place on August 15, 2007, at Louisville Gardens in Louisville.

In addition to his diocesan duties, Kurtz served as chair of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life. He was elected as the vice president of the USCCB in November 2010. On November 11, 2013, Kurtz was elected USCCB president. On February 19, 2014, Kurtz was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. On November 14, 2014, he was elected as a delegate to the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family, pending Vatican approval.

..... The report was prepared by an independent investigator who was not part of the church. None of the 22 men were active priests in 2019.

In July 2019, Kurtz underwent treatment for urothelial cancer, which required a three-month medical leave of absence from the archdiocese.

Retirement

On February 8, 2022, Pope Francis accepted Kurtz's letter of resignation as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Doctrinal positions

Kurtz is generally seen as a conservative and a firm follower of Vatican directives on doctrine and liturgy. .....

See also

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