Joseph Edward Kurtz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph Edward Kurtz |
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| Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville | |
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Archbishop Kurtz in 2016
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| 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 | August 18, 1946 Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Residence | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Parents | George and Stella (née Zmijewski) Kurtz |
| Occupation | Archbishop |
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| Alma mater | St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Marywood University |
| Motto | Hope In The Lord |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Joseph Edward Kurtz |
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| Reference style |
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| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Joseph Edward Kurtz (born August 18, 1946) is a leader in the Roman Catholic Church known as a prelate. He was the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville in Kentucky from 2007 until he retired in 2022. An archdiocese is a large area of churches that an archbishop leads.
Before his time in Louisville, he was the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville in Tennessee from 1999 to 2007. He also served as the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2013 to 2016.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Joseph Kurtz was born on August 18, 1946, in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. His parents were George and Stella Kurtz, and he is of Polish heritage. He was one of five children.
In 1964, he began studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. A seminary is a school where people train to become priests. He earned degrees in philosophy and divinity there.
Becoming a Priest
On March 18, 1972, Kurtz was officially made a priest for the Diocese of Allentown. This ceremony is called an ordination. He later earned a Master's degree in Social Work from Marywood University.
As a priest, he worked as a high school teacher and a pastor in several towns in Pennsylvania. In 1986, he was given the honorary title of Monsignor for his service to the church.
Bishop and Archbishop
Bishop of Knoxville
On October 26, 1999, Pope John Paul II chose Kurtz to be the second bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee. A bishop is a high-ranking priest who is in charge of a group of churches called a diocese.
His special ceremony to become a bishop, called an episcopal consecration, took place on December 8, 1999. About 5,000 people attended the event at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Archbishop of Louisville
On June 12, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Kurtz the archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky. An archbishop oversees a larger church region called an archdiocese. He was officially installed in his new role on August 15, 2007, at Louisville Gardens.
In 2019, Archbishop Kurtz released a report about past problems in the archdiocese. The report, made by an outside expert, looked into serious mistakes made by some priests. None of these priests were working at the time.
In July 2019, Kurtz was treated for urothelial cancer. He took a three-month break from his duties to focus on his health.
National Leadership
Besides his work in Louisville, Archbishop Kurtz held important national roles. He was elected vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2010. The USCCB is an organization of Catholic bishops in the United States who work together on issues important to the Church.
Three years later, on November 11, 2013, he was elected president of the USCCB. He served in this top leadership position for three years.
Retirement
On February 8, 2022, Pope Francis accepted Archbishop Kurtz's letter of resignation. It is common for bishops to offer to retire around the age of 75. Shelton Fabre was named the new archbishop of Louisville.
Beliefs and Views
Archbishop Kurtz is known for following the traditional teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. He is often described as a conservative leader who is friendly and gracious while holding firm to the Church's official positions.
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See also
In Spanish: Joseph Edward Kurtz para niños
