William S. Skylstad facts for kids

Styles of William Stephen Skylstad
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

William Stephen Skylstad (born March 2, 1934, in Omak, Washington) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Spokane in Washington State from 1990 to 2010. He previously served as the bishop of the Diocese of Yakima in Washington State from 1977 to 1990.

Skylstad is a former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He was appointed as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Baker in Oregon in 2011, serving there until 2012.

Biography

Early life

The oldest of six children, William Skylstad was born in Omak, Washington on March 2, 1934, delivered on a table in the garage. A Norwegian immigrant, his father Stephen Skylstad was an apple farmer. Stephen Skylstad was a Lutheran, but his wife (Reneldes Elizabeth Danzl-Skylstad) was a Catholic from Minnesota.

At age 14, having decided to enter the Catholic priesthood, William Skylstad left home to attend the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio.

Priesthood

On May 21, 1960, Skylstad was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Spokane. That same year, Skylstad attended Washington State University and served as an assistant pastor at a parish in Pullman, Washington.

In 1960, Skylstad began teaching at Mater Cleri, a minor seminary in Colbert, Washington, evaluating student fitness for the priesthood. He entered Gonzaga University in 1961, graduating in 1964. In 1968, Skylstad was appointed rector at the Mater Cleri. That same year, he became the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Colbert. He also sat on a personnel board that counseled the bishop on problem priests. Skylstad continued serving at Mater Cleri and St. Joseph until 1974.

In 1974 Skylstad became pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Spokane, Washington. In 1976, he left the parish to become chancellor of the diocese.

Bishop of Yakima

On February 22, 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Skylstad as bishop of Yakima; he was consecrated on May 12, 1977, by Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen at Holy Family Cathedral in Yakima, Washington. His co-consecrators were Bishop Bernard Topel and Bishop Bernard Law.

Bishop of Spokane

On April 17, 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed Skylstad as the fifth Bishop of Spokane; his installation was on April 27, 1990. After having served as the vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) since 2001, Skylstad was elected to a three-year term as USCCB president on November 15, 2004.

In December 2004, the diocese declared Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to manage the claims of people credibly abused by its priests. As part of its bankruptcy agreement, the diocese agreed to pay at least $48 million to the victims as compensation. The money for the settlement was to come from insurance companies, the sale of church property, contributions from Catholic groups and from the diocese's parishes. ..... Skylstad expressed disappointment that the Spokesman-Review had published the contents of private letters.

Retirement

On June 30, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Skylstad's letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Spokane.

In 2016, Catholic Charities USA name Skylstad as one of its two volunteers of the year. They cited his counseling and spiritual guidance to clients at the House of Charity in Spokane. Skylstad also worked to connect Catholic Charities of Spokane clients needing assistance.

Episcopal succession