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{{Short description|Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Alabama, USA}}
{{Infobox diocese
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction = Diocese<!-- Type of jurisdiction: i.e. Diocese or Archdiocese -->
| jurisdiction = Diocese<!-- Type of jurisdiction: i.e. Diocese or Archdiocese -->
Line 4: Line 5:
| latin = Dioecesis Birminghamiensis
| latin = Dioecesis Birminghamiensis
| local = <!-- Name in the native language -->
| local = <!-- Name in the native language -->
| image = CoA Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.svg
| image = St Paul 05.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| caption = The coat of arms of the Diocese of Birmingham
| caption = Cathedral of St. Paul
| coat = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.svg
| coat_size = 150px
<!---- Locations ---->
<!---- Locations ---->
| country = United States
| country = {{flag|United States}}
| territory = Northern Alabama
| territory = Northern Alabama
| province = [[:Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile|Province of Mobile]]
| province = [[:Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile|Mobile]]
| coordinates = <!-- Use {{coord}} -->
| coordinates = <!-- Use {{coord}} -->
<!---- Statistics ---->
<!---- Statistics ---->
| area_sqmi = <!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted -->
| area_sqmi = 28,091<!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted -->
| population =
| population = 2,995,000
| population_as_of =
| population_as_of = 2012
| catholics = 104,000<!-- Number of Catholics in the diocese -->
| catholics = 103,900<!-- Number of Catholics in the diocese -->
| catholics_percent = 3.5
| catholics_percent = 3.5
| parishes = <!-- Number of parishes in the diocese -->
| parishes = 54<!-- Number of parishes in the diocese -->
| churches = <!-- Number of churches in the diocese -->
| churches = <!-- Number of churches in the diocese -->
| congregations = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
| congregations = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
Line 34: Line 37:
<!---- Current leadership ---->
<!---- Current leadership ---->
| pope = {{Incumbent pope}} <!-- DO NOT CHANGE. This will update the Popes Automatically as they change -->
| pope = {{Incumbent pope}} <!-- DO NOT CHANGE. This will update the Popes Automatically as they change -->
| bishop = [[Robert Joseph Baker]]
| bishop = [[Steven J. Raica|Steven John Raica]]
[[Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama|Bishop of Birmingham]]
| metro_archbishop = [[Thomas John Rodi]]
| metro_archbishop = [[Thomas John Rodi]]
Archbishop of Mobile
| coadjutor =
| coadjutor =
| auxiliary_bishops =
| auxiliary_bishops =
| vicar_general =
| vicar_general =
| emeritus_bishops =
| emeritus_bishops = [[Robert Joseph Baker]]
<!---- Map ---->
<!---- Map ---->
| map = Diocese of Birmingham.jpg
| map = Diocese of Birmingham.jpg
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| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama''' is a [[Latin Church]] ecclesiastical territory. or diocese, of the [[Catholic Church]] that encompasses the northern 39 counties of [[Alabama]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bhmdiocese.org/content.asp?id=208778 |title=Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama - Interesting Facts |access-date=2013-01-15 |archive-date=2013-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233158/http://www.bhmdiocese.org/content.asp?id=208778 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was erected on December 9, 1969, with territory from what is now the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Archdiocese of Mobile]]. The Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama is a [[suffragan diocese]] in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile.


The [[Cathedral of Saint Paul in Birmingham|Cathedral of Saint Paul]], in Birmingham, Alabama serves as the [[Episcopal see]] of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. [[EWTN]], a major Catholic media enterprise, is located in the diocese.
The '''Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama''' is a [[particular church]] of the [[Latin Rite]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] that encompasses the northern 39 counties of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]].<ref>http://www.bhmdiocese.org/content.asp?id=208778</ref> It was erected on December 9, 1969, when it was split from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Archdiocese of Mobile]]. The [[diocese]] is part of the [[ecclesiastical province]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Mobile]].


==History==
[[EWTN]]'s studios are located within the borders of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.


=== 1791 to 1969 ===
The [[Cathedral of Saint Paul in Birmingham|Cathedral of Saint Paul]], in [[Birmingham, Alabama]] serves as the [[Episcopal see]] of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.
After the [[American Revolution]] ended in 1791, the Birmingham area and most of Alabama was considered part of the State of Georgia. In 1793, the Vatican erected the [[Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas]] centered in New Orleans to administer most of the [[Deep South]] region of the new United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=New Orleans (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dnewo.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>


In 1837, the Vatican created the Vicariate Apostolic of Alabama and the Florida, covering all of the new [[Alabama|State of Alabama.]] The vicariate was succeeded in 1834 by the Diocese of Mobile.<ref name=":1" /> The Birmingham area would remain part of the Diocese of Mobile, succeeded by the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, for the next 135 years.
==Bishops==


In 1844, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the first Catholic church in Tuscaloosa, was opened.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building on faith: The history |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2009/04/10/building-on-faith-the-history/27798324007/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=The Tuscaloosa News |language=en-US}}</ref> The first Catholic church in Birmingham was St. Paul's, opened in 1872.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-06 |title=History |url=https://stpaulsbhm.org/about/history/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=The Cathedral of Saint Paul |language=en}}</ref> [[St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church (Huntsville, Alabama)|St. Mary of the Visitation Church]] in Huntsville, dedicated in 1877, is the oldest Catholic church in [[North Alabama]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.smvparish.com/about |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=SMVPARISH |language=en}}</ref>
===Diocesan bishops===
The [[diocesan bishop]]s of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and dates of service:
* [[Joseph Gregory Vath]] (1969-1987) (died 1987)
* [[Raymond James Boland]] (1988-1993), (died 2014)
* [[David Edward Foley]] (1994-2005), [[Bishop (Catholic Church)#Retired bishops|Bishop Emeritus]]
* [[Robert Joseph Baker]] (2007–present)


=== 1969 to 1993 ===
===Bishops who once were priests of the Diocese of Birmingham===
[[Pope Paul VI]] erected the Diocese of Birmingham, with territory taken from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham]], on June 28, 1969, simultaneously renaming the mother diocese to Diocese of Mobile. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop [[Joseph Gregory Vath|Joseph Vath]] as the first bishop of Birmingham.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Joseph Gregory Vath [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bvath.html |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>
The following men began their service as priests in Birmingham before being appointed bishops elsewhere:


In 1980, [[Pope John Paul II]] elevated the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Diocese of Mobile]] to a metropolitan archdiocese and designated the Diocese of Birmingham as one of its suffragans. Vath died in 1987.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=Mobile (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dmobi.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>
====Deceased====
*[[William McDermott]], Bishop of the Diocese of Huancavélica, Peru. Ordained a priest in 1955 for the Diocese of Birmingham.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmomc.html William Dermott Molloy McDermott]</ref>


Reverend [[Raymond James Boland|Raymond Boland]] from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington|Archdiocese of Washington]] became the next bishop of Birmingham, named by John Paul II in 1988.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Raymond James Boland [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbolandr.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> The same pope appointed Boland as bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph|Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph]] in 1993.
====Living====
*[[Joseph Salvador Marino]], Archbishop, [[List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See#Asia|Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh]] (2008-2013).<ref>Ordained a priest in 1979. Cheney, David M., [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmarinoj.html Catholic-Hierarchy.org]. Retrieved 2009-10-08.</ref> Currently [[List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See#Asia|Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, East Timor, and Apostolic delegate to Brunei]]<ref>Pope appoints American as first Nuncio to Malaysia. O'Connell, Gerard., [http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/malaysia-pope-marino-nuncio-21403/]. Retrieved 01-17-2013.</ref>


=== 1993 to present ===
==High schools==
To replace Boland, John Paul II named [[David Edward Foley]] of Washington as bishop of Birmingham.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop David Edward Foley [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bfoleyd.html |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> In 1999, Foley prohibited priests in his diocese, under most circumstances, from celebrating [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in the ''[[ad orientem]]'' position. Though the decree never specifically mentioned EWTN, observers agreed that it was directed at the influence of [[Mother Angelica]]'s network on the practice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vatican May Step In on EWTN-Mass Case |url=https://www.ncregister.com/site/article/vatican_may_step_in_on_ewtn_mass_case |website=National Catholic Register}}</ref> Foley retired in 2005. In 2007, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] named Bishop [[Robert Joseph Baker|Robert Baker]] from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston|Diocese of Charleston]] as bishop of Birmingham. Baker retired in 2020.
* [[Pope John Paul II Catholic High School (Huntsville, Alabama)|Pope John Paul II Catholic High School]], Huntsville
* [[Holy Family Cristo Rey High School (Birmingham, Alabama)|Holy Family Cristo Rey High School]], Birmingham
* [[Holy Spirit High School (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)|Holy Spirit High School]], Tuscaloosa
* [[John Carroll Catholic High School (Birmingham, Alabama)|John Carroll Catholic High School]], Birmingham
* [[Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School (McClellan, Alabama)|Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School]], McClellan
* [[St. Bernard Preparatory School]]*, Cullman


The current bishop of Birmingham is [[Steven J. Raica]], formerly bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord|Diocese of Gaylord]]. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2020.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/25/200325b.html |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=March 25, 2020 |title=Resignations and Appointments, 25.03.2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama Press Kit |url=https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/23758/documents/2020/3/New%20bishop.pdf |accessdate=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
: * Operated independent of Diocese.

On February 8, 2024, the Diocese of Birmingham launched a major re-structuring program in which they temporarily passed any diocesan-level activities in the fields of religious education, evangelization, sacred music, and youth protection. As a result of the initial stage of this restructuring program, several lay employees were laid off permanently.<ref>https://www.alabamaevangelization.com/newsletter/51-diocese-of-birmingham-closes-major-ministry-offices</ref>

===Reports of sexual abuse===
Bishop Vath in 1985 sent Reverend Charles V. Cross to the Servants of Paraclete Center in [[New Mexico]] for treatment after receiving complaints that Cross had sexually abused minors. When Cross returned to Birmingham, he was banned from any parish positions. In 1993, Robert W. Wilford accused Cross of [[sexual abuse]] during the 1960's when he was a teenager and sued the diocese in 1995. However, the case was dismissed due to the [[statute of limitations]]. In 2002, after receiving several more allegations against Cross, Bishop Foley permanently suspended him from ministry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Suspends Priest Several Men Allege Sexual Abuse in Decatur, Birmingham in 1960s, by Greg Garrison, Birmingham News (Alabama), May 10, 2002 |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2002_05_10_Garrison_BishopSuspends_Charles_Cross_1.htm |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.bishop-accountability.org}}</ref>

In 2004, four priests accused of sexual abuse who served in the diocese agreed to pay a settlement of $45,000 to eleven of their victims.<ref name="bishop-accountability.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/usccb/natureandscope/dioceses/birminghamal.htm|title=Bishop Accountability|website=www.bishop-accountability.org|accessdate=May 30, 2021}}</ref>

Reverend Francis Mary Stone (also known as David Stone) was arrested in 2013 on charges of sexually molesting his eight year-old son. He had fathered the boy with Christina Presnell, an EWTN employee, while he was serving as a host of the network's show ''Life on the Rock'' between 2001 and 2007. After the boy was born, the diocese removed Stone from public ministry. Stone was acquitted in 2016 of the sexual abuse charges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-EWTN priest, TV host not guilty of child sexual abuse, jury says, by Greg Garrison, AL.com (May 31, 2016) |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/05_06/2016_05_31_Greg_com_Ex-EWTN_TV.htm |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.bishop-accountability.org}}</ref>

In 2018, Bishop Baker released a list of six clergy who were accused of committing acts of sex abuse while serving the diocese.<ref name="bakerspeaks">{{cite web |last=WVTM 13 Digital |date=Dec 15, 2018 |title=Catholic Diocese of Birmingham releases names of 6 priests accused of child sex abuse |url=https://www.wvtm13.com/article/diocese-of-birmingham-releases-list-of-clergy-accused-of-child-abuse/25588980 |accessdate=May 30, 2021 |website=WVTM}}</ref><ref name="bakeracknowledges">{{cite news |last=Garrison |first=Greg |date=December 14, 2018 |title=Birmingham bishop releases names of priests accused of abuse |publisher=The Birmingham News |url=https://www.al.com/news/2018/12/birmingham-bishop-releases-names-of-priests-accused-of-abuse.html#:~:text=ggarrison%40al.com-,Bishop%20Robert%20J.,deplorable%20acts%2C%E2%80%9D%20Baker%20said. |accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref> Baker stated that "they committed these deplorable acts,” and apologized to the victims.<ref name="bakerspeaks" /><ref name="bakeracknowledges" /> He permanently removed the five living priests from ministry.<ref name="bishop-accountability.org" />

==Bishops==
===Bishops of Birmingham===
# [[Joseph Gregory Vath]] (1969–1987)
# [[Raymond James Boland]] (1988–1993), appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph|Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph]]
# [[David Edward Foley]] (1994–2005)
# [[Robert Joseph Baker]] (2007–2020)
# [[Steven J. Raica|Steven John Raica]] (2020–present)

===Other diocesan priests who became bishops===
*[[William McDermott]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Huancavélica|Auxiliary Bishop of Huancavélica in Peru]] in 1976<ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bmomc|Bishop William Dermott Molloy McDermott|21 January 2015}}{{Self-published source|date=March 2015}}</ref>
*[[Joseph Marino]], appointed [[Titular Archbishop]] in 2008, later President of the [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]]<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 11 October 2019 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/10/11/0790/01620.html| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2019 | language =it}}</ref>

== Education ==
As of 2023, the Diocese of Birmingham operated 19 elementary and high schools. Four other schools in the diocese were operated independently.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=School Finder |url=https://bhmdiocese.org/schoolfinder |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Diocese of Birmingham |language=en}}</ref>

=== Elementary schools ===
* Birmingham – Holy Family Catholic Academy (operated independently of diocese)
* Birmingham – Our Lady of Sorrows CCLC
* Birmingham – Our Lady of the Valley
* Birmingham – St. Francis Xavier
* Birmingham – St. Peter's Child Development Center
* Birmingham – St. Rose Academy (operated independently of diocese)
* [[Cullman, Alabama|Cullman]] – Sacred Heart
* Decatur – St. Ann
* Florence – St. Joseph Regional
* [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]] – St. James
* Homewood – Our Lady of Sorrows
* Hoover – Prince of Peace
* Hoover – Prince of Peace Adventure Ark
* [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] – Holy Family Regional
* Huntsville – Holy Spirit Regional
* Madison – St. John the Baptist
* [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] – Holy Spirit<ref name=":2" />

=== High schools ===
* Birmingham – [[John Carroll Catholic High School (Birmingham, Alabama)|John Carroll]]
* Birmingham – [[Holy Family Cristo Rey High School (Birmingham, Alabama)|Holy Family Cristo Rey]] (operated independently of diocese)
* Cullman – [[St. Bernard Preparatory School|St. Bernard Preparatory]] (operated independently of diocese)
* Huntsville – [[St. John Paul II Catholic High School (Alabama)|Pope John Paul II]]
* McClellan – [[Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School (McClellan, Alabama)|Sacred Heart of Jesus]]
* Tuscaloosa – [[Holy Spirit Catholic School|Holy Spirit]]<ref name=":2" />


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal box|Catholicism}}
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
* [[Catholic Church by country]]
* [[Catholic Church by country]]
* [[Catholic Church hierarchy]]
* [[Catholic Church hierarchy]]
* [[List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States]]
* [[List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbirm.html Catholic Hierarchy - Diocese of Birmingham]


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.bhmdiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama]
* [http://www.bhmdiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham Official Site]

{{Catholicism}}


{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama}}
{{Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile}}
{{coord|33|39|12|N|86|48|32|W|source:plwiki|display=title}}
{{coord|33|39|12|N|86|48|32|W|source:plwiki|display=title}}


{{authority control}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile|Birmingham]]

[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in Alabama]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1969]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama| ]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1969]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in Alabama]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century|Birmingham Alabama]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century|Birmingham Alabama]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States|Birmingham]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States|Birmingham]]
[[Category:Christianity in Birmingham, Alabama]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile|Birmingham]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Birmingham, Alabama]]

Latest revision as of 02:42, 19 March 2024

Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama

Dioecesis Birminghamiensis
Cathedral of St. Paul
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryNorthern Alabama
Ecclesiastical provinceMobile
Statistics
Area28,091 sq mi (72,760 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2012)
2,995,000
103,900 (3.5%)
Parishes54
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteRoman Rite
Established28 June 1969
(split from Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham)
CathedralCathedral of Saint Paul
Patron saintSaint Paul
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopSteven John Raica
Metropolitan ArchbishopThomas John Rodi
Bishops emeritusRobert Joseph Baker
Map
Website
bhmdiocese.org

The Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory. or diocese, of the Catholic Church that encompasses the northern 39 counties of Alabama in the United States.[1] It was erected on December 9, 1969, with territory from what is now the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile.

The Cathedral of Saint Paul, in Birmingham, Alabama serves as the Episcopal see of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. EWTN, a major Catholic media enterprise, is located in the diocese.

History

[edit]

1791 to 1969

[edit]

After the American Revolution ended in 1791, the Birmingham area and most of Alabama was considered part of the State of Georgia. In 1793, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas centered in New Orleans to administer most of the Deep South region of the new United States.[2]

In 1837, the Vatican created the Vicariate Apostolic of Alabama and the Florida, covering all of the new State of Alabama. The vicariate was succeeded in 1834 by the Diocese of Mobile.[2] The Birmingham area would remain part of the Diocese of Mobile, succeeded by the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, for the next 135 years.

In 1844, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the first Catholic church in Tuscaloosa, was opened.[3] The first Catholic church in Birmingham was St. Paul's, opened in 1872.[4] St. Mary of the Visitation Church in Huntsville, dedicated in 1877, is the oldest Catholic church in North Alabama.[5]

1969 to 1993

[edit]

Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Birmingham, with territory taken from the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, on June 28, 1969, simultaneously renaming the mother diocese to Diocese of Mobile. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Vath as the first bishop of Birmingham.[6]

In 1980, Pope John Paul II elevated the Diocese of Mobile to a metropolitan archdiocese and designated the Diocese of Birmingham as one of its suffragans. Vath died in 1987.[7]

Reverend Raymond Boland from the Archdiocese of Washington became the next bishop of Birmingham, named by John Paul II in 1988.[8] The same pope appointed Boland as bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in 1993.

1993 to present

[edit]

To replace Boland, John Paul II named David Edward Foley of Washington as bishop of Birmingham.[9] In 1999, Foley prohibited priests in his diocese, under most circumstances, from celebrating Mass in the ad orientem position. Though the decree never specifically mentioned EWTN, observers agreed that it was directed at the influence of Mother Angelica's network on the practice.[10] Foley retired in 2005. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Robert Baker from the Diocese of Charleston as bishop of Birmingham. Baker retired in 2020.

The current bishop of Birmingham is Steven J. Raica, formerly bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2020.[11][12]

On February 8, 2024, the Diocese of Birmingham launched a major re-structuring program in which they temporarily passed any diocesan-level activities in the fields of religious education, evangelization, sacred music, and youth protection. As a result of the initial stage of this restructuring program, several lay employees were laid off permanently.[13]

Reports of sexual abuse

[edit]

Bishop Vath in 1985 sent Reverend Charles V. Cross to the Servants of Paraclete Center in New Mexico for treatment after receiving complaints that Cross had sexually abused minors. When Cross returned to Birmingham, he was banned from any parish positions. In 1993, Robert W. Wilford accused Cross of sexual abuse during the 1960's when he was a teenager and sued the diocese in 1995. However, the case was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. In 2002, after receiving several more allegations against Cross, Bishop Foley permanently suspended him from ministry.[14]

In 2004, four priests accused of sexual abuse who served in the diocese agreed to pay a settlement of $45,000 to eleven of their victims.[15]

Reverend Francis Mary Stone (also known as David Stone) was arrested in 2013 on charges of sexually molesting his eight year-old son. He had fathered the boy with Christina Presnell, an EWTN employee, while he was serving as a host of the network's show Life on the Rock between 2001 and 2007. After the boy was born, the diocese removed Stone from public ministry. Stone was acquitted in 2016 of the sexual abuse charges.[16]

In 2018, Bishop Baker released a list of six clergy who were accused of committing acts of sex abuse while serving the diocese.[17][18] Baker stated that "they committed these deplorable acts,” and apologized to the victims.[17][18] He permanently removed the five living priests from ministry.[15]

Bishops

[edit]

Bishops of Birmingham

[edit]
  1. Joseph Gregory Vath (1969–1987)
  2. Raymond James Boland (1988–1993), appointed Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph
  3. David Edward Foley (1994–2005)
  4. Robert Joseph Baker (2007–2020)
  5. Steven John Raica (2020–present)

Other diocesan priests who became bishops

[edit]

Education

[edit]

As of 2023, the Diocese of Birmingham operated 19 elementary and high schools. Four other schools in the diocese were operated independently.[21]

Elementary schools

[edit]
  • Birmingham – Holy Family Catholic Academy (operated independently of diocese)
  • Birmingham – Our Lady of Sorrows CCLC
  • Birmingham – Our Lady of the Valley
  • Birmingham – St. Francis Xavier
  • Birmingham – St. Peter's Child Development Center
  • Birmingham – St. Rose Academy (operated independently of diocese)
  • Cullman – Sacred Heart
  • Decatur – St. Ann
  • Florence – St. Joseph Regional
  • Gadsden – St. James
  • Homewood – Our Lady of Sorrows
  • Hoover – Prince of Peace
  • Hoover – Prince of Peace Adventure Ark
  • Huntsville – Holy Family Regional
  • Huntsville – Holy Spirit Regional
  • Madison – St. John the Baptist
  • Tuscaloosa – Holy Spirit[21]

High schools

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama - Interesting Facts". Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  2. ^ a b "New Orleans (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  3. ^ "Building on faith: The history". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  4. ^ "History". The Cathedral of Saint Paul. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  5. ^ "About". SMVPARISH. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  6. ^ "Bishop Joseph Gregory Vath [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  7. ^ "Mobile (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  8. ^ "Bishop Raymond James Boland [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  9. ^ "Bishop David Edward Foley [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  10. ^ "Vatican May Step In on EWTN-Mass Case". National Catholic Register.
  11. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 25.03.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama Press Kit" (PDF). Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  13. ^ https://www.alabamaevangelization.com/newsletter/51-diocese-of-birmingham-closes-major-ministry-offices
  14. ^ "Bishop Suspends Priest Several Men Allege Sexual Abuse in Decatur, Birmingham in 1960s, by Greg Garrison, Birmingham News (Alabama), May 10, 2002". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  15. ^ a b "Bishop Accountability". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  16. ^ "Ex-EWTN priest, TV host not guilty of child sexual abuse, jury says, by Greg Garrison, AL.com (May 31, 2016)". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  17. ^ a b WVTM 13 Digital (Dec 15, 2018). "Catholic Diocese of Birmingham releases names of 6 priests accused of child sex abuse". WVTM. Retrieved May 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b Garrison, Greg (December 14, 2018). "Birmingham bishop releases names of priests accused of abuse". The Birmingham News. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "Bishop William Dermott Molloy McDermott". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.[self-published source]
  20. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  21. ^ a b c "School Finder". Diocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
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33°39′12″N 86°48′32″W / 33.65333°N 86.80889°W / 33.65333; -86.80889

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