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June 12, 2007
Kurtz to Louisville
Bishop Kurtz of Knoxville has been appointed the new Archbishop of Louisville.
Bishop Kurtz was the second bishop of Knoxville (the diocese was created from the Diocese of Nashville in 1988), having served for almost ten years now. I had never met Bishop Kurtz, but never heard anything but wonderful things about him. When he was first appointed to Knoxville, he came with a family member - his older brother who had Downs' Syndrome. His brother died in 2002. I was still writing for the East Tennessee Catholic when he was appointed, I think, but had stopped by the time my mother died in 2001. Even though I'd never met him and really did have close ties with the diocese, Bishop Kurtz took the time to write me an email offering his sympathy.
The Diocese of Knoxville seems to have done well under Bishop Kurtz and it will be interesting to see what happens in Louisville under his pastoral care.
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
According to the Crisis magazine study linked by Amy, which ranks dioceses by priestly vocations, number of converts, and priestly retirements, Nashville moved up 27 spots to 46 (of 176 dioceses) from 1995 to 2005. Like Amy, I've heard nothing but positive things. After Foys in Covington and Gainer in Lexington, Kentucky now enjoys a hat trick of solid episcopal appointments.
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Jun 12, 2007 8:44:29 AM
... and under progressive champion Archbishop Kelly, Louisville sank 14 spots to 136.
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Jun 12, 2007 8:56:55 AM
Catholic Trivia:
Archbishop Kurtz is from my hometown, which is also the birthplace of Bishop Rhodes, currently of the Harrisburg PA Diocese.
Not bad for a small former coal mining town.
Posted by: tony c at Jun 12, 2007 9:47:22 AM
He's from Knoxville, not Nashville, Rich. And he has indeed done a splendid job there. I'm afraid that the stats don't lie about the Archdiocese of Louisville. Conditions there were dismal even before Kelly took over. Now it's a shambles, and the people who made it that way are entrenched and won't go quietly. Prayers for the new archbishop are definitely in order.
Posted by: Hunk Hondo at Jun 12, 2007 11:29:02 AM
I had the pleasure of knowing Bishop Kurtz when he was in the Diocese of Allentown. He is a good man, and I wish him only the best in Louisville.
Posted by: Carolyn Astfalk at Jun 12, 2007 11:36:52 AM
We will miss him here in Knoxville! He has been a fantastic bishop, following in the footsteps of our first bishop who resigned due to scandal. May God bless him in his new assignment.
Posted by: Dave Wells at Jun 12, 2007 11:51:08 AM
Thank God!!!!!
Louisville is my in-laws' archdiocese, and I have been to Mass there (in Louisville itself) many times. It is a mess. Even the cafeteria Catholics are fed up with Abp. Kelly. I am so happy he is being replaced by someone more solid. The sheep are starving!
And it's been so sad because Louisville is such a venerable bastion of Catholicism, and there are so many wonderful Catholics there. I'm sure they are rejoicing now!
True story: Once, some years ago, I was chatting with a rather salty, savvy, and very orthodox priest in our quite conservative diocese. I mentioned that, according to my in-laws, priestly vocations were sparse in Louisville. Without missing a beat, the priest replied, "That's because their bishop's an idiot." Uncharitable, sure, but still pretty funny. When I relayed the anecdote to my FIL, he thought it was a hoot.
Diane
Posted by: diane at Jun 12, 2007 12:23:36 PM
You are correct Rich and we are hoping for the same here in Owensboro. Bp. McRaith is approaching 75 as well.
Posted by: David at Jun 12, 2007 12:31:06 PM
I wondered how long he would stay. I heard he was a loyal Penn State fan (in Big Orange Country). Seriously I had only heard positive things about him and enjoy the reverent liturgy at St. John Neumann Church when I visit Knoxville
Posted by: John W. at Jun 12, 2007 1:02:19 PM
He's from Knoxville, not Nashville, Rich.
Ah, but Knoxville's from Nashville, episcopally speaking. ;-)
Thanks for the correction, Hunk.
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Jun 12, 2007 1:54:03 PM
Glad I'm not giving driving directions. As Hunk pointed out, the Crisis figures I shared above are for Nashville, not Knoxville, but that just means the news is even better. Knoxville is the # 1 diocese overall, and ranked 7 for greatest increase in active priests, 10 for most ordinations, and 10 for most adult receptions. Mea culpa in any event.
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Jun 12, 2007 2:08:05 PM
I know of some solid priests in Louisville who will greet news of a change in leadership with a solemn Te Deum. I also know a few priests in Knoxville who will dearly miss His Excellency! May it be well for him and to the Greater Glory of God.
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Jun 12, 2007 2:22:12 PM
Those of us mourning Bishop Kurtz's departure pray with hope and confidence that our Holy Father fills BK's East Tennessee shoes with another solid appointment.
They'll be tough shoes to fill, for sure.
Posted by: TNP at Jun 12, 2007 4:55:02 PM
Just a correction re: Dave's comment about Knoxville's first bishop, Anthony J. O'Connell. He was appointed to Palm Beach after serving in Knoxville, and it was from Palm Beach that he resigned in disgrace.
But Dave is 100 percent correct about the goodness of Bishop Kurtz.
Posted by: Mary at Jun 23, 2007 9:05:26 PM
