Donald Wuerl

His Eminence
Donald William Wuerl
Cardinal, Archbishop of Washington

Cardinal Wuerl
Archdiocese Washington
Appointed May 16, 2006
Installed June 22, 2006
Predecessor Theodore Edgar McCarrick
Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli
Chancellor of the Catholic University of America
Orders
Ordination December 17, 1966
by Francis Frederick Reh
Consecration January 6, 1986
by John Paul II, Agostino Casaroli, and Bernardin Gantin
Created Cardinal November 20, 2010
by Benedict XVI
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name Donald William Wuerl
Born (1940-11-12) November 12, 1940
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic
Previous post
Motto THY KINGDOM COME
Styles of
Donald William Wuerl
Reference style
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal

Donald William Wuerl (born November 12, 1940) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the sixth Archbishop of Washington, serving since 2006. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle (1986–87) and Bishop of Pittsburgh (1988–2006). He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Early life and education

Donald Wuerl was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the second of four children of Francis and Mary Anna (née Schiffauer) Wuerl.[1] He has two brothers, Wayne and Dennis, and a sister, Carol.[2] His father worked nights weighing freight cars for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and served in the Navy during World War II.[2] His mother died in 1944, and his father married Kathryn Cavanaugh in 1946.[2]

Wuerl received his early education at the parochial school of St. Mary of the Mount Church in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1958.[3] He then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was a Basselin Scholar at Theological College,[4] earning a bachelor's degree (1962) and master's degree (1963) in philosophy.[5]

He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[1] He earned a master's degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1967. After ordination, Wuerl was sent to Rome for further theological study. He is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a doctorate in theology in 1974.

Early career

He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1966.[6] His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Rosalia parish in Pittsburgh's Greenfield neighborhood and as secretary to Pittsburgh's Bishop John Wright. After Wright was elevated to cardinal in 1969, Wuerl was his full-time secretary in Vatican City from 1969 until Wright's death in 1979. Because Cardinal Wright was recovering from surgery and confined to a wheelchair, Wuerl, as Wright's secretary, was one of three non-cardinals permitted inside the conclave that selected Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II in 1978.[7][8][9]

In 1976, he co-authored a catechism for adults, The Teaching of Christ, which has since appeared in several editions and been widely translated.

Wuerl was rector at St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh from 1981 to 1985. In 1982, he was made executive secretary to Bishop John Marshall of Burlington, Vermont, who was leading a Vatican-mandated study of U.S. seminaries.[10][11]

Episcopal career

Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle

On December 3, 1985, Wuerl was appointed titular bishop of Rosemarkie and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle.[6] Wuerl was consecrated bishop on January 6, 1986,[6] at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II. Wuerl and Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen worked in adjoining offices without conflict for several months until, in May 1986, they found themselves with opposing positions on proposed state legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment.[12] At that point Hunthausen learned for the first time that Wuerl had been charged with responsibility–"complete and final decision-making power"–for several key areas normally within the Archbishop's control: worship and liturgy; the archdiocesan tribunal that considers requests for marriage annulments; seminarians, priestly formation and laicized priests; moral issues; and issues of health care and ministry to homosexuals.[13][14] The division of authority only became public when Hunthausen announced it in September 1986.[13] While some chancery officials expressed support for Wuerl, some questioned his role and saw little impact a year after his appointment.[12] In November, Hunthausen won support for his objections to the Vatican's restrictions on his authority from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.[15] In February 1987, the Vatican announced that a commission of U.S. bishops would investigate the situation in Seattle, and Wuerl met privately with Pope John Paul II and declined to comment, saying "I'm just going to wait and see what the commission does".[15] In May 1987, following a review by the commission headed by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Pope John Paul II restored Hunthausen's full authority as bishop, and appointed a coadjutor to assist and succeed Hunthausen.[16] Wuerl later said the arrangement had been "unworkable". Following the restoration of Hunthausen's authority he moved to a Pittsburgh suburb to await his next posting.[17]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

Wuerl was appointed the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on February 12, 1988[6] and installed on March 25, 1988.[6]

In 1989, Wuerl merged Sacred Heart and St. Paul Cathedral High Schools to establish Oakland Catholic High School (all three female-only schools) in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, using the buildings of St. Paul Cathedral High School.[18]

Wuerl launched and hosted a television program, The Teaching of Christ, in 1990 and wrote an adult catechism with the same name. He taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a distinguished service professor. Wuerl has served as a chaplain since 1999 for the Order of Malta, Federal Association, U.S.A., a division of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, commonly referred to as the Knights of Malta.[19] Wuerl has also written regular columns in Columbia, the major publication of the Knights of Columbus in the United States.[20]

Wuerl closed 73 church buildings, which included 37 churches, and reduced 331 parishes by 117 through merging while bishop of Pittsburgh; he was managing the remaining 214 parishes when he left in June 2006.[21] Wuerl's plan, The Parish Reorganization and Revitalization Project,[22] is now used as a model for other dioceses seeking parish suppression. The mansion that housed Wuerl for over two decades, as well as his four predecessors, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh was sold since the new bishop, David Zubik, decided to live at St. Paul's Seminary. The Jacobethan Revival house along Fifth Avenue, at 9,842 square feet (914.4 m2) with 39 rooms, which include 11 bedrooms, six full baths, and a half-bath, had an appraised value of $1.5 million and is one of the largest homes in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.[23] As of March 2009, the property was listed for sale at $2.5 million; it formerly enclosed an extensive collection of antiques, Oriental rugs, and art during Wuerl's residency.[24] The property was sold to an anonymous private trust for over $2 million.[25]

Archbishop of Washington

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush welcome outgoing Archbishop of Washington Theodore Edgar McCarrick, left, the incoming Archbishop of Washington, Donald W. Wuerl, far right, and papal nuncio Pietro Sambi to the United States at the White House

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl Archbishop of Washington on May 16, 2006.[26] He was installed on June 22 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception[27] and received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2006.

In April 2008, Wuerl, as Archbishop of Washington, hosted the apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the District of Columbia, which included a visit to the White House, the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mass at the new Nationals Park, and an address at The Catholic University of America.

Wuerl has been chairman of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association since December 12, 2005.[28][29] He is also chancellor of The Catholic University of America. In September 2010, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith named Wuerl its delegate in the United States for facilitating the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus issued by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2009 to provide for those Anglican faithful who desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church in a corporate manner.[30] He also heads the U.S. bishops' ad hoc committee to support that implementation.[31]

Commitment to priestly formation

From 1994 until 2003, as Bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl served as a member of the board of governors of the Pontifical North American College in Rome (Chairman, 1998–1999), representing the Pennsylvania-New Jersey Region (Region III) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2008, as Archbishop of Washington he was again elected to the college's board of governors, this time representing the Washington DC-Delaware-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia region of the conference (Region IV).

Elevation to College of Cardinals

On November 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Wuerl to the College of Cardinals in a public consistory held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.[32] He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli.[33] In December 2010, Wuerl was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

On October 24, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Wuerl the Relator-General (recording secretary) of the 2012 World Synod of Bishops meeting on the New Evangelization.[34]

On December 10, 2011, he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture for a five-year renewable term.[35]

On April 21, 2012, Cardinal Wuerl was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.[36] On December 16, 2013 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops.[37]

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.[38]

Public positions

Child abuse zero tolerance

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wuerl has "a national reputation for zero tolerance of priests who molest minors."[39]

Wuerl has been a strong advocate within the Catholic hierarchy for confronting sexual abuse more directly. In September 1988 when he was serving as Bishop of Pittsburgh, he accepted a dinner invitation from a family suing the diocese for sexual abuse by a priest. Although the diocese's lawyers had discouraged Wuerl from attending the dinner, Wuerl became convinced that sexual abuse was a problem in his diocese. Wuerl settled the lawsuit with the family, and the priest involved was laicized and eventually ended up in prison. Wuerl told his staff that in cases of alleged sexual abuse, the first concern should be for the victim, the second concern should be for the victim's family, and only third should clergy consider the reputation of the Church.[39]

In the years that followed, Wuerl investigated every priest in his diocese accused of sexual misconduct, and removed several. On one occasion, Wuerl successfully fought to laicize a priest whom the Vatican initially had protected.[39]

In 2010, Wuerl argued that the Church has made progress in confronting abusers. He told Fox News Sunday that "we have succeeded in guaranteeing that if a priest is accused, and there is a credible allegation, he is simply removed from the ministry. That is reported to the authorities, and we begin to try to heal whatever was damaged in that abuse."[40]

Religion and politics

In cases where politicians and officeholders take policy positions that are at odds with Church doctrine, Wuerl stated that the decision to provide communion should be decided on a case by case basis: "Our primary job is to teach and try to convince people. The tradition in our country has not been in the direction of refusing Communion, and I think it's served us well."[41] Reverend Thomas Reese explained this position by saying "[Wuerl is] quite orthodox theologically, but he doesn't like to play cop; he's not an authoritarian person."[41]

In 2009, the D.C. City Council passed a same-sex marriage bill. In November 2009, Wuerl signed an ecumenical statement, known as the Manhattan Declaration, calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other practices that go against their religious consciences.[42] The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman and that the extension of the civil definition of marriage to same-sex couples undermines the common good of society as a whole.[43] In the debate on the D.C. same-sex marriage bill, the Archdiocese of Washington advocated for religious liberty provisions that would protect the Church's ability to provide social services (i.e. adoption) in accordance with Catholic teaching on marriage.[44] After the Washington Post characterized the archdiocese as giving an "ultimatum" to the city[45] and the New York Times called it a "threat",[46] Wuerl wrote a letter to the Post stating there was "no threat or ultimatum to end services, just a simple recognition that the new requirements by the city for religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages in their policies could restrict our ability to provide the same level of services as we do now."[47] In December 2009, on the day of the bill's passage, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a same-sex marriage advocacy organization, wrote that Wuerl had "refused to alter his official position" to reduce social services in the archdiocese.[48] On the same day the archdiocese, though expressing its view that the bill did not adequately protect religious liberty, nonetheless affirmed its commitment to serving the needs of the poor and its hope for "working in partnership with the District of Columbia consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church."[49] In February 2010 shortly before the law took effect, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington ended its foster care and public adoption programs rather than comply with the law's requirement that it license same-sex couples for the program.[50][51] The agency also modified its employee health care benefits to avoid having to extend coverage to same-sex couples.[52]

Response to Dominus Iesus

In 2000, the Vatican issued a document entitled Dominus Iesus which stated that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Wuerl explained its meaning the following way: "When the document says that salvation comes through the Church it includes the Orthodox and Catholic churches...This says that we are all in some way, either through baptism or profession of the revelation of the word of God, related to each other. Those are elements of the true church that we share."[53]

Response to Summorum pontificum

When on July 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued the motu proprio Summorum pontificum authorizing all Latin Church priests to celebrate Mass using either the Roman Missal as revised in 1969 or the 1962 edition, Wuerl said the Pope "is trying to reach out pastorally to those who feel an attraction to this form of the liturgy, and he is asking the pastors to be aware of and support their interest". He added that in his archdiocese the Tridentine Mass was already celebrated weekly in three places, with a total participation by about 500 people.[54] He had a circular sent to his priests about a special committee that he would establish "to assist pastors in evaluating and responding to requests for the regular and public celebration" of the 1962 form of Mass.

As of 2015, the Tridentine Mass is celebrated weekly in three places, the same ones that existed in 2007, and the special committee never became operative.[55]

Bibliography

Pastoral letters as Archbishop of Washington

References

  1. 1 2 Miranda, Salvador. "WUERL, Donald William (1940– )". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
  2. 1 2 3 Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (May 14, 1994). "Francis J. Wuerl, Whose 4 Children Included A Bishop". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. ↑ "Washington, D.C., Archbishop-Designate Donald Wuerl". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 17, 2006.
  4. ↑ "News & Events". The Catholic University of America.
  5. ↑ Duin, Julia (June 12, 2006). "Wuerl a 'teaching bishop' – McCarrick's successor prepares to lead Diocese of Washington". The Washington Times.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh – History of Bishops Webpage – Retrieved on October 18, 2008
  7. ↑ Almade, Frank D. (September 29, 2008). "1978: With John Paul II, a new era began for the church". Pittsburgh Catholic. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ Filteau, Jerry (November 20, 2010). "Wuerl in 1978 conclave that elected John Paul II". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Gibson, David (December 23, 2015). "Cardinal Donald Wuerl: The pope's man in Washington". Washington Post. Religion News Service. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ McCoy, John A. A Clear and Quiet Conscience: The Archbishop who Challenged a Pope, a President, and a Church. Orbis Books.
  11. ↑ Briggs, Kenneth A. (September 23, 1981). "Vatican will Investigate U.S. Seminaries with Aid of Bishops". New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Turner, Wallace (December 9, 1986). "2 Bishops of Seattle Striving to Work with Split Powers". New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Vatican Moves to Curtail Power of a Liberal Prelate in Seattle". New York Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1986. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  14. ↑ Schilling, Timothy Peter (2003). Conflict in the Catholic Hierarchy: a study of coping strategies in the Hunthausen affair, with preferential attention to discursive strategies (Thesis). Utrecht University Repository. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  15. 1 2 "Pope meets with Wuerl in Hunthausen controversy". UPI. February 16, 1987. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  16. ↑ Chandler, Russell (May 27, 1987). "Pope Restores Full Powers to Hunthausen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Bishop Calls for Sharing of Authority an Unworkable Venture in Seattle". New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  18. ↑ "History". Oakland Catholic High School.
  19. ↑ http://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/chaplains Order Of Malta Federal Association, USA official website – The Chaplains of the Order of Malta, Federal Association webpage – Retrieved on November 10, 2008
  20. ↑ Knights of Columbus. http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/publications/columbia/archive/bishop_wuerl.html
  21. ↑ Wereschagin, Mike (July 22, 2007). "Bishop Zubik will face many obstacles". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  22. ↑ http://www.diopitt.org/news_051606.php Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh official website news release – Bishop Wuerl Appointed Archbishop Of Washington – May 16, 2006 – Retrieved on October 23, 2008
  23. ↑ Smith, Craig (November 8, 2008), "Diocese to sell roomy Shadyside mansion", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Tribune-Review Publishing Company, retrieved November 10, 2008
  24. ↑ Pitz, Marylynne (March 14, 2009), "Bishops' mansion was home for precious antiques, paintings", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PG Publishing Co., Inc., retrieved March 18, 2009
  25. ↑ LaRussa, Tony (September 3, 2009), "Shadyside mansion sold by Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese", Tribune-Review, Trib Total Media, retrieved November 18, 2010
  26. ↑ Cooperman, Alan; Murphy, Caryle (May 17, 2006). "McCarrick Successor Seen As a 'Vote for Continuity'". Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  27. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (June 23, 2006). "Wuerl Is Installed As D.C. Archbishop". Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ National Catholic Educational Association – Press Release Webpage – From January 4, 2006 – Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  29. ↑ National Catholic Educational Association – Board of Directors Webpage Retrieved on October 17, 2008
  30. ↑ "Doctrine Of The Faith Congregation Names Archbishop Wuerl To Guide Bringing Anglican Groups Into Catholic Church In U.S." (Press release). U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. September 23, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  31. ↑ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (June 16, 2011). "Report on U.S. ordinariate for ex-Anglicans". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  32. ↑ Donadio, Rachel (November 20, 2010). "Pope Elevates Cardinals in Festive Ceremony". New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  33. ↑ Winters, Michael Sean (November 20, 2010). "Wuerl Gets San Pietro in Vincoli". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  34. ↑ "DC's Cardinal Named Relator-General for Evangelization Synod". October 24, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine" (Press release) (in Italian). Vatican Press Service. December 10, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Pontifical Acts" (Press release) (in Italian). Vatican Press Service. April 21, 2012.
  37. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (December 16, 2013). "Archbishop Wuerl appointed to Vatican panel that names bishops". Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  38. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (February 22, 2016). "Rome-bound, D.C.'s Cardinal Wuerl says next pope must evangelize a hectic world". Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  39. 1 2 3 Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (June 15, 2003). "Wuerl's tough record on sex abuse spurs speculation of move to Boston". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  40. ↑ Archbishop of Washington Talks Sexual Abuse, Don't Ask Don't Tell
  41. 1 2 Goodstein, Laurie (May 17, 2006). "Pope Names Pittsburgh Bishop to Washington, D.C., Post". New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  42. ↑ Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
  43. ↑ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Website – Defense of Marriage
  44. ↑ Archdiocese of Washington website – Same Sex Marriage
  45. ↑ Craig, Tim; Boorstein, Michelle (November 12, 2009). "Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum". Washington Post.
  46. ↑ Urbina, Ian (November 12, 2009). "New Turn in Debate Over Law on Marriage". New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  47. ↑ Wuerl, Donald W. (November 22, 2009). "Archbishop Donald Wuerl on D.C.'s same-sex marriage bill". Washington Post.
  48. ↑ Solmonese, J. : Unbelievable (mass email), Washington, December 15, 2009.
  49. ↑ Archdiocese of Washington Website – News Release
  50. ↑ Wright, Laura (February 9, 2010). "Catholic Charities ends foster care program to avoid compromising religious beliefs". Catholic Standard. Archdiocese of Washington.
  51. ↑ "Same-sex 'marriage' law forces D.C. Catholic Charities to close adoption program". Catholic News Agency. February 17, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  52. ↑ Urbina, Ian (March 3, 2010). "Gay Marriage Is Legal in U.S. Capital". New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  53. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (September 7, 2000). "Wuerl: Others can be saved |". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  54. ↑ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (July 10, 2007). "U.S. bishops say pope affirming importance of Mass in both its forms". Catholic News Service.
  55. ↑ "Foreign Language Parishes", Archdiocese of Washington website, February 25, 2015

Sources

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Marcel André J. Gervais		 — TITULAR —
Bishop of Rossmarkaeum
1985–1988		 Succeeded by
William G. Curlin
Preceded by
Anthony Bevilacqua		 Bishop of Pittsburgh
1988–2006 		Succeeded by
David Zubik
Preceded by
Theodore McCarrick		 Archbishop of Washington
2006–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Pio Laghi		 Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli
2010–present
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