Francis X. DiLorenzo
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
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Died | August 17, 2017 Richmond, Virginia | (aged 75)
Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton Bishop of Honolulu |
Motto | Christ our hope |
Styles of Francis Xavier DiLorenzo | ||
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Reference style | ||
Spoken style | Your Excellency | |
Religious style | Bishop |
Francis Xavier DiLorenzo (April 15, 1942 – August 17, 2017) was an American
Previously DiLorenzo was the fourth bishop of the
Biography
Early life
DiLorenzo was born on April 15, 1942, in
Priesthood
DiLorenzo was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal
In 1983, Pope John Paul II named DiLorenzo as a chaplain of his holiness. That same year, he was appointed vice rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, eventually becoming rector. DiLorenzo also served on the Archdiocesan Committee and was a prosynodal judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal. He was named by the Vatican as a member of the Papal Household and received the title prelate of honor of his holiness.[1]
Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton
On January 26, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed DiLorenzo as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Scranton and titular bishop of Tigias; he was consecrated on March 8, 1988, by Bishop James Timlin.[2]
In 1994, Bishop
Bishop of Honolulu
Pope John Paul II appointed DiLorenzo as bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu on November 29, 1994.
At the 2002 convention of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), DiLorenzo spoke in favor of tighter restrictions on priests accused of sexual abuse of minors. The new policy, adopted by the USCCB, prohibited accused priests from interacting with parishioners, but allow them to remain in the priesthood.[6]
On January 29, 2003, DiLorenzo removed Reverend Roberto Batoon as pastoral administrator of Molokai Catholic Community, a cluster of parishes on the
Bishop of Richmond
On March 31, 2004, John Paul II appointed DiLorenzo as bishop of the Diocese of Richmond.[8] He was installed there on May 24, 2004.[9]
Personnel changes
Upon his installation, DiLorenzo reactivated the diocese's liturgical commission and named Father Russell Smith parochial vicar at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in New Kent County as diocesan theologian, a post that had been vacant since 1998.[10] As theologian, Father Smith would examine for conformance to Catholic teaching all draft documents and issue approvals authorizing the publication of all printed materials generated by the diocese. Smith also would: (1) approve in advance any person who wishes to speak anywhere on Catholic church property in the diocese; (2) investigate complaints from parishioners who complain about liturgical abuses in a particular church and respond; and (3) recommend sanctions against persons responsible for such abuse to DiLorenzo. DiLorenzo noted that these kinds of checks and controls were needed because, he alleged, some people in the diocese were used to living outside the traditional boundaries of Catholicism.
Bishop DiLorenzo forcibly retired Father Thomas J. Quinlan, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Virginia Beach for a history of using offensive language during mass. It culminated with what DiLorenzo termed a sacrilegious reference to Mary, mother of Jesus, at a Christmas Eve Mass. Although a significant number of parishioners appealed against the decision, many applauded it, wondering why DiLorenzo had not acted sooner.[11]
Diocesan administration
DiLorenzo moved his residence[citation needed] from Cathedral Place in Richmond to Midlothian, Virginia. Some Catholics raised questions about the move and see it as a way to distance himself from his flock. But DiLorenzo responded that he is only 25 minutes away from the diocesan offices and that the move saved the diocese money: "Do I need to live in a three-story building by myself? I don't think so." The three-story house was turned into offices for those working in a building that the diocese was renting for $35,000 a year. "We saved ourselves thirty-some thousand a year," said DiLorenzo, "and I moved to Midlothian, a very quiet place."
DiLorenzo ended the diocesan sexual minorities commission, which his predecessor had established in 1977.[12][10] He explained his decision: "What was being done was not a ministry. It was trying to make a statement... for people who see themselves discriminated against. The statement that needed to be made has been made. We are not going to make a big deal about what your fantasy sexual life is". He added that there are moral expectations for everyone: "I think most people would agree that the ministry is to call all persons to Jesus Christ in discipleship. The gender issue was not raised by Jesus.... Jesus called everyone to holiness. Are there certain groups in our population that need help in that journey?"
DiLorenzo increased the number of clustered parishes. He also brought in consultants to review some diocesan departments and commissions that need to be abolished.[13]
San Lorenzo Spiritual Center controversy
In 2004, DiLorenzo was drawn into a controversy at the San Lorenzo Spiritual Center in
In response, the
Manalo then sued the petitioner group, seeking $1.35 million for defamation.[14] On August 1, 2005, Judge Padrick of the Circuit Court of Virginia dismissed the defamation lawsuit, terming it an "intrusion into church affairs and violated the religious protections of the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Constitution".[16]
In January 2007, DiLorenzo removed Reverend Rodney L. Rodis from public ministry. The pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Buckner, Virginia, and St. Jude Parish in Mineral, Virginia, Rodis had been arrested for the theft of over $600,000 from the two parishes. During the course of its investigation, the diocese discovered that Rodis had a wife and three children living in a nearby county.[17]
Retirement
In early 2017, DiLorenzo sent a letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Richmond to Pope Francis in early 2017. Francis DiLorenzo died from heart and kidney failure on August 17, 2017, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, at age 75.[4]
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
- Sexual abuse scandal in Honolulu diocese
References
- ^ a b c d "The Passing of Francis X. DiLorenzo, 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond". Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ISBN 9780935372144.
- ^ Earley, James Benedict (1994). Envisioning Faith: The Pictorial History of the Diocese of Scranton. W.T. Cooke. p. 309.
- ^ a b "Bishop DiLorenzo dies; headed Diocese of Richmond since 2004". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ISBN 9781317471943. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News". archives.starbulletin.com. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ "Molokai Priest Removed for Alleged Abuse in Philippines, by Adamski, Mary, Honolulu Star - Bulletin (Hawaii), January 28, 2003". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ Viotti, Vicki (March 31, 2004). "Hawai'i bishop DiLorenzo transferred to Virginia". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "A Brief History". Catholic Diocese of Richmond. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Hafner, Katherine. "Bishop DiLorenzo, known for return to conservative values, dies at 75". pilotonline.com. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ "Letters". The Catholic Virginian. 80 (16). 2005.
- ^ Schleck, Dave (March 1, 1996). "Making A Home For Homosexuals". Daily Press. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "Richmond Times-Dispatch: Richmond News, Sports, Politics, Classifieds…". Archived from the original on 2013-02-05.
- ^ a b c "Biweekly Newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond". Archived from the original on 2005-02-14. Retrieved 2005-06-09.
- ^ [1] [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Judge throws out San Lorenzo priest's defamation lawsuit". The Virginian-Pilot (HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com). Archived from the original on 2005-12-05. Retrieved 2005-08-09.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-04-16.