George Henry Speltz

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Auxiliary Bishop of Winona (1963–1966)
Coadjutor Bishop of St. Cloud (1966–1968)
Orders
OrdinationJune 2, 1940
ConsecrationMarch 25, 1963
Personal details
Born(1912-05-29)May 29, 1912
Altura, Minnesota
DiedFebruary 1, 2004(2004-02-01) (aged 91)
St. Cloud, Minnesota
DenominationCatholic Church

George Henry Speltz (May 29, 1912 – February 1, 2004) was an American

Diocese of Winona in Minnesota (1963–1966) and as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud
in Minnesota (1968–1987).

Biography

Early life

George Speltz was born in

St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul.[3]

Priesthood

Speltz was

Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2] His thesis was entitled: "Decentralization and the Social Obligations of the Land".[5]

Returning to Minnesota, Speltz served as vice-

Diocese of Winona (1944–47) and superintendent of diocesan schools (1945–49).[3] In 1946, he was named pastor of St. Mary's Church in Minneiska and a professor at St. Mary's College in Winona.[1] He served as the first rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona from 1948 to 1963.[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Winona

On February 12, 1963, Speltz was appointed

consecration on March 25, 1963, from Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, with Bishops Peter Bartholome and Frederick Freking serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.[4] In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Winona from 1963 to 1966.[1] He also attended the last three sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome (1963–65).[6]

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Saint Cloud

On April 6, 1966, Speltz was appointed

coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud by Pope Paul VI.[4] His installation took place on the following June 7. He succeeded Bishop Peter Bartholome as the sixth Bishop of St. Cloud on January 31, 1968.[4] Speltz was president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference from 1970 to 1972.[3] In 1984, he initiated a ban to deny church weddings to couples who live together before they marry, unless they agreed to live apart before their wedding; he said cohabitation:

"...calls into question fundamental moral values that have long been central to the Christian tradition: the sacred character of sex and of the Christian family."[7]

Retirement and legacy

On January 13, 1987, Pope John Paul II accepted Speltz's resignation due to health reasons as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud.[4]George Speltz died at St. Benedict Senior Community in St. Cloud on February 1, 2004, at age 91.[2] He is buried at Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Who's Who in the Midwest, 1982-1983. Marquis Who's Who. 1982.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Speltz, retired head of St. Cloud Diocese, dies at 91". The Georgia Bulletin. 2004-02-03. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01.
  3. ^ a b c d "Former Bishop George Speltz leaves behind lengthy legacy" (PDF). Saint Mary's University Magazine. Spring 2004.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop George Henry Speltz". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. St. Petersburg Times
    .
  6. ^ Sawyer Allen, Martha (1986-03-16). "At 73, Bishop Speltz looks back at pain caused by change and principles". Star Tribune.
  7. ^ "GEORGE SPELTZ WAS BISHOP OF ST. CLOUD DIOCESE". St. Paul Pioneer Press. 2004-02-04.
  8. ^ "Rev George Henry Speltz". Find A Grave.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of St. Cloud
1968–1987 		Succeeded by
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