William George Curlin (August 30, 1927 – December 23, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1994 to 2002. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1988 to 1994.
William George Curlin | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Charlotte | |
| See | Diocese of Charlotte |
| Appointed | February 22, 1994 |
| Installed | April 13, 1994 |
| Term ended | September 10, 2002 |
| Predecessor | John Francis Donoghue |
| Successor | Peter Joseph Jugis |
| Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Washington 1988 to 1994 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 25, 1957 by Patrick O'Boyle |
| Consecration | December 20, 1988 by James Aloysius Hickey, Eugene Antonio Marino, and Alvaro Corrada del Rio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1927 |
| Died | December 23, 2017 (aged 90) Charlotte, North Carolina, US |
| Motto | Sentire cum Christo (To Think With Christ) |
| Styles of William George Curlin | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Biography
editEarly life
editWilliam Curlin was born on August 30, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Curlin was the son of Mary and Stephen Curlin. He attended St. John's College and later Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Curlin then entered St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Priesthood
editCurlin was ordained a priest by Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on May 25, 1957.[1] He served in mostly poor parishes, opened a women's shelter and 20 kitchens for the poor and homeless throughout the Washington area. Curlin and Mother Teresa championed the opening of the Gift of Peace Home, a residence in Washington for people with HIV/AIDS.
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
editPope John Paul II appointed Curlin as an auxiliary bishop of Washington and titular bishop of Rossmarkaeum on November 2, 1988. He was consecrated by Cardinal James Hickey on December 20, 1988.[1] Curlin served as vicar for the Theological College at the Catholic University of America from 1974 to 1980 and as chair of Associated Catholic Charities in Baltimore.
Bishop of Charlotte
edit
John Paul II appointed Curlin as the third bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte on February 22, 1994; he was installed on April 13, 1994.[1]
Curtin started the first affordable housing initiative in the diocese and concentrated on ministry to the elderly, sick and dying.[2] As bishop, Curlin continued his ministry to the poor, ordained 28 men to the priesthood and opened numerous Churches throughout the diocese. On June 13, 1995, Curlin invited Mother Teresa to speak at the Charlotte Coliseum, drawing a crowd of over 19,000. In 1995, Curlin stated that any priest in the diocese who had been accused of sexual abuse of a minor would be immediately removed from ministry.[3]
When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Curlin travelled to Calcutta, India, to attend her funeral as a representative of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.[4]
Retirement and legacy
editOn September 10, 2002, John Paul II accepted Curlin's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. William Curlin died in Charlotte on December 23, 2017, at age 90.[1]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Bishop William George Curlin [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ "History of the Diocese of Charlotte - Diocese of Charlotte". 50years.charlottediocese.org. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ Longwood, Merle (2018-10-24). Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Trusting the Clergy?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-95528-3.
- ^ Hains, David (2017-05-17). Voices and Places of the People of God: The Diocese of Charlotte (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 978-0-259-44562-3.
External links
edit
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Official Site
- Catholic Hierarchy website profile
- Special Reports: Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse
- New York Times article
- Catholic News Herald story
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