Karl Joseph Alter

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Karl Joseph Alter (August 18, 1885 - August 23, 1977) was a U.S. archbishop. He served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati between 1950 and 1969.

Karl Joseph Alter was born in Toledo, Ohio, on August 18, 1885. He attended St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio and was a member of the first graduating class.

He was ordained a priest in Toledo, June 4, 1910. An early appointment was pastor of St. Mary Church in Leipsic, Ohio. One of his appointments as a priest was Diocesan Director of Charities and Cemeteries in 1914. He continued in this position until moving to Washington, D.C. in 1929.

On April 17, 1931 Karl Joseph Alter was appointed Bishop of Toledo, Ohio. He was ordained bishop June 17, 1931. Principal Consecrator was Archbishop John T. McNicholas.

Bishop Karl Joseph Alter was appointed to Cincinnati June 14, 1950 following the death of Archbishop McNicholas earlier that year. Upon installation as Archbishop, Karl Joseph Alter became sixth Bishop and fifth Archbishop of Cincinnati.

Alter was bishop during the Second Vatican Council and addressed the council during the proceedings, proposing a model of separation in relationships between Church and State.

He served the Archdiocese until his retirement July 19, 1969. At that time he was appointed titular bishop of Minora. He resigned as bishop of Minora December 31, 1970.

He died in Cincinnati August 23, 1977, and is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH.

Preceded by Samuel Cardinal Stritch	Bishop of Toledo 1931–1950	Succeeded by George J. Rehring
Preceded by John Timothy McNicholas	Archbishop of Cincinnati 1950–1969	Succeeded by Paul Francis Leibold

Archbishop Alter High School, a Dayton, Ohio parochial high school was named for Bishop Alter.
Archbishop Karl J. Alter Library is located at Mount Saint Joseph College.