Donald Walter Trautman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Denomination | Roman Catholicism |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Erie |
| Title | Bishop of Erie |
| Period in office | 1990 — present |
| Predecessor | Michael Murphy |
| Successor | incumbent |
| Religious career | |
| Priestly ordination | 1962-04-07 |
| Previous bishoprics | Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | June 24, 1936 |
| Place of birth | Buffalo, New York  |
Donald Walter Trautman (born June 24, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as Bishop of Erie.
[edit] Biography
Donald Trautman was born in Buffalo, New York, and attended Niagara University in Lewiston.[1] He studied theology under Karl Rahner at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, from where he obtained his Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in Innsbruck on April 7, 1962, for the Diocese of Buffalo. Upon his return, he was successively made a parish administrator in Collins and associate pastor in Buffalo.
He later studied biblical languages for one year at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., continuing his post-graduate work in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, earning his licentiate in Scripture in 1965. During his studies in Rome, Trautman served as a peritus, or theological expert, at the Second Vatican Council. In 1966, he earned his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)[1].
From 1966 to 1973, he taught Scripture and theology at St. John Vianney Seminary, now Christ the King Seminary, where he also served as dean of students. Trautman worked as a retreat master for religious communities, and vice-president and president of Buffalo's Pastoral Council. He was private secretary to Bishop Edward Head, and later named Chancellor (1973) and Vicar General (1974) of Buffalo. He was raised to the rank of a Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1975.
| Styles of Donald Walter Trautman |
|
.svg/50px-Mitre_(plain).svg.png){kind=small} |
|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
| Posthumous style | none |
On February 27, 1985, Trautman was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo and Titular Bishop of Sassura by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 16 from Bishop Head, with Bishops Bernard McLaughlin and Stanislaus Brzana serving as co-consecrators, at St. Joseph Cathedral. After a period of pastoral work, he became rector of Christ the King Seminary.
Trautman was later named Bishop of Erie, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1990. As Bishop of Erie, Trautman has energized the diocesan youth and vocational programs, renovated the interior of the cathedral, and established a diocesan Deposit and Loan Fund and a retirement home for clergy dedicated in honor of his predecessor, Bishop Michael Murphy.
He is an active participant of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, having served as chairman of the Committees on Doctrine, USCCB Financial Audit, and currently Liturgy. Bishop Trautman has also been the episcopal moderator of the Apostleship of the Sea and of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference.
The April 4 edition of L'Osservatore Romano accidentally announced Bishop Trautman had died when he was confused with former bishop Michael Murphy, who had died April 2.[2] The mistake was also noted by a cartoon in the The Tablet.[2]
From "The Wanderer" 6/5/97. The cavalier attitude of some priests in the Catholic Church was demonstrated on February 27 at Houston's St. Mary's Seminary. Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, PA delivered a speech on "inclusive language".
Bishop Trautman noted that in the present Ordination promise, the priest promises to serve "all men". Emphasizing "all men", Trautman joked that young priests may take this as a calling to become pedophiles.
Bishop Trautman allowed Father John Boeckman to remain in ministry despite having full knowledge that Boeckman was having muliple affairs with female parishoners. Boeckman was recently laicized when one of the victims who became pregnant by Boeckman & had an abortion came forward.
Trautman has also allowed Father Steve Jeselnick to remain in ministy after his admission to abusing a college student in Greenville, PA in 1980. There is another alleged victim in Meadville, PA. Jeselnick lives openly with his lover in Baltimore & still remains in active ministry.
To date, out of 195 dioceses, the Erie Diocese is the only one with no sexual abuse lawsuits, due to antiquated Pennsylvania laws and imtimidation of vicims & local media.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Michael Joseph Murphy |
Bishop of Erie 1990—present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
