Joseph Keith Symons (born October 14, 1932) is a bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg from 1981–1983, as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 1983–1990 and the second bishop of Diocese of Palm Beach from 1990-1998.
Symons was born in Champion Township, Michigan on October 14, 1932.[1] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida on May 18, 1958.
Symons was named the Titular Bishop of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop St. Petersburg in Florida by Blessed John Paul II on January 16, 1981.[1] He was ordained a bishop by Bishop William Thomas Larkin of St. Petersburg on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward Anthony McCarthy of Miami and Thomas Joseph McDonough of Louisville were the co-consecrators.[1]
Bishop Symons was transferred to the See of Pensacola-Tallahassee on October 4, 1981 and installed as the second bishop of the diocese on November 8, 1983.[1] He was then transferred to the See of Palm Beach in Florida on June 12, 1990 and installed as the second bishop of that diocese on July 31, 1990.[1] Symons resigned as bishop of Palm Beach on June 6, 1998 after it was learned that he had sexually abused five teens when he was a priest.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by René Henry Gracida |
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee 1983–1990 |
Succeeded by John Mortimer Smith |
| Preceded by Thomas Vose Daily |
Bishop of Palm Beach 1990–1998 |
Succeeded by Anthony O'Connell |