| Most Reverend Lawrence D. Soens, DD |
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|---|---|
| Bishop of Sioux City | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Sioux City |
| In Office | June 15, 1983—November 28, 1998 |
| Predecessor | Frank Henry Greteman |
| Successor | Daniel DiNardo |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 6, 1950 |
| Consecration | August 17, 1983 by James Joseph Byrne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1926 Iowa City, Iowa |
| Styles of Lawrence Donald Soens |
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|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
| Posthumous style | not applicable |
Lawrence Donald Soens (born August 26, 1926) is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sioux City in the state of Iowa from 1983 to 1998.
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Lawrence Soens was born in Iowa City, Iowa on August 26, 1926. He was educated at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, Saint Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa and studied for the priesthood at Kenrick Seminary near Saint Louis, Missouri. He also completed graduate studies at the University of Iowa.[1]
He was ordained a priest on May 6, 1950 for the Diocese of Davenport. He was engaged in both academic and pastoral work in the diocese as a priest. He served as rector of the seminary program at Saint Ambrose College. In 1982 Soens was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope John Paul II. At the time of his appointment, Soens was the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Clinton, Iowa.
On June 15, 1983 Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Soens as the fifth bishop of Sioux City. He was ordained a bishop and installed on August 17, 1983 at the Cathedral of the Ephiphany by Archbishop James Joseph Byrne. Bishops Gerald Francis O'Keefe of Davenport and Frank Henry Greteman Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City were the principal co-consecrators.[2] While he was bishop of the diocese many programs were established or expanded including: Ministry 2000, the Priests Retirement Fund, youth ministry programs and the diocese mandated parish pastoral and finance commissions.[3]
In 1997 Soens requested a coadjutor bishop be named and on August 19, 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Daniel DiNardo from the Diocese of Piitsburgh.[4] Bishop Soens resignation as Bishop of Sioux City was accepted by the Holy See on November 28, 1998, and he was named Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City. Under his reign several ethnic churches were closed, displacing hundreds of parishioners.
After his resignation as bishop of Sioux City he was accused of fondling as many as 15 students during his tenure as principal at Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations. However, numerous allegations continue and the actual number of students who say he abused them has risen.[5]
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