Edward Kmiec
| Bishop Edward Kmiec | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Buffalo | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Buffalo |
| In office | October 28, 2004–May 29, 2012 |
| Predecessor | Henry Joseph Mansell |
| Successor | Richard Joseph Malone |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 20, 1961 |
| Consecration | November 3, 1982 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 4, 1936 Trenton, New Jersey |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Bishop, Clergyman |
| Previous post |
Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton Bishop of Nashville |
Edward Urban Kmiec (/ˈkɨmʌk/ KI-mik, born June 4, 1936, Trenton, New Jersey) is the former thirteenth Roman Catholic Bishop of Buffalo.[1][2][3][4] Kmiec served as Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Trenton from 1982[4] until his installation as Bishop of Nashville in 1992.[4] He was succeeded in Nashville in 2005 by David Choby.
Early religious life
At age 25, Kmiec was ordained a priest in Trenton, New Jersey on December 20, 1961.[4]
Episcopal career
As Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
Kmiec served as Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton, New Jersey for 10 years.[4] He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton on August 26, 1982,[4] and was named Titular Bishop of Simidicca on the same date.[4]
As Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville
Kmiec was Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee for 13 years.[4] He was appointed Bishop on October 13, 1992,[4] and installed on December 3, 1992.[4]
As Bishop of Buffalo
On August 12, 2004, Kmiec was appointed the Bishop of Buffalo;[1][4] he was installed on October 28, 2004.[4]
In 2007, Kmiec announced that the Diocese of Buffalo had a balanced budget, after spending cuts reduced a $2.1 million deficit from the previous year.[5]
In 2006, it was reported in Buffalo Business First that the previous leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, Bishop Henry J. Mansell, had not been forthright with the public or his superiors about the debt experienced within the Diocese.[2] One individual was quoted in the same Buffalo Business First article, stating that Mansell was unable to see the reality of the situation.[2] While Mansell did not oversee any church closures during his leadership in Buffalo, he lauded praises and support for the Diocese when it was actually in decline.[2] Kmiec then took on the role as Bishop, faced with more than $3 million in debt, a declining Catholic population, and decreased viability for keeping many schools and churches open.[2]
Kmiec was heavily criticized for downsizing the diocese from 274 parishes and missions in 2005 to 170 parishes and missions in 2011. He also oversaw the closures of 25 elementary schools. Some Catholics maintain the church closings caused irreparable harm to the diocese.[6][7]
Increasing the number of vocations to the priesthood in the Buffalo Diocese remains a challenge.[2] The Diocese under Kmiec ordained only 18 priests from 2004 to 2011.[6]
Retirement
On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Kmiec's resignation due to his having surpassed the mandatory retirement age of 75.[4] Bishop Richard Joseph Malone from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine was Kmiec's successor. Malone was installed at St. Joseph Cathedral on August 10, 2012.[8]
Kmiec was Bishop of Buffalo for eight years.[4] He is currently Bishop Emeritus of Buffalo,[4] having been a religious for more than 52 years.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec, D.D., 13th Bishop of Buffalo". Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Sole power: Bishop Edward Kmiec wants change - and so it will be, Buffalo Business First, Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Business First, 11 September 2006, O'Shei, T., Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ Bishop Edward D. Head dies at 85, The Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 30 March 2005, Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Bishop Edward Urban Kmiec, Catholic-Hierarchy, 29 May 2012, Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Bishop says diocesan budget is balanced". Business Business First. September 5, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 At 75, Kmiec reaches a crossroads, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, June 4, 2011.
- ↑ Honoring a bishop who weathered the storms, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, October 30, 2011.
- ↑ "Most Rev. Richard J. Malone appointed Bishop Of Buffalo". WKBW.com. May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
External links
| Episcopal lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | John Charles Reiss |
| Consecrator of | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | Date of consecration |
| David Choby | February 27, 2006 |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Daniel Niedergeses |
Bishop of Nashville October 13, 1992 – August 12, 2004 |
Succeeded by David Choby |
| Preceded by Henry J. Mansell |
Bishop of Buffalo August 12, 2004 – May 29, 2012 |
Succeeded by Richard Joseph Malone |