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	Vatican Names Former Allentown Priest New Louisville Archbishop By Bruce Schreiner The Morning Call June 12, 2007 http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-n-l-vat-061207-cn-ap,0,1071486.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed Louisville, Ky. | — Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Kurtz was named archbishop of Louisville by Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Thomas C. Kelly, who guided the archdiocese through a tumultuous period amid a clergy sexual abuse scandal. Kurtz, 60, has served as bishop of the 50,000-member Diocese of Knoxville, Tenn., since 1999. Before that, he was a priest for 27 years in the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania. Kurtz said Tuesday that he was eager to begin his new assignment, and said he was coming to Louisville "to learn, to listen and to proclaim the word of God." The Louisville archdiocese covers 24 counties with more than 200,000 Catholics. "I have a great passion for the gift of life, for the family and a love for seeking to serve, especially those who are poor," Kurtz told reporters. Kelly spent a quarter century as Louisville archbishop. He turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops, last July but remained on the job until his successor was chosen. Kelly, who got to know his successor in the past few years, said Kurtz is a skilled administrator with a strong background in Catholic charities. "We're awfully lucky to get him and God has blessed us abundantly," Kelly said. As archbishop, Kurtz also will have some limited pastoral and administrative duties for dioceses in Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky has the Louisville archdiocese and three smaller dioceses in Lexington, Covington and Owensboro; Tennessee has dioceses in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. During his tenure, Kelly oversaw the restoration of the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville and the preservation of a strong Catholic school system. The Louisville archdiocese became entangled in the priest abuse sex scandal that shook many dioceses across the country. In 2003, the archdiocese agreed to pay $25.7 million to settle with more than 240 victims of sexual abuse by priests or other church workers. The archdiocese reduced staff and raised parish assessments to offset a financial strain caused by the settlement. Kelly became archbishop in 1982 after most of the alleged molestation occurred. As a bishop in Tennessee, Kurtz also dealt with fallout from the sex abuse scandal. In 2002, his predecessor resigned as bishop of Palm Beach, Fla., after admitting he abused a seminary student decades earlier. Kurtz said he has taken a "proactive" approach to "seek a wholesome and a healthy environment within our parishes, our schools and every institution." Kurtz said Tuesday he thought his approach to responding to any controversy from the abuse scandal was a "healthy one." "It's built on a transparency -- a desire not only to cooperate with public authorities when a problem occurs but to be able to have the confidence of the faithful and the average citizen that we are cooperating," he said. Kurtz's selection as archbishop was noted during midday Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption. Larry Osterhage, a parishioner, said afterward that Kurtz's background makes him better able to deal with any lingering effect of the abuse scandal in Louisville. "He's keenly aware of what can go wrong," he said. Kurtz arrives amid a reorganization of the Louisville archdiocese, which is merging some parishes and requiring dozens of congregations to form "clusters" where two or more parishes would share a pastor. The move is in reaction to a declining number of priests. The new archbishop said one of his goals was to "cultivate a culture of vocations to the religious life," including the priesthood. He said that priests should be involved in encouraging people who appear suited for the priesthood. "I do believe that our own joy in experiencing the life of a priest can be inviting, and we need to capitalize on it," he said. Because of their dwindling numbers, some priests are responsible for more than one parish, said the Rev. William L. Fichteman, pastor at the Cathedral of the Assumption. "It's causing more work and pressure on priests," he said. Fichteman welcomed Kurtz's arrival as archbishop, saying "he will have much to offer, from what I know about him." Meanwhile, Kelly said he will take a "prayer sabbatical," then plans to return to Louisville next spring, when he'll assume a "service role" assisting at a local parish. Kurtz's formal installation ceremony will be Aug. 15.
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