He Plans to Take Hands-On Approach
By Peter Smith
The Courier-Journal
August 19, 2007
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070819/NEWS01/708190472
Minutes after he was installed as archbishop of Louisville last week, Joseph E. Kurtz began to meet many of the archdiocese's Catholics — standing for more than two hours greeting people under a reception tent in the 103-degree heat.
Kurtz, who turned 61 yesterday, has continued to get to know his new flock, meeting with staff, going on driving tours to see current and former churches in Louisville's urban neighborhoods and planning his first visit to the historic Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown last night.
Kurtz, who replaces retired Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, met with The Courier-Journal for an interview at his new office, where his desk already sports a plaque proclaiming his motto: "Hope in the Lord."
Courier-Journal: What have you done and what will you be doing to get to know the archdiocese?
Kurtz: First of all, I had a chance to talk to many of the almost 4,500 people who came to the Mass of installation. It was very touching to me, with the heat, how many waited in line to welcome me and also express their joy at the life of their faith. I also am looking forward to a couple of gatherings with (leaders from the archdiocese's) districts.
Yesterday, we had a gathering here at the Chancery (headquarters). We had somewhat of a town meeting in which they asked questions, and I had an opportunity to share my own insights.
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| Joseph E. Kurtz was installed as archbishop of Louisville last week. Photo by Kyle Kurlick |
C-J: What's your plan about parish visits?
Kurtz: I was invited to St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral this coming Saturday night; hopefully to meet many of the people of the parish. That's very historic because it's our (first) cathedral. The following Sunday I will be at my cathedral (of the Assumption). The following Sunday I'll be at St. James. I'm beginning by basically responding to a number of the kind invitations I've received.
C-J: You moved into the same apartment next to the cathedral where Archbishop Kelly lived?
Kurtz: I did, and it's a joy. … Being literally in the shadow of the cathedral is wonderful. It's uplifting to wake up in the morning and see the spires and hear the church bells. It's also very nice to be associated so closely with the parish family of the cathedral.
I like being downtown; being able to get out and jog in the morning every once in a while is nice.
C-J: What are your thoughts about keeping the staff here versus bringing in your own people?
Kurtz: My desire is to first celebrate the gifts of those who have served so well, and then over time to look at whether all that we're doing is something simply to continue, or whether there are new challenges that need to be addressed. But certainly a year does not seem too long a time for that opportunity, simply to appreciate the good that was done.
C-J: Do you anticipate any sort of course correction, whether it's how the administration works, how the parishes are doing things or how the faith is being taught in schools?
Kurtz: I think it would be too premature for me to say that. You may suspect I know more about our archdiocese than I really do.
The way in which I went about providing leadership in Knoxville would be the way in which I would begin. I don't believe there were any dramatic changes in the first year. If any changes occurred, it was probably over time through really the shaping of the pastoral way in which we go about things. I certainly want to resist too bureaucratic a response to things. I tend to be somewhat hands-on.
It would be safe to say I'm not coming in with a blueprint, other than to seek to serve Christ fully in the truth of our faith, and to do so in the pastoral charity that we're asked to model in the name and person of Jesus Christ.
C-J: One thing that's often characterized this archdiocese has been lay involvement. What is your view?
Kurtz: The baptismal call is a call of leadership. Obviously the vast majority of those who are baptized live out that call in the world, in raising good families, in working in the world, etc. But there are a number of (lay) individuals who are called to ministries in the church. That does not take the place of the call (to the priesthood). However, I see these calls to be moving side-by-side.
The vision of the church is that we would seek in the parish to have a priest who would serve as pastor. Where this is not possible, then naturally there are alternatives of pastoral ministers, and there have been, from what I understand, very fine people who have served faithfully as pastoral ministers or pastoral associates within the archdiocese.
C-J: In the past few years, the sexual-abuse crisis in this archdiocese was very prominent. What is your role in addressing that issue?
Kurtz: First, sexual abuse is not to be tolerated, either in a church setting or in a societal setting. My role would be to provide clear leadership in first of all creating a safe environment and doing everything we can to promote the kind of wholesome pastoral relationships that have really been the hallmark of the church for centuries.
We also have a very clear policy that includes a very active victim's assistance coordinator. I will be very supportive of that coordinator in helping to deal with the victims of past abuse, working with that coordinator and, where it's appropriate, obviously meeting with any victims that would be in need of pastoral care.
C-J: Any word you would have for the victims?
Kurtz: My words would be words of consolation and a desire to help them heal. I would want to reach out to help console and help heal. Just as we are helping, I hope, all people within our archdiocese to live full and wholesome lives, virtuous lives, we would want to assist victims in doing the same.
C-J: You've often been described in your role on the Committee on Marriage and Family Life as the point person on defining marriage. Do you anticipate continuing in that role?
Kurtz: Yes. The first effort of the bishops would be to extol and support both marriage for people who are preparing as well as people who are already married. We just launched this summer our public-service announcement campaign titled: "What have you done for your marriage today?" And there's a Web site (ForYourMarriage.org).
Within that context, it's very important for us to support the public policies that support marriage. That is the reason that the bishops have been very strong in supporting and preserving the traditional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman in a way that's open to new life with children.
The church's belief in supporting marriage is not in any way to disrespect any individual. In fact, the church's basic approach is to seek the dignity of every human person. And we call on every human person to embrace the gift of chastity in their vocation in life. That's true for those who are married (to be faithful to each other) and for those who are not married (to be celibate).
C-J: Can you tell me what your role would be in terms of relations with other religions?
Kurtz: I would seek in our own community to come to know, first of all, the religious leaders. To befriend them — in the case of fellow Christians a unity of friendship in the Lord, and in the wider sense of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu communities, of an openness to a sharing of deep respect for one another.
Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469 psmith@courier-journal.com.
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