Green Bay Priest Named Bishop of Marquette

By Annysa Johnson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
December 17, 2013

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/236249241.html

Appleton native and vicar general of the Diocese of Green Bay Father John Doerfler was tapped by the Vatican on Tuesday to become the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan.

“I could not be more delighted,” Green Bay Bishop David Ricken said in announcing Doerfler’s appointment. “Bishop-elect Doerfler ... has excelled in his service to this dioceses ... and has been a trusted advisor on moral and canonical issues to the bishop.”

Doerfler, 49, is a part-time lecturer in moral theology at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners.

Doerfler was ordained in Green Bay in 1991. He attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.; Gregorian University in Rome; and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He holds degrees in philosophy, sacred theology and canon law.

The national advocacy group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests criticized the appointment saying the Green Bay diocese has a “terrible track record” on addressing clergy sex abuse. And it raised concerns about Doerfler’s association with the Catholic group Courage, which encourages gay people to remain celibate.

Critics of the organization say it supports so-called “gay-conversion” therapy, which views homosexual orientation as a disorder that can be cured.

In a New York Times story in November, Doerfler said that is not the focus of Courage. But he added, “If any of the members, on their own, wanted to seek that, we would support people in that.”