José Horacio Gomez
Encyclopedia
José Horacio Gómez is a Mexican
-born prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States
, currently serving as the Archbishop
of Los Angeles
. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
from 2001–2004 and as Archbishop of San Antonio
from 2004–2010.
Born in Monterrey
, Mexico, Gómez was ordained
a priest
of Opus Dei
in 1978 in Spain
. Following his ordination, he worked for Opus Dei in several capacities in his native Mexico and in Texas
. In 2001 he was appointed auxiliary bishop
of Denver and was consecrated bishop that year. In 2004 he was appointed archbishop of San Antonio. In 2010 Gómez was appointed coadjutor archbishop
of Los Angeles
with immediate right of succession to Cardinal
Roger Mahony, who was approaching his mandatory retirement age. He officially succeeded Mahony to become Archbishop of Los Angeles on March 1, 2011.
, Mexico
, to José H. Gómez and Esperanza Velasco. One of five children, he has three older sisters and one younger sister. He attended the Monterrey Institute of Technology
before entering the National University of Mexico
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Philosophy in 1975. In college he joined Opus Dei
, a Catholic organization founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá that teaches people to seek holiness in their ordinary activities.
Gómez left his native country to study at the Rome
campus of the University of Navarre, earning his B.A. in Theology in 1978.
a priest
of Opus Dei by Cardinal Franz König
at the Shrine of Torreciudad
in Spain
. He obtained a Doctor of Sacred Theology
from the main campus of the University of Navarre at Pamplona
in 1980. He then pursued pastoral work with college and high school students in Spain and Mexico. From 1987 to 1999, Gómez was in residence at Our Lady of Grace Church in San Antonio
, Texas
, where he assisted in the pastoral work of the parish. During this period, he also helped in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston
in Katy
. He became a U.S. citizen
in 1995.
In 1991, Gómez became a regional representative of the National Association of Hispanic
Priests, rising to become its president in 1995 and later serving as executive director from 1999 to 2001. In 2003, he earned the annual National Association of Hispanic Priests Award, "El Buen Pastor". From 1997 to 1998, he served as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic Council of Hispanic Ministry, being elected treasurer in 1999. From 1998 to 2000, he was on the steering committee for Encuentro 2000, a national celebration of the Jubilee Year 2000. Along with Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, he played a key role in the establishment of the Hispanic Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City
, which opened in August 2000. He also spearheaded the establishment of Centro San Juan Diego for Family and Pastoral Care, a place for formation of lay leaders and a base to provide welcoming services to immigrants, in Denver, Colorado
. In 1999, he became the vicar
of Opus Dei for Texas.
auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Denver
and titular bishop
of Belali by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following March 26 from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
, O.F.M. Cap.
, with Bishops Joseph Fiorenza
and Javier Echevarría Rodríguez
serving as co-consecrators
. He is the first numerary
member of Opus Dei to be ordained a bishop in the United States. As a bishop, however, he is no longer a member of the organization in the sense that he reports to the Pope and thus does not answer to the prelate in charge of Opus Dei like the other members do. Gomez has said he is not a "member" of Opus Dei, but rather that he was ordained a priest in Opus Dei and that his spirituality reflects that background.
As an auxiliary bishop, Gómez served as rector
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
in Denver from 2001 to 2003. He later served as both moderator of the curia and pastor
of Mother of God Church.
on December 29, 2004. In 2005 he was named one of Time Magazine
's 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and in 2007 he was on a CNN
's list of "Notable Hispanics" in a web special celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2006, Archbishop Gomez officially introduced The Catholic Community Foundation for the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In 2007, he was instrumental in bringing together Hispanic leaders and Catholic bishops for the creation of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL).
During his tenure in San Antonio, Gómez earned a reputation as an orthodox leader who reversed some of the more liberal-leaning initiatives in the diocese. He disbanded the chancery's Justice and Peace Commission after its members expressed their opposition to a state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage
. During the 2008 presidential election
, he publicly expressed concern when St. Mary's University
, the oldest Catholic university in Texas as well as the Southwest
, allowed pro-choice
candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton
to hold a campaign event on campus. He also voiced his concerns when another Catholic university, Our Lady of the Lake University
, allowed a high-profile nun who some claim supports female ordination
to be a keynote speaker at an event. He welcomed Summorum Pontificum
, which granted greater freedom to the Tridentine Mass
, saying it would preserve "the rich heritage and legacy of the Church."
He is a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
in the Roman Curia
, and of the Board of Trustees
at The Catholic University of America
. As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he is chairman of the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America; in the latter capacity, he led a three-bishop delegation to Haiti
to assess the situation there following its 2010 earthquake
. He is also chairman-elect of the Committee on Migration, chairman of the Task Force on the Spanish
-language Bible
, and a member of the Committee on Doctrine.
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
, California
, by Pope Benedict XVI
. Gómez succeeded Cardinal Mahony on March 1, 2011, with a transition ceremony held on February 27, 2011. He is the first Hispanic to serve as Archbishop of Los Angeles, as well as the highest-ranking Hispanic bishop in the United States. "I’m very grateful to the Holy Father for giving me this opportunity to serve the Church with a mentor and leader like Cardinal Roger Mahony," Archbishop Gomez said. "I'm grateful to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, for supporting the Holy Father's confidence in me. I will try with all my strength to earn that trust." A Mass of Reception for Archbishop Gomez is scheduled for May 26.
Considered to be theologically conservative, Gómez is also viewed as "a natural conciliator admired for uniting rich and poor and Anglo and Hispanic Catholics..." He is regarded as more conservative than his predecessor, Cardinal Mahony. Addressing this belief, however, Mahony has said, "these labels of 'conservative' and 'liberal' are really unhelpful in the life of the church", and "I can attest that both of us share a common commitment to Christ and to the Church, and that both of us are interested in promoting the teachings of the Church fully as well as bringing the words and example of Christ to today’s society and world." He also said it would be wrong for observers to conclude Gomez was a conservative because he was a priest of Opus Dei.
home page, Archbishop Gómez stated that Catholic schools were a necessary mission that needed to continue:
"Catholic schools make a "major contribution" to the Los Angeles region's social fabric and to the common good of the country as a whole, Archbishop José H. Gómez said as he encouraged Catholics to be generous in supporting their school systems.
“Education remains essential to our Church’s mission. Catholic schools have given generations of immigrants and minority groups a way out of poverty and a chance to become leaders in our civic and cultural life, he said in a Sept. 23 column in the archdiocesan paper The Tidings.
“We need to make sure this Catholic mission of hope and uplift continues for our newest Americans and in the face of new challenges in our cities.”
He said the “most serious” challenge to Catholic schools is meeting the economic needs of families who can’t afford the costs of Catholic school tuition. “So we need to find a way to help,” he said.
Archbishop Gomez noted the responsibility of clergy, religious, and lay people to work together to grow Catholic schools and to expand into new areas.
He also praised the accomplishments of the Catholic school systems.
“What our students are achieving is really amazing. And this story is being repeated in Catholic schools all across our country,”
The Catholic schools of the Los Angeles region serve 80,000 students. They constitute the third largest school system in California. Nearly 70 percent of students are ethnic minorities and more than one in three come from families living below the poverty line. Catholic schools have more than two million students nationwide, 15 percent of whom are not Catholic.
“I have hoped for a long time that our politicians and civic leaders would start paying more attention to Catholic schools in their search for solutions to our nation’s education problems. Because studies over the years keep concluding that Catholic schools provide better educational outcomes at a lower cost than public schools,” Archbishop Gomez said.
Each public school student, on average, is educated at a cost of $10,300 a year, while Catholic schools spend only $7,000 per student. They graduate 99 percent of their students, compared to the 73 percent graduation rate in public schools. Catholic schools have higher college entrance rates and better SAT scores, especially among low-income and economically disadvantaged students, the archbishop said.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Catholic Education Foundation recently received a $11.3 million endowment from the Frank and Blanche Seaver Trust, which will ensure tuition for at least 600 students in addition to the 7,300 awards already provided.
Inspired by the new grant, the archdiocese has launched an initiative headed by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan to raise $100 million for Catholic schools. The initiative could help another 5,000 students annually. The initiative asks supporters to make provisions in their trusts or wills for the education foundation.
There are 9,000 students on waiting lists for the schools in the archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez asked for prayers, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to help Catholics to be “generous in supporting the Church’s educational mission of teaching and proclaiming hope in the name of her Son. Education remains essential to our Church’s mission. Catholic schools have given generations of immigrants and minority groups a way out of poverty and a chance to become leaders in our civic and cultural life, he said in a Sept. 23 column in the archdiocesan paper The Tidings.
“We need to make sure this Catholic mission of hope and uplift continues for our newest Americans and in the face of new challenges in our cities.”
He said the “most serious” challenge to Catholic schools is meeting the economic needs of families who can’t afford the costs of Catholic school tuition. “So we need to find a way to help,” he said.
Archbishop Gomez noted the responsibility of clergy, religious, and lay people to work together to grow Catholic schools and to expand into new areas.
He also praised the accomplishments of the Catholic school systems.
“What our students are achieving is really amazing. And this story is being repeated in Catholic schools all across our country,”
The Catholic schools of the Los Angeles region serve 80,000 students. They constitute the third largest school system in California. Nearly 70 percent of students are ethnic minorities and more than one in three come from families living below the poverty line. Catholic schools have more than two million students nationwide, 15 percent of whom are not Catholic.
“I have hoped for a long time that our politicians and civic leaders would start paying more attention to Catholic schools in their search for solutions to our nation’s education problems. Because studies over the years keep concluding that Catholic schools provide better educational outcomes at a lower cost than public schools,” Archbishop Gomez said.
Each public school student, on average, is educated at a cost of $10,300 a year, while Catholic schools spend only $7,000 per student. They graduate 99 percent of their students, compared to the 73 percent graduation rate in public schools. Catholic schools have higher college entrance rates and better SAT scores, especially among low-income and economically disadvantaged students, the archbishop said.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Catholic Education Foundation recently received a $11.3 million endowment from the Frank and Blanche Seaver Trust, which will ensure tuition for at least 600 students in addition to the 7,300 awards already provided.
Inspired by the new grant, the archdiocese has launched an initiative headed by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan to raise $100 million for Catholic schools. The initiative could help another 5,000 students annually. The initiative asks supporters to make provisions in their trusts or wills for the education foundation.
There are 9,000 students on waiting lists for the schools in the archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez asked for prayers, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to help Catholics to be “generous in supporting the Church’s educational mission of teaching and proclaiming hope in the name of her Son.”
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, currently serving as the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
The Archdiocese of Denver is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for Denver, Colorado and the Colorado counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan and Weld in the northern part of the state. The Archdiocese's home is at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate...
from 2001–2004 and as Archbishop of San Antonio
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio encompasses in Texas.The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio and the following counties: Val Verde, Edwards, Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Uvalde, Kinney, Medina, Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Frio, Atascosa, and McMullen.On...
from 2004–2010.
Born in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Mexico, Gómez was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
of Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
in 1978 in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Following his ordination, he worked for Opus Dei in several capacities in his native Mexico and in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 2001 he was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Denver and was consecrated bishop that year. In 2004 he was appointed archbishop of San Antonio. In 2010 Gómez was appointed coadjutor archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with immediate right of succession to Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Roger Mahony, who was approaching his mandatory retirement age. He officially succeeded Mahony to become Archbishop of Los Angeles on March 1, 2011.
Early life and education
Gómez was born in MonterreyMonterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, to José H. Gómez and Esperanza Velasco. One of five children, he has three older sisters and one younger sister. He attended the Monterrey Institute of Technology
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education commonly shortened as Monterrey Institute of Technology or Monterrey Tech is one of the largest private, nonsectarian and coeducational multi-campus universities in...
before entering the National University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Philosophy in 1975. In college he joined Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
, a Catholic organization founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá that teaches people to seek holiness in their ordinary activities.
Gómez left his native country to study at the Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
campus of the University of Navarre, earning his B.A. in Theology in 1978.
Priesthood
On August 15, 1978, Gómez was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
of Opus Dei by Cardinal Franz König
Franz König
Franz König was an Austrian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Vienna from 1956 to 1985, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1958...
at the Shrine of Torreciudad
Torreciudad
Torreciudad is the name of a Marian shrine in Aragon, Spain, built by Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, and consecrated on July 7, 1975, under the title of Our Lady of Torreciudad. Devotion to Mary under the title of Virgin of Torreciudad is said to date back to the eleventh century. The...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He obtained a Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
from the main campus of the University of Navarre at Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
in 1980. He then pursued pastoral work with college and high school students in Spain and Mexico. From 1987 to 1999, Gómez was in residence at Our Lady of Grace Church in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where he assisted in the pastoral work of the parish. During this period, he also helped in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
in Katy
Katy, Texas
Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
. He became a U.S. citizen
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
in 1995.
In 1991, Gómez became a regional representative of the National Association of Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
Priests, rising to become its president in 1995 and later serving as executive director from 1999 to 2001. In 2003, he earned the annual National Association of Hispanic Priests Award, "El Buen Pastor". From 1997 to 1998, he served as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic Council of Hispanic Ministry, being elected treasurer in 1999. From 1998 to 2000, he was on the steering committee for Encuentro 2000, a national celebration of the Jubilee Year 2000. Along with Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, he played a key role in the establishment of the Hispanic Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, which opened in August 2000. He also spearheaded the establishment of Centro San Juan Diego for Family and Pastoral Care, a place for formation of lay leaders and a base to provide welcoming services to immigrants, in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. In 1999, he became the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Opus Dei for Texas.
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
On January 23, 2001, Gómez was appointedAppointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Denver
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
The Archdiocese of Denver is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for Denver, Colorado and the Colorado counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan and Weld in the northern part of the state. The Archdiocese's home is at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate...
and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Belali by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following March 26 from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
Charles J. Chaput
Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of Philadelphia, serving since his installation on September 8, 2011. He previously served as Archbishop of Denver and Bishop of Rapid City .Chaput is a professed Capuchin and...
, O.F.M. Cap.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, with Bishops Joseph Fiorenza
Joseph Fiorenza
Joseph Anthony Fiorenza is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the seventh Bishop and the first Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving from 1985 to 2006...
and Javier Echevarría Rodríguez
Javier Echevarria Rodriguez
Most Reverend Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodríguez is a Spanish bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current head of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He is the first numerary
Numerary
Numerary is a civil designation for persons who are incorporated in a fixed or permanent way to a society or group: regular member of the working staff, permanent staff, or member, distinguished from a supernumerary....
member of Opus Dei to be ordained a bishop in the United States. As a bishop, however, he is no longer a member of the organization in the sense that he reports to the Pope and thus does not answer to the prelate in charge of Opus Dei like the other members do. Gomez has said he is not a "member" of Opus Dei, but rather that he was ordained a priest in Opus Dei and that his spirituality reflects that background.
As an auxiliary bishop, Gómez served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Denver of Roman Catholic Church. It is located at the corner of Logan St. and Colfax Avenue in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood of central Denver. The cathedral has a capacity of 800 persons and hosts...
in Denver from 2001 to 2003. He later served as both moderator of the curia and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Mother of God Church.
Archbishop of San Antonio
Gómez was appointed Archbishop of San AntonioRoman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio encompasses in Texas.The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio and the following counties: Val Verde, Edwards, Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Uvalde, Kinney, Medina, Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Frio, Atascosa, and McMullen.On...
on December 29, 2004. In 2005 he was named one of Time Magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
's 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and in 2007 he was on a CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's list of "Notable Hispanics" in a web special celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2006, Archbishop Gomez officially introduced The Catholic Community Foundation for the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In 2007, he was instrumental in bringing together Hispanic leaders and Catholic bishops for the creation of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL).
During his tenure in San Antonio, Gómez earned a reputation as an orthodox leader who reversed some of the more liberal-leaning initiatives in the diocese. He disbanded the chancery's Justice and Peace Commission after its members expressed their opposition to a state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in the United States
The federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage in the United States, but such marriages are recognized by some individual states. The lack of federal recognition was codified in 1996 by the Defense of Marriage Act, before Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licenses...
. During the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, he publicly expressed concern when St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
, the oldest Catholic university in Texas as well as the Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
, allowed pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
to hold a campaign event on campus. He also voiced his concerns when another Catholic university, Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady of the Lake University is an independent Catholic, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, a religious order originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century...
, allowed a high-profile nun who some claim supports female ordination
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
to be a keynote speaker at an event. He welcomed Summorum Pontificum
Summorum Pontificum
Summorum Pontificum is an Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI, issued "motu proprio" . The document specified the rules, for the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, for celebrating Mass according to the "Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962" , and for administering most of the sacraments in...
, which granted greater freedom to the Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
, saying it would preserve "the rich heritage and legacy of the Church."
He is a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
Pontifical Commission for Latin America
The Pontifical Commission for Latin America is a department of the Roman Curia. Established by Pope Pius XII on 19 April, 1958, it is charged with providing assistance to and examining matters pertaining to the Church in Latin America...
in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, and of the Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America
As of May 2010, the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America was composed of:*Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus*Richard D. Banziger, B.A. 1981, Managing Director, Salomon Smith Barney...
at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he is chairman of the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America; in the latter capacity, he led a three-bishop delegation to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
to assess the situation there following its 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. He is also chairman-elect of the Committee on Migration, chairman of the Task Force on the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
-language Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, and a member of the Committee on Doctrine.
Archbishop of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Catholic diocese in the nation, with Hispanics comprising more than two-thirds of the archdiocese's five million Catholics. On April 6, 2010, Gómez was appointed Coadjutor ArchbishopCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. Gómez succeeded Cardinal Mahony on March 1, 2011, with a transition ceremony held on February 27, 2011. He is the first Hispanic to serve as Archbishop of Los Angeles, as well as the highest-ranking Hispanic bishop in the United States. "I’m very grateful to the Holy Father for giving me this opportunity to serve the Church with a mentor and leader like Cardinal Roger Mahony," Archbishop Gomez said. "I'm grateful to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, for supporting the Holy Father's confidence in me. I will try with all my strength to earn that trust." A Mass of Reception for Archbishop Gomez is scheduled for May 26.
Considered to be theologically conservative, Gómez is also viewed as "a natural conciliator admired for uniting rich and poor and Anglo and Hispanic Catholics..." He is regarded as more conservative than his predecessor, Cardinal Mahony. Addressing this belief, however, Mahony has said, "these labels of 'conservative' and 'liberal' are really unhelpful in the life of the church", and "I can attest that both of us share a common commitment to Christ and to the Church, and that both of us are interested in promoting the teachings of the Church fully as well as bringing the words and example of Christ to today’s society and world." He also said it would be wrong for observers to conclude Gomez was a conservative because he was a priest of Opus Dei.
On Los Angeles Catholic Schools
In a Tuesday, September 27, 2011 online news article from Los Angeles posted on the Catholic News AgencyCatholic News Agency
The Catholic News Agency is a provider of news related to Catholicism to an English speaking audience worldwide. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado....
home page, Archbishop Gómez stated that Catholic schools were a necessary mission that needed to continue:
"Catholic schools make a "major contribution" to the Los Angeles region's social fabric and to the common good of the country as a whole, Archbishop José H. Gómez said as he encouraged Catholics to be generous in supporting their school systems.
“Education remains essential to our Church’s mission. Catholic schools have given generations of immigrants and minority groups a way out of poverty and a chance to become leaders in our civic and cultural life, he said in a Sept. 23 column in the archdiocesan paper The Tidings.
“We need to make sure this Catholic mission of hope and uplift continues for our newest Americans and in the face of new challenges in our cities.”
He said the “most serious” challenge to Catholic schools is meeting the economic needs of families who can’t afford the costs of Catholic school tuition. “So we need to find a way to help,” he said.
Archbishop Gomez noted the responsibility of clergy, religious, and lay people to work together to grow Catholic schools and to expand into new areas.
He also praised the accomplishments of the Catholic school systems.
“What our students are achieving is really amazing. And this story is being repeated in Catholic schools all across our country,”
The Catholic schools of the Los Angeles region serve 80,000 students. They constitute the third largest school system in California. Nearly 70 percent of students are ethnic minorities and more than one in three come from families living below the poverty line. Catholic schools have more than two million students nationwide, 15 percent of whom are not Catholic.
“I have hoped for a long time that our politicians and civic leaders would start paying more attention to Catholic schools in their search for solutions to our nation’s education problems. Because studies over the years keep concluding that Catholic schools provide better educational outcomes at a lower cost than public schools,” Archbishop Gomez said.
Each public school student, on average, is educated at a cost of $10,300 a year, while Catholic schools spend only $7,000 per student. They graduate 99 percent of their students, compared to the 73 percent graduation rate in public schools. Catholic schools have higher college entrance rates and better SAT scores, especially among low-income and economically disadvantaged students, the archbishop said.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Catholic Education Foundation recently received a $11.3 million endowment from the Frank and Blanche Seaver Trust, which will ensure tuition for at least 600 students in addition to the 7,300 awards already provided.
Inspired by the new grant, the archdiocese has launched an initiative headed by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan to raise $100 million for Catholic schools. The initiative could help another 5,000 students annually. The initiative asks supporters to make provisions in their trusts or wills for the education foundation.
There are 9,000 students on waiting lists for the schools in the archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez asked for prayers, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to help Catholics to be “generous in supporting the Church’s educational mission of teaching and proclaiming hope in the name of her Son. Education remains essential to our Church’s mission. Catholic schools have given generations of immigrants and minority groups a way out of poverty and a chance to become leaders in our civic and cultural life, he said in a Sept. 23 column in the archdiocesan paper The Tidings.
“We need to make sure this Catholic mission of hope and uplift continues for our newest Americans and in the face of new challenges in our cities.”
He said the “most serious” challenge to Catholic schools is meeting the economic needs of families who can’t afford the costs of Catholic school tuition. “So we need to find a way to help,” he said.
Archbishop Gomez noted the responsibility of clergy, religious, and lay people to work together to grow Catholic schools and to expand into new areas.
He also praised the accomplishments of the Catholic school systems.
“What our students are achieving is really amazing. And this story is being repeated in Catholic schools all across our country,”
The Catholic schools of the Los Angeles region serve 80,000 students. They constitute the third largest school system in California. Nearly 70 percent of students are ethnic minorities and more than one in three come from families living below the poverty line. Catholic schools have more than two million students nationwide, 15 percent of whom are not Catholic.
“I have hoped for a long time that our politicians and civic leaders would start paying more attention to Catholic schools in their search for solutions to our nation’s education problems. Because studies over the years keep concluding that Catholic schools provide better educational outcomes at a lower cost than public schools,” Archbishop Gomez said.
Each public school student, on average, is educated at a cost of $10,300 a year, while Catholic schools spend only $7,000 per student. They graduate 99 percent of their students, compared to the 73 percent graduation rate in public schools. Catholic schools have higher college entrance rates and better SAT scores, especially among low-income and economically disadvantaged students, the archbishop said.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Catholic Education Foundation recently received a $11.3 million endowment from the Frank and Blanche Seaver Trust, which will ensure tuition for at least 600 students in addition to the 7,300 awards already provided.
Inspired by the new grant, the archdiocese has launched an initiative headed by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan to raise $100 million for Catholic schools. The initiative could help another 5,000 students annually. The initiative asks supporters to make provisions in their trusts or wills for the education foundation.
There are 9,000 students on waiting lists for the schools in the archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez asked for prayers, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to help Catholics to be “generous in supporting the Church’s educational mission of teaching and proclaiming hope in the name of her Son.”
Episcopal succession
Sources
- Most Reverend José H. Gomez, S.T.D. Retrieved: 2010-04-06.
- Excelentísimo Monseñor José H. Gomez, S.T.D. Retrieved: 2010-04-06.
- Archbishop José Horacio Gómez Retrieved: 2010-04-06.