Robert F. Vasa
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Vasa is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. On Monday, January 24, 2011, Bishop Vasa, 59, was named the Coadjutor Bishop
(an Auxiliary Bishop
with the right of succession), to Bishop Daniel F. Walsh
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California
, by the Holy Father
, His Holiness
, Pope Benedict XVI
. Until then, he had been the fifth Bishop of Baker
, in Oregon
, which with his new appointment was made a vacant see (sede vacante
).
On 30 June 2011, Bishop Daniel F. Walsh
's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI, and so Bishop Vasa officially succeeded him as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California immediately afterwards.
, Nebraska
, to Joe and Leona Vasa. From 1972 to 1976, he studied at Holy Trinity Seminary
in Dallas
, Texas
, from where he obtained a Master of Divinity
degree. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Glennon Patrick Flavin
on May 22, 1976. He then served as a curate
at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ and a teacher at Pius X High School
in Lincoln until 1977, when he became an advocate
on the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal. In 1979 he was sent to further his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
, earning a Licentiate of Canon Law
in 1981.
Following his return to Nebraska, Vasa was named assistant chancellor
of the Diocese of Lincoln
and afterwards Father Prior of Columbian Squires
. He became judicial vicar
of the Diocesan Tribunal and pastor
of St. James Church at Cortland
in 1985. He directed the Remodeling and Fund Drive for St. Stephen Church in Exter
. In addition to his duties as judicial vicar, he was appointed pastor of St. Peter Church at Lincoln in 1990. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness
in 1995. In 1996 he was named vicar general
of the diocese and Moderator of the Curia
. He became chairman of the Diocesan Building Commission in 1996, and served as pastor of St. Michael Church in Cheney from 1997 to 1999.
On November 19, 1999, Vasa was named the fifth Bishop of Baker
, Oregon
, by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on January 26, 2000 from Archbishop John George Vlazny, with Bishops Thomas Joseph Connolly
and Fabian Bruskewitz
serving as co-consecrators
. Known for his conservative
views, he once showed up at a Voice of the Faithful
meeting and castigated those in attendance. In 2006 he implied that people who support
abortion
are guilty of heresy
. In 2009 he described President Barack Obama
's health care legislation
as "fatally flawed."
In February 2010, according to a December 21, 2010 Catholic News Service online article about the status of another formerly Catholic hospital, Bishop Vasa had stated that St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon, located within the Baker Diocese, "had "gradually moved away" from the church's ethical directives and can no longer be called Catholic. As a result of that decision, Mass is no longer celebrated in the hospital's chapel and all items considered Catholic were removed from the hospital and returned to the church. The hospital retained the St. Charles name and a cross remains atop the building."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. On Monday, January 24, 2011, Bishop Vasa, 59, was named the Coadjutor Bishop
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...
(an 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...
with the right of succession), to Bishop Daniel F. Walsh
Daniel F. Walsh
Daniel Francis Walsh is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the fifth Bishop of Santa Rosa in California.-Biography:...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California
Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States, named in honor of St. Rose of Lima. It comprises the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and...
, by the Holy Father
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, His Holiness
His Holiness
His Holiness is the official style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In Christianity, specifically the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Roman Catholic...
, 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...
. Until then, he had been the fifth Bishop of Baker
Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker
The Diocese of Baker is a territorial division, or diocese, of the Roman Catholic Church in Eastern Oregon, United States...
, in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, which with his new appointment was made a vacant see (sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
).
On 30 June 2011, Bishop Daniel F. Walsh
Daniel F. Walsh
Daniel Francis Walsh is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the fifth Bishop of Santa Rosa in California.-Biography:...
's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI, and so Bishop Vasa officially succeeded him as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California immediately afterwards.
Biography
Robert F. Vasa was born in LincolnLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, to Joe and Leona Vasa. From 1972 to 1976, he studied at Holy Trinity Seminary
Holy Trinity Seminary
Holy Trinity Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary residence in Irving, Texas, United States, in the Diocese of Dallas, Texas that is located within the University of Dallas campus. University of Dallas is an independent Catholic University with strong ties to the Diocese of Dallas...
in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, 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...
, from where he obtained a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree. He 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....
to the priesthood
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....
by Bishop Glennon Patrick Flavin
Glennon Patrick Flavin
Glennon Patrick Flavin was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lincoln from 1967 to 1992.-Biography:...
on May 22, 1976. He then served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ and a teacher at Pius X High School
Pius X High School (Nebraska)
Lincoln Pius X High School is the central Catholic high school in Lincoln, Nebraska and the Diocese of Lincoln. The school was founded October 1, 1956 by Bishop Louis B. Kucera...
in Lincoln until 1977, when he became an advocate
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal. In 1979 he was sent to further his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in 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...
, earning a Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law is the title of an advanced graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law...
in 1981.
Following his return to Nebraska, Vasa was named assistant chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Diocese of Lincoln
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln is a Roman Catholic diocese in Nebraska, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was established on August 2, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII...
and afterwards Father Prior of Columbian Squires
Columbian Squires
The Columbian Squires is an international youth fraternity run by the Knights of Columbus for Catholic boys between the ages of 10 and 18.-History:...
. He became judicial vicar
Judicial vicar
In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court...
of the Diocesan Tribunal 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 St. James Church at Cortland
Cortland, Nebraska
Cortland is a village in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 488 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cortland is located at ....
in 1985. He directed the Remodeling and Fund Drive for St. Stephen Church in Exter
Exeter, Nebraska
Exeter is a village in Fillmore County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 591 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1870, Dr. Horace Greeley Smith and his wife filed a homestead claim at the site of present-day Exeter...
. In addition to his duties as judicial vicar, he was appointed pastor of St. Peter Church at Lincoln in 1990. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1995. In 1996 he was named vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the diocese and Moderator of the Curia
Moderator of the Curia
A moderator of the curia, under the authority of the bishop of a diocese in the Catholic Church, coordinates the exercise of the administrative duties and oversees those who hold offices and minister in diocesan administration. He must be a priest. The office has been variously described as...
. He became chairman of the Diocesan Building Commission in 1996, and served as pastor of St. Michael Church in Cheney from 1997 to 1999.
On November 19, 1999, Vasa was named the fifth Bishop of Baker
Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker
The Diocese of Baker is a territorial division, or diocese, of the Roman Catholic Church in Eastern Oregon, United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, 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 January 26, 2000 from Archbishop John George Vlazny, with Bishops Thomas Joseph Connolly
Thomas Joseph Connolly
Thomas Joseph Connolly is an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Baker in Oregon from 1971 to 1999.-Biography:...
and Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Wendelin Bruskewitz is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.-Early life and ministry:...
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...
. Known for his conservative
Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
views, he once showed up at a Voice of the Faithful
Voice of the Faithful
Voice of the Faithful is an organization of progressive Catholics, formed in early 2002 in response to the Catholic sex abuse cases.-Founding, growth and mission:...
meeting and castigated those in attendance. In 2006 he implied that people who support
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....
abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
are guilty of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. In 2009 he described President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's health care legislation
America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
The proposed America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 was an unsuccessful bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 14, 2009. The bill was introduced during the first session of the 111th Congress as part of an effort of the Democratic Party leadership to enact health...
as "fatally flawed."
In February 2010, according to a December 21, 2010 Catholic News Service online article about the status of another formerly Catholic hospital, Bishop Vasa had stated that St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon, located within the Baker Diocese, "had "gradually moved away" from the church's ethical directives and can no longer be called Catholic. As a result of that decision, Mass is no longer celebrated in the hospital's chapel and all items considered Catholic were removed from the hospital and returned to the church. The hospital retained the St. Charles name and a cross remains atop the building."