William G. Curlin
Encyclopedia
William George Curlin is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Charlotte
from 1994 to 2002.
Curlin was born in Portsmouth, Virginia
in 1927, and ordained
to the priesthood
on May 25, 1957, aged 29. From 1970-83, he served as pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Church in Washington, D.C.
On November 2, 1988, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Washington
and Titular Bishop
of Rossmarkaeum
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following December 20 from James Cardinal Hickey, with Bishops Marino
and Corrada del Rio
serving as co-consecrators
.
Curlin was later named Bishop of Charlotte
, North Carolina
, on February 22, 1994, being installed
on April 13 of that year. In 1997, he reassigned a priest accused of sexual abuse after paying a settlement to one victim's family; Curlin later acknowledged that the same priest had told him in 1995 of an "indiscretion" involving a boy and had undergone psychological testing.
In 2000, he wrote a reference letter for a priest who was seeking a job with a Catholic charity
in South Florida
, despite accusations against the same priest of molesting a child two decades earlier. The bishop wrote the recommendation after the diocese determined the allegation was not credible.
Following the election
of George W. Bush
, Curlin praised the President
's opposition to
abortion
, saying, "He gives us hope. That's what's important today. You felt under the former administration
that there was no hope as far as the sanctity of life issue." Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Curlin resigned as Bishop of Charlotte on September 10, 2002.
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...
. He served as Bishop of Charlotte
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, formally in Latin Dioecesis Carolinana, is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the counties of western North Carolina divided into ten vicariates named for and administered from Albemarle, Asheville, Boone,...
from 1994 to 2002.
Curlin was born in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
in 1927, and 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....
on May 25, 1957, aged 29. From 1970-83, he served as pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Church in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
On November 2, 1988, 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 Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
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 Rossmarkaeum
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
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 consecration
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....
on the following December 20 from James Cardinal Hickey, with Bishops Marino
Eugene Antonio Marino
Eugene Antonio Marino was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia from 1988 until 1990, becoming the first African American archbishop in United States of America. He was of both African American and Puerto Rican descent.He was also the fourth African American to...
and Corrada del Rio
Álvaro Corrada del Rio
Álvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J. is an Puerto Rican-American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
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...
.
Curlin was later named Bishop of Charlotte
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, formally in Latin Dioecesis Carolinana, is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the counties of western North Carolina divided into ten vicariates named for and administered from Albemarle, Asheville, Boone,...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, on February 22, 1994, being installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
on April 13 of that year. In 1997, he reassigned a priest accused of sexual abuse after paying a settlement to one victim's family; Curlin later acknowledged that the same priest had told him in 1995 of an "indiscretion" involving a boy and had undergone psychological testing.
In 2000, he wrote a reference letter for a priest who was seeking a job with a Catholic charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in South Florida
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
, despite accusations against the same priest of molesting a child two decades earlier. The bishop wrote the recommendation after the diocese determined the allegation was not credible.
Following the election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Curlin praised the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
's opposition to
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
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...
, saying, "He gives us hope. That's what's important today. You felt under the former administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
that there was no hope as far as the sanctity of life issue." Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Curlin resigned as Bishop of Charlotte on September 10, 2002.