John Stowe
John Eric Stowe | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Lexington | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Archdiocese | Louisville |
| Diocese | Lexington |
| Appointed | March 12, 2015 |
| Installed | May 5, 2015 |
| Predecessor | Ronald William Gainer |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 16, 1995 by Alexander James Quinn |
| Consecration | May 5, 2015 by Joseph Edward Kurtz, Armando Xavier Ochoa, and Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 15, 1966 |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto | Annuntiamus Verbum Vitae (We Announce the Word of Life) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of John Eric Stowe | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
John Eric Stowe, O.F.M. Conv., (born April 15, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been bishop of the Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky since 2015.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]John Stowe was born in Amherst, Ohio, on April 15, 1966, to John and Lucy Stowe and grew up in Lorain, Ohio. After graduating from Lorain Catholic High School in 1984, he was admitted as a candidate to the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (Minorites).[1] After Stowe completed his novitiate year, the Minorites sent him to study at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri; he graduated with a double major in history and philosophy.[2] He professed his solemn vows in the Minorites on August 1, 1992.[1]
Stowe then pursued his seminary studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He received the degrees of Master of Divinity and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology, specializing in church history.[2]
Priesthood
[edit]Stowe was ordained as a priest to the Minorites by Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Quinn on September 16, 1995. After his ordination, the Minorites assigned Stowe to serve in parishes in El Paso, Texas.[1] In 2002, Stowe was invited by Bishop Armando Ochoa, bishop of El Paso to manage the diocesan chancery and to serve as his vicar general. He was later appointed as the chancellor of the diocese.[2] In 2010, Stowe was elected vicar provincial of his Franciscan province. He was then given the additional responsibilities of rector of the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.[1]
Bishop of Lexington
[edit]On March 12, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Stowe as bishop of Lexington. He received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, with Bishops Armando Ochoa and Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña serving as co-consecrators[citation needed] on May 5, 2015.[2][1]
In February 2018, Stowe joined the Pax Christi USA Board as their president.[3]
Viewpoints
[edit]Immigration
[edit]In January 2019, Stowe wrote an op-ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader that criticized Nick Sandmann and other students from Covington Catholic High School for sporting apparel supporting President Donald Trump during the 2019 March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.[4] Stowe said the slogan "Make America Great Again" on their clothing:
[...] supports a president who denigrates the lives of immigrants, refugees and people from countries that he describes with indecent words and haphazardly endangers with life-threatening policies.[5][6]
LGBTQ rights
[edit]In March 2021, Stowe expressed support for the federal Equality Act, proposed legislation that was opposed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He wrote that "As a Catholic bishop, I hate to see any form of harmful discrimination protected by law and it is consistent with our teaching to ensure that LGBTQ people have the protection they need."[7]
On May 21, 2024, the Diocese of Lexington released a statement that said Stowe accepted the profession of Brother Christian Matson, as a hermit, who identifies as transgender.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Kent, James. "Bishop-elect John Stowe, OFM Conv". Conventual Franciscan Friars, Province of Our Lady of Consolation.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Elise (March 12, 2015). "Pope Francis names new bishops for Spokane, Lexington dioceses". Catholic News Agency.
- ^ "Bishop Stowe joins Pax Christi USA board as episcopal president". February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ "Wearing a Trump hat? That's not exactly pro-life, says Catholic Bishop John Stowe". Lexington Herald-Leader. January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ Winters, Sean Michael (January 29, 2019). "Bishop apologises to Covington students". The Tablet. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Boorstein, Michelle (January 25, 2019). "Kentucky bishop apologizes to Covington Catholic students, says he expects their exoneration". Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ O'Loughlin, Michael J. (March 25, 2021). "'It is our duty to love and defend' LGBT Americans: Bishop Stowe breaks with U.S. bishops on the Equality Act". America. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Diocesan Communications". The Catholic Diocese of Lexington. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
External links
[edit]| Ordinaries |  | |
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| Churches |
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| Education | ||
- 1966 births
- Living people
- People from Amherst, Ohio
- Conventual Franciscan bishops
- Conventual Friars Minor
- Saint Louis University alumni
- Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley alumni
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Roman Catholic bishops of Lexington
- People from Lorain, Ohio
- Catholics from Ohio
- Bishops appointed by Pope Francis