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Lawrence Donald Soens

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Lawrence Donald Soens
Bishop of Sioux City
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Sioux City
AppointedJune 15, 1983
InstalledAugust 17, 1983
Term endedNovember 28, 1998
PredecessorFrank Henry Greteman
SuccessorDaniel DiNardo
Orders
OrdinationMay 6, 1950
by Ralph Leo Hayes
ConsecrationAugust 17, 1983
by James Joseph Byrne, Gerald Francis O'Keefe, Frank Henry Greteman
Personal details
Born(1926-08-26)August 26, 1926
Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 2021(2021-11-01) (aged 95)
Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
EducationSt. Ambrose College
University of Iowa
Styles of
Lawrence Donald Soens
Reference style
Spoken style[[]]
Religious styleBishop
Ordination history of
Lawrence Donald Soens
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byJames Joseph Byrne
DateAugust 17, 1983
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Lawrence Donald Soens as principal consecrator
Daniel DiNardoOctober 7, 1997

Lawrence Donald Soens (August 26, 1926 – November 1, 2021) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. In 2008, the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa announced multiple credible accusations that Soens had sexually abused children as a priest. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City in Iowa from 1983 to 1998.

Life and career

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Early life

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Lawrence Soens was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on August 26, 1926. He was educated at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, Saint Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and studied for the priesthood at Kenrick Seminary in Shrewsbury, Missouri. He also completed graduate studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.[1]

Priesthood

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Soens was ordained a priest by Bishop Ralph Leo Hayes on May 6, 1950, for the Diocese of Davenport. Soens' first assignment was as an assistant pastor at St. Paul's Parish in Burlington, Iowa. He then joined the faculty of St. Ambrose Academy in Davenport, Iowa and then became the assistant pastor at St. Bridget's Parish in Victor, Iowa.

Soens' next assignment was as director of Regina High School in Iowa City. He went on to become the rector of St. Ambrose Seminary and served on the faculty of St. Ambrose College. His next assignment was as pastor at Assumption Parish in Charlotte, Iowa, and St. Patrick Parish in Villa Nova, Iowa. He was pastor at St. Mary's Parish in Clinton, Iowa, when Pope John Paul II named him a prelate of honor, with the title of monsignor, on December 18, 1981.[2]

Bishop of Sioux City

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On June 15, 1983, John Paul II named Soens as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City. He was consecrated on August 17, 1983, at the Cathedral of the Ephiphany in Sioux City by Archbishop James Byrne. Bishops Gerald O'Keefe and Frank Greteman were the principal co-consecrators.[3]

In February 1986, Soens received a letter detailing allegations against Jerome Coyle, a diocese priest. The diocese had sent Coyle to Minnesota to train as a hospital chaplain. A supervisor in that program wrote Soens that Coyle was exhibiting inappropriate behavior around young boys. Soens then dispatched Coyle to the Servants of the Paraclete foundation house in Jemez Springs, New Mexico for evaluation and treatment. On May 15, 1986, the Foundation informed Soens that Coyle had admitted to fondling up to 50 teenagers. Soens suspended Coyle from parish assignments, but did not report any of his crimes to authorities.[4]

While Soens was bishop, many programs were established or expanded, including: Ministry 2000, the Priests Retirement Fund, youth ministry programs and the diocese mandated parish pastoral and finance commissions.[5]

In 1997, Soens requested a coadjutor bishop to assist him with his duties. On August 19, 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Daniel DiNardo from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.[6]

Resignation and legacy

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Main article: Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic diocese of Davenport

Soens's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City was accepted by John Paul II on November 28, 1998.[3]

On June 8, 2005, Soens and the diocese were sued by a man who accused Soens of fondling him starting in 1963 when Soens was director at Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City.[7][8] On November 6, 2008, the diocesan review board for the Diocese of Sioux City reported that there were credible accusations that Soens had sexually abused minors. Thirty-one men had accused him of abusing them between 1950 and 1983. His case was referred to the Vatican for further action.[9]

Lawrence Soens died in Sioux City, Iowa, on November 1, 2021, at age 95.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bunson, Matthew (2010). 2010 Catholic Almanac. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor. p. 414. ISBN 9781592766147.
  2. ^ "Seven priests celebrate jubilees". The Catholic Globe. 2004-04-14. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop Lawrence Donald Soens". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Iowa bishop says diocese never tried to cover up abuse by former priest | The Catholic Sun". thecatholicsun.com. 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  5. ^ Diocese of Sioux City History, www.scdiocese.org[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Daniel Nicholas Cardinal DiNardo". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Former Sioux City Bishop Named in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  8. ^ "Retired bishop abused minors. - Free Online Library".
  9. ^ "Diocesan board finds retired Iowa bishop abused minors". National Catholic Reporter. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Sioux City
1983-1998 		Succeeded by
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