Donald Wuerl Biography
Donald Wuerl (born Donald William Wuerl) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church and was Archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2006 to 2018. He was elevated by Pope John Paul II to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle (1986–1987), and Bishop of Pittsburgh (1988–2006). He was named Archbishop of Washington by Pope Benedict XVI and made a cardinal by him in 2010.
Wuerl was the subject of a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report that praised and criticized how he handled sex offense cases during his time in Pittsburgh. Wuerl has denied mishandling the cases. On October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Washington. Wuerl remained accountable of the archdiocese as its apostolic administrator till Pope Francis appointed his successor, wilton Daniel Gregory, in 2019. He remained a member of the college of Cardinals, one of only 10 American cardinals who could help select the next Pope.
Donald Wuerl Early Life
Wuerl was born on Nov 12, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the second born of 4 kids of Francis and Mary Anna (née Schiffauer) Wuerl. He has 2 brothers, Wayne and Dennis, and a sister, Carol. His father worked nights weighing freight cars for the Pennsylvania Railroad and served within the navy during world war II. His mother died in 1944 and his father married Kathryn Cavanaugh in 1946.
Donald Wuerl Education
He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Mary of the Mount Church in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1958. He attended St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio for his freshman and sophomore years of college from Sep 1958 through may 1960. He then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was a Basselin Scholar at theological school, earning a bachelor’s degree (1962) and master’s degree (1963) in philosophy.
Wuerl showed an interest in becoming a priest early in life. He even held mock masses for his brothers and sisters at home.
He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American college in Rome. He attained a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1967. After ordination, Wuerl was sent to Rome for further theological study. He’s an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a Doctor of Sacred Theology in 1974.
While a student in Rome, Wuerl had the chance to look at the proceedings of the Second vatican Council.
Donald Wuerl Early Career
He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1966. His initial assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Rosalia Parish in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood and as secretary to Pittsburgh’s Bishop John Wright. After Wright was elevated to cardinal in 1969, Wuerl was his full-time secretary in Vatican City from 1969 till Wright’s death in 1979. as a result of Wright was recovering from surgery and confined to a wheelchair, Wuerl, as Wright’s secretary, was one of 3 non-cardinals allowable inside the conclave that selected karol wojtyla as Pope John Paul II in 1978. (Wright had missed the first of the 2 1978 conclaves.)
In 1976, he, with Thomas Comerford Lawler and Ronald David Lawler, co-wrote a catechism for adults, The Teaching of Christ, which has since appeared in several editions and has been widely translated.
Wuerl was rector at Saint Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh from 1981 to 1985. In 1982, he was made executive secretary to Bishop John Marshall of Burlington, Vermont, who was leading a Vatican-mandated study of US seminaries.
Donald Wuerl Age
Wuerl was born on November 12, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. He is 78 years old as of 2018. He celebrates his birthday on November 12th every year.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl
On Nov 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Wuerl to the College of Cardinals in a public consistory held at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl to the following: member of the Congregation for the priesthood and also the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Dec 2010); Relator-General of the 2012 World council of Bishops meeting on the New Evangelization; member of the Pontifical Council for Culture for a five-year renewable term; member of the Congregation for the belief of the Faith; and by Pope Francis, member of the prestigious Congregation for Bishops.
In 2011, Wuerl faced widespread criticism for his role in the U.S. bishops’ criticism of St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, one in all the “most prominent and revered theologians” within the U.S.
Wuerl was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 pontifical meeting that selected Pope Francis.
Donald Wuerl Public Position
Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest, and journalist said in 2006 that ” quite orthodox theologically, said he doesn’t prefer to play cop; he’s not an authoritarian person.” In 2018, Reese delineated him as an ideological moderate with regard to Catholic theological disputes, stating, “He isn’t an old leftie, he’s not a right culture individual. …
He was totally enthusiastic about John Paul II, then Pope Benedict, and currently he is totally enthusiastic about Pope Francis. There aren’t many folks in the church who are totally enthusiastic about all 3 of them.” John Allen, Jr. said that Wuerl “was able to forge behind-the-scenes consensus because he was trusted by virtually all parties as somebody who would not embarrass them publicly, and since he was seen as at least somewhat sympathetic to their points of view.”
Donald Wuerl 2018 Grand Jury Report
On Aug 14, 2018, a grand jury report released by Pennsylvania attorney General josh Shapiro alleged that the Catholic Church covered up sex offense cases. The report criticized how Wuerl had handled some cases during his tenure in Pittsburgh. Wuerl disputed the allegations, stating: “While I perceive this report may be important of some of my actions, i feel the report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse.”
The report said Wuerl created contributions to fighting sex abuse. This includes his winning effort, against resistance within the Vatican, between 1988 and 1995 to remove Anthony Cipolla for sex offense. However, Wuerl additionally allowed, based on the advice of multiple doctors, William O’Malley to come to active ministry in 1998, despite past allegations of abuse. O’Malley had admitted that he was sexually fascinated by adolescents. The report additionally declared that Wuerl had allowed Ernest Paone to be transferred to a different bishopric, despite a history of accusations of kid abuse dating back to the early Sixties.
George Zirwas had a long history of involvement in child sexual abuse, sometimes including sadism. He had additionally manufactured child pornography. Zirwas’ actions were well-known in the diocese of pittsburgh as early as 1987, however he continued in ministry when Wuerl became bishop of pittsburgh in 1988. In 1989, Wuerl authorized a $900,000 settlement, with confidentiality clauses, with 2 of Zirwas’ victims, but Zirwas remained in ministry until at least 1991 despite further complaints. After another complaint was made, Wuerl removed Zirwas in 1996. Eventually, Zirwas moved to Cuba, where he was murdered in 2001.
Donald Wuerl Resignation
Resignation as Archbishop of Washington
On Oct 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Wuerl’s resignation. Wuerl had previously submitted a letter of resignation in 2015, as is standard practice for any bishop who turns 75.
Wuerl planned to resign in September and meet with Pope Francis before doing so. This did not happen and the Pope accepted his resignation via a letter. The letter said that Wuerl had sent a new letter to the Pope requesting that he accept his resignation on Sept 21. Francis appointed him to serve as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. until his successor was appointed. Wuerl departed as an apostolic administrator when Wilton Gregory was installed as Archbishop on May 21, 2019.
Pope Francis praised Wuerl as a “model bishop” and his reply to the resignation offered this comment: “You have sufficient elements to justify your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes.” Reporters with the Associated Press indicated that the Pope’s letter implied that the cardinal had been a “scapegoat” in the sex abuse scandal. A New York Times editorial criticized Pope Francis for the way he characterized Wuerl’s resignation and handling of abuse cases. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro criticized the Pope’s decision to allow Wuerl to resign without facing stronger consequences.
On Oct 12, Wuerl wrote to members of the archdiocese and said, “I am sorry and ask for healing for all of those who were so deeply wounded at the hands of the Church’s ministers. I also beg forgiveness on behalf of Church leadership from the victims who were again wounded when they saw these priests and bishops both moved and promoted.”
Donald Wuerl Bishop of Pittsburgh
Wuerl was appointed the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Febr 12, 1988, and installed on March 25, 1988.
In 1989, Wuerl merged Sacred Heart and St. Paul Cathedral High Schools to establish Oakland Catholic High School in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, using the buildings of St. Paul Cathedral High School.
Wuerl launched and hosted a television program, The Teaching of Christ, in 1990 and wrote an adult catechism with the same name. He taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a distinguished service professor. Wuerl has served as a chaplain since 1999 for the Order of Malta, Federal Association, USA, a division of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, commonly referred to as the Knights of Malta. He has also written regular columns in Columbia, the major publication of the Knights of Columbus in the United States.
Wuerl closed 73 church buildings, which included 37 churches, and reduced 331 parishes by 117 through merging while bishop of Pittsburgh; he was managing the remaining 214 parishes when he left in June 2006. Wuerl’s plan, The Parish Reorganization and Revitalization Project, is now used as a model for other dioceses seeking parish suppression.
The mansion that housed Wuerl for over two decades, as well as his four predecessors in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was sold since the new bishop David Zubik decided to live at St. Paul’s Seminary.
Donald Wuerl Archbishop of Washington
In April 2008 Wuerl, as Archbishop of Washington, hosted the apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the District of Columbia, which included a visit to the White House, the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mass at the new Nationals Park, and an address at the Catholic University of America.
Wuerl was chairman of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association from Dec 12, 2005, and was also chancellor of The Catholic University of America. In Sept 2010, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith named Wuerl its delegate in the United States for facilitating the implementation of the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus issued by Pope Benedict XVI in Nov 2009 to provide for that Anglican faithful who desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church in a corporate manner. He also heads the US bishops’ ad hoc committee to support that implementation.
Wuerl submitted his resignation in 2015, as required by any Bishop who turns 75, which was accepted in 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions About Donald Wuerl
Who is Wuerl?
He is one of America’s best-known and loved prelate of the Catholic Church.
How old is Wuerl?
He is 78 years old as of 2019. He was born in 1940.
How tall is Wuerl?
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Is Wuerl married?
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How much is Wuerl worth?
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Where does Wuerl live?
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Is Wuerl dead or alive?
He is alive and healthy.
Where is Wuerl now?
He is a prelate of the Catholic Church.
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