Ernest Leo Unterkoefler
Catholic University of America | |
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Motto | Deo Placere (To please God) |
Ernest Leo Unterkoefler (August 17, 1917 – January 4, 1993) was an American prelate of the
Biography
Early life
Ernest Unterkoefler was born on August 17, 1917, in
Priesthood
On May 18, 1944, Unterkoefler was
Auxiliary Bishop of Richmond
On December 13, 1961, Unterkoefler was appointed
Bishop of Charleston
Unterkoefler was named the tenth bishop of Charleston on December 12, 1964 by Pope Paul VI.[4] An active participant in the civil rights movement, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and ended racial segregation in all Catholic institutions in the diocese.[3] He served as chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs from 1978 to 1981. In 1987, Unterkoefler hosted Pope John Paul II during his visit to Columbia, South Carolina.[2]
Unterkoefler was also a prominent advocate for restoring the permanent diaconate in the United States, and ordained Joseph Kemper in 1971 as the first permanent deacon in the nation.[3] In a 1985 interview, he said that his greatest satisfaction was in ordaining new priests, but also expressed his concern that a materialistic culture was making it more difficult to attract young men to the priesthood.[2] "We can't go out and recruit them with high salaries," he said. "We must wait for the Lord to call them."[2]
Death and legacy
Unterkoefler's resignation as bishop of Charleston was accepted by John Paul II on February 22, 1990.[4] Unterkoefler died on January 4, 1993, at Providence Hospital in Columbia at age 75.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e Curtis, Georgina Pell (1977). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XXI. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- ^ a b c d e "Retired Bishop Unterkoefler dead at 75 after long illness". The Rock Hill Herald. 1993-01-05.
- ^ a b c d e Roberts, Lori D. (1993-01-05). "CATHOLIC BISHOP UNTERKOEFLER DIES". The State.
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Ernest Leo Unterkoefler". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ "The Bishops of the Diocese of Charleston 1820-present". Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.