William G. Curlin

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type =

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

| name = William George Curlin

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Bishop of Charlotte

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| archdiocese =

| diocese =

| appointed = February 22, 1994

| enthroned = April 13, 1994

| ended = September 10, 2002

| predecessor = John Francis Donoghue

| successor = Peter Joseph Jugis

| previous_post = Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
1988 to 1994

| other_post =

| ordination = May 25, 1957

| ordained_by = Patrick O'Boyle

| consecration = December 20, 1988

| consecrated_by = James Aloysius Hickey, Eugene Antonio Marino, and Alvaro Corrada del Rio

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|08|30}}

| birth_place = Portsmouth, Virginia, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|12|23|1927|8|30}}

| death_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, US

| buried =

| nationality =

| alma_mater =

| signature =

| coat_of_arms =

| motto = Sentire cum Christo (To Think With Christ)

| see = Diocese of Charlotte

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

| name= William George Curlin

| dipstyle=

| offstyle=Your Excellency

| relstyle=Bishop

| image = Mitre (plain).svg

| image_size = 200px

}}

William George Curlin (August 30, 1927 – December 23, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1994 to 2002. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1988 to 1994.

Biography

= Early life =

William Curlin was born on August 30, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Curlin was the son of Mary and Stephen Curlin. He attended St. John's College and later Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Curlin then entered St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.

= Priesthood =

Curlin was ordained a priest by Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on May 25, 1957. He served in mostly poor parishes, opened a women's shelter and 20 kitchens for the poor and homeless throughout the Washington area. Curlin and Mother Teresa championed the opening of the Gift of Peace Home, a residence in Washington for people with HIV/AIDS.

= Auxiliary Bishop of Washington =

Pope John Paul II appointed Curlin as an auxiliary bishop of Washington and titular bishop of Rossmarkaeum on November 2, 1988. He was consecrated by Cardinal James Hickey on December 20, 1988.{{Cite web |title=Bishop William George Curlin [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcurlin.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}} Curlin served as vicar for the Theological College at the Catholic University of America from 1974 to 1980 and as chair of Associated Catholic Charities in Baltimore.

= Bishop of Charlotte =

File:Mother Teresa 1.jpg

John Paul II appointed Curlin as the third bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte on February 22, 1994; he was installed on April 13, 1994.

Curtin started the first affordable housing initiative in the diocese and concentrated on ministry to the elderly, sick and dying.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-04 |title=History of the Diocese of Charlotte - Diocese of Charlotte |url=https://50years.charlottediocese.org/about-the-diocese/our-history/more-history/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=50years.charlottediocese.org |language=en-US}} As bishop, Curlin continued his ministry to the poor, ordained 28 men to the priesthood and opened numerous Churches throughout the diocese. On June 13, 1995, Curlin invited Mother Teresa to speak at the Charlotte Coliseum, drawing a crowd of over 19,000. In 1995, Curlin stated that any priest in the diocese who had been accused of sexual abuse of a minor would be immediately removed from ministry.{{Cite book |last=Longwood |first=Merle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHx0DwAAQBAJ&dq=bishop+William+Curlin&pg=PT67 |title=Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Trusting the Clergy? |date=2018-10-24 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-95528-3 |language=en}}

When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Curlin travelled to Calcutta, India, to attend her funeral as a representative of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.{{Cite book |last=Hains |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQ5NtAEACAAJ |title=Voices and Places of the People of God: The Diocese of Charlotte (Classic Reprint) |date=2017-05-17 |publisher=Fb&c Limited |isbn=978-0-259-44562-3 |language=en}}

= Retirement and legacy =

On September 10, 2002, John Paul II accepted Curlin's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. William Curlin died in Charlotte on December 23, 2017, at age 90.

References

External links

[http://www.charlottediocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Official Site]
[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcurlin.html Catholic Hierarchy website profile]
[http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm Special Reports: Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse]
[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/23/us/new-administration-abortion-issue-opponents-abortions-cheer-new-administration.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all New York Times article]
[http://catholicnewsherald.com/40th-anniversary/78-news/roknewspager-40years/1920-55-years-of-ministry-to-god-s-holy-people-as-priest-bishop Catholic News Herald story]

{{succession box

| before = –

| title = Bishop Emeritus of Charlotte

| after = –

| years = 2002–2017

}}

{{succession box

| title = Bishop of Charlotte

| before = John Francis Donoghue

| after = Peter Joseph Jugis

| years = 1994–2002|

}}