Edward Kmiec

Edward Urban Kmiec (/ˈkɪmɪk/, KIM-ik; June 4, 1936 – July 11, 2020) was the 13th Roman Catholic Bishop of Buffalo (2004–2012).[1][2][3][4] Kmiec also served as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Trenton from 1982 until his installation as Bishop of Nashville in 1992.[4] He was succeeded in Nashville in 2005 by David Choby.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Bishop Edward Kmiec
Bishop Emeritus of Buffalo
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseNew York
DioceseBuffalo
AppointedAugust 12, 2004
InstalledOctober 28, 2004
Term endedMay 29, 2012
PredecessorHenry Joseph Mansell
SuccessorRichard Joseph Malone
Orders
OrdinationDecember 20, 1961
ConsecrationNovember 3, 1982
by John C. Reiss, George W. Ahr, and James John Hogan
Personal details
Born(1936-06-04)June 4, 1936
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJuly 11, 2020(2020-07-11) (aged 84)
Nationality American
DenominationRoman Catholic
OccupationCleric
Previous postAuxiliary Bishop of Trenton
Bishop of Nashville
MottoCharity and service
Styles of
Edward Urban Kmiec
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop
Ordination history of
Edward Kmiec
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byJohn Charles Reiss
DateNovember 3, 1982
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Edward Kmiec as principal consecrator
David ChobyFebruary 27, 2006

Early religious life

At age 25, Kmiec was ordained a priest in Trenton, New Jersey on December 20, 1961.[4]

Episcopal career

Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey

Kmiec served as Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton, New Jersey for 10 years.[4] He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton on August 26, 1982, and was named Titular Bishop of Simidicca on the same date.[4]

Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee

Kmiec was Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee for 13 years. He was appointed Bishop on October 13, 1992,[4] and installed on December 3, 1992.[4]

Bishop of Buffalo, New York

On August 12, 2004, Kmiec was appointed the Bishop of Buffalo;[1][4] he was installed on October 28, 2004.[4] In 2007, Kmiec announced that the Diocese of Buffalo had a balanced budget, after spending cuts reduced a $2.1 million deficit from the previous year.[5]

In August 2009, the Buffalo News was the first to break the story of what became a major situation during Kmiec's tenure as Bishop of Buffalo. The removal of Monsignor Fred R. Voorhes, as Administrator of St. Teresa's in South Buffalo and the subsequent dismissal of Marc J. Pasquale, as Business Administrator and Director of Religious Education at St. Teresa's gained much popularity in the press. Parishioners expressed in interviews with The Buffalo News their discontent with these removals. Pasquale had gone to the Erie County District Attorney's Office prior to his dismissal to raise concerns about questionable financial practices.[6]

Kmiec was heavily criticized for downsizing the diocese from 274 parishes and missions in 2005 to 170 in 2011. He also oversaw the closures of 25 elementary schools.[6][7][8] Increasing the number of vocations to the priesthood in the Buffalo Diocese remains a challenge.[2] The Diocese under Kmiec ordained only 18 priests from 2004-11.[7]

Retirement

On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Kmiec's resignation due to his having surpassed the mandatory retirement age of 75.[4] Bishop Richard Malone from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine was appointed as Kmiec's successor. Malone was installed at St. Joseph Cathedral on August 10, 2012.[9] Kmiec was Bishop of Buffalo for eight years. He served as Bishop Emeritus of Buffalo, having been a priest for more than 52 years.[4]

Death

Kmiec died on July 11, 2020, aged 84.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec, D.D., 13th Bishop of Buffalo". Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  2. Sole power: Bishop Edward Kmiec wants change - and so it will be, Buffalo Business First, September 11, 2006; retrieved January 3, 2014.
  3. Bishop Edward D. Head dies at 85, The Buffalo News, March 30, 2005; retrieved January 3, 2014.
  4. Bishop Edward Urban Kmiec profile, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, May 29, 2012; retrieved January 11, 2014.
  5. "Bishop says diocesan budget is balanced". Business Business First. September 5, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  6. "Diocese Ousts St Teresas Priest and Finance Chief, Jay Tokasz, The Buffalo News, August 27, 2009". www.bishop-accountability.org.
  7. At 75, Kmiec reaches a crossroads, Buffalo News, June 4, 2011.
  8. Honoring a bishop who weathered the storms, Buffalo News, October 30, 2011.
  9. "Most Rev. Richard J. Malone appointed Bishop of Buffalo". WKBW.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  10. "Buffalo Bishop Edward Kmiec passes away following brief illness". Retrieved July 12, 2020.

Episcopal succession
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Henry J. Mansell		 Bishop of Buffalo
2004–2012		 Succeeded by
Richard Joseph Malone
Preceded by
James Daniel Niedergeses		 Bishop of Nashville
1992–2004		 Succeeded by
David Choby
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