Edward Kmiec

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Bishop Edward Kmiec
Bishop of Buffalo
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseDiocese of Buffalo
AppointedAugust 12, 2004
InstalledOctober 28, 2004
Term endedMay 29, 2012
PredecessorHenry Joseph Mansell
SuccessorRichard Joseph Malone
Previous posts
  • Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton
  • 1982 to 1992
  • Bishop of Nashville
  • 1992 to 2004
Orders
OrdinationDecember 20, 1961
by Martin John O'Connor
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)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DenominationRoman Catholic
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

Edward Urban Kmiec (/ˈkɪmɪk/, KIM-ik; June 4, 1936 – July 11, 2020) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo in New York State from 2004 to 2012.

Kmiec previously served as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Trenton in New Jersey from 1982 to 1992 and as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee from 1992 to 2004

Biography

Edward Kmiec was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on June 4, 1936. At age 25, Kmiec was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Trenton by Archbishop Martin O’Connor in Rome on December 20, 1961.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton

Pope John Paul II appointed Kmiec on August 26, 1982, as an auxiliary bishop of Trenton and titular bishop of Simidicca. He was consecrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Trenton, New Jersey, on November 3, 1982, by Bishop John C. Reiss.[1]

Bishop of Nashville

John Paul II appointed Kmiec as bishop of Nashville on October 13, 1992; he was installed on December 3, 1992.[1] He was heavily criticized for his diocese's handling of sexual abuse allegations, particularly those against Reverend Edward McKeown, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old boy.[2]

Bishop of Buffalo, New York

On August 12, 2004, Kmiec was appointed by John Paul II as bishop of Buffalo.[3][1] He was installed on October 28, 2004.[1] In 2007, Kmiec announced that the diocese had a balanced budget, after spending cuts reduced a $2.1 million deficit from the previous year.[4]

In August 2009, the Buffalo News reported the removal of Monsignor Fred R. Voorhes, as administrator of St. Teresa's Parish in South Buffalo and the subsequent dismissal of Marc J. Pasquale, as business administrator and director of religious education at St. Teresa's. Parishioners expressed in interviews 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.[5]

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.[5][6][7][8] The diocese under Kmiec ordained only 18 priests from 2004 to 2011.[6]

Retirement and legacy

On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Kmiec's resignation as bishop of Buffalo.[1] Bishop Richard Malone from the Diocese of Portland in Maine replaced him.[9]

Edward Kmiec died in Buffalo on July 11, 2020, at age 84.[10][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Bishop Edward Urban Kmiec [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Wadhwani, Anita. "NY Catholic sex abuse lawsuit: former Nashville bishop part of 'racketeering enterprise'". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Bishop says diocesan budget is balanced". Business Business First. September 5, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Diocese Ousts St Teresas Priest and Finance Chief, Jay Tokasz, The Buffalo News, August 27, 2009". www.bishop-accountability.org.
  6. ^ a b At 75, Kmiec reaches a crossroads, Buffalo News, June 4, 2011.
  7. ^ Honoring a bishop who weathered the storms, Buffalo News, October 30, 2011.
  8. ^ Sole power: Bishop Edward Kmiec wants change - and so it will be, Buffalo Business First, September 11, 2006; retrieved January 3, 2014.
  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

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