John Yanta
Encyclopedia
His Excellency Bishop
John Yanta (born October 2, 1931, in Runge, Texas
), is a former Roman Catholic bishop
who served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo
in Amarillo, Texas
.
for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
On January 21, 1997, he was named bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, and became the bishop of that diocese
on March 17, 1997. He retired on January 3, 2008. Upon his retirement
from the Diocese of Amarillo, Bishop Yanta moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he remains active in socially conservative political causes.
in 2003, Bishop Yanta agreed to a $27,000 legal settlement to avoid a lawsuit
. Bishop Yanta was also critical of "zero tolerance
" policies when it came to priests accused of sexual abuse
. He argued that one-time offenders who had gone through counseling should not be punished
for their actions
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
John Yanta (born October 2, 1931, in Runge, Texas
Runge, Texas
Runge is a town in Karnes County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Runge is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
), is a former Roman Catholic bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
who served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Amarillo Texas. It was founded on August 3, 1926 .The diocese's past bishops include:*Rudolph Gerken *Robert Emmet Lucey *Laurence Julius...
in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
.
Career
He was ordained for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Antonio on March 17, 1956 and was then consecrated bishop on December 30, 1994, serving as auxiliary bishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
On January 21, 1997, he was named bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, and became the bishop of that diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
on March 17, 1997. He retired on January 3, 2008. Upon his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from the Diocese of Amarillo, Bishop Yanta moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he remains active in socially conservative political causes.
Controversies During Tenure
When a 17-year-old girl in the Amarillo diocese came forward claiming to have been impregnated by a priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 2003, Bishop Yanta agreed to a $27,000 legal settlement to avoid a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
. Bishop Yanta was also critical of "zero tolerance
Zero tolerance
Zero tolerance imposes automatic punishment for infractions of a stated rule, with the intention of eliminating undesirable conduct. Zero-tolerance policies forbid persons in positions of authority from exercising discretion or changing punishments to fit the circumstances subjectively; they are...
" policies when it came to priests accused of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
. He argued that one-time offenders who had gone through counseling should not be punished
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
for their actions
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
.