Martin John Amos
Encyclopedia
Martin John Amos is a bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States
. He served as an auxiliary bishop
of the Diocese of Cleveland
in the state of Ohio
from 2001–2006, and as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
in the state of Iowa
since 2006.
. He was educated at Benjamin Franklin elementary school, James Ford Rhodes High School, Borromeo Seminary College, Wickliffe, Ohio
and St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a Master of Science in Education degree. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, on May 25, 1968. He held several pastoral assignments after ordination, and later became academic dean of Borromeo Seminary High School.
Amos was serving as pastor of St. Dominic Church, Shaker Heights when Blessed John Paul II named him Titular Bishop
of Meta and Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland on April 3, 2001. He was ordained bishop by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland on June 7, 2001 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
. The principal co-consecrators were Cleveland Auxiliary Bishops Alexander J. Quinn
and Anthony E. Pevec
.
, OSB of Dubuque on November 20, 2006 in the presence of Archbishop Pietro Sambi
, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The liturgy was held at St. John Vianney Church in Bettendorf, Iowa
.
Since taking office, Amos has had to deal with the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal that had engulfed the church. Two days before he assumed office, the Diocese of Davenport filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As a result of the bankruptcy, the diocese was forced to sell off property, including the bishop's residence, to pay for a financial settlement to abuse victims. They sold the chancery building, St. Vincent Center, and the surrounding property to St. Ambrose University in May, 2009. In March 2010, the diocese bought back the center, which also houses diocesan priests, and five acres of land. A $22 million capital campaign was also initiated in 2009 to replenish diocesan finances and to provide the finances for other projects.
On July 1, 2010 the diocese re-established Catholic Charities
. The organization was initially introduced into the diocese in 1929 by Bishop Henry Rohlman
and discontinued when St. Vincent’s Home in Davenport was closed in 1968 and its services were absorbed by other local social service agencies. The latest incarnation of Catholic Charities enhances the social justice ministry of the diocese that is already in place, including immigration, disaster response, health ministry and jail ministry. Collaboration with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria
provides mental health counseling services.
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...
of the Catholic Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary 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...
of the Diocese of Cleveland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio. It was erected on April 23, 1847 by Pope Pius IX. The diocese lost territory in 1910 when the Diocese of Toledo was erected by Pope Pius X, and in 1943 when the Diocese of Youngstown was erected by Pope Pius XII...
in the state of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
from 2001–2006, and as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
since 2006.
Early Life & Ministry
Martin John Amos was born in ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He was educated at Benjamin Franklin elementary school, James Ford Rhodes High School, Borromeo Seminary College, Wickliffe, Ohio
Wickliffe, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there are 13,484 people, 5,604 households, 3,754 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,898.2 people per square mile . There are 5,787 housing units at an average density of 1,243.8 per square mile...
and St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a Master of Science in Education degree. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, on May 25, 1968. He held several pastoral assignments after ordination, and later became academic dean of Borromeo Seminary High School.
Amos was serving as pastor of St. Dominic Church, Shaker Heights when Blessed John Paul II named him Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Meta and Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland on April 3, 2001. He was ordained bishop by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland on June 7, 2001 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
St. John's Cathedral, Cleveland
In the 1830s, Catholics started to arrive in the Western Reserve region of Ohio, United States, so the Archdiocese of Cincinnati sent priests up to the Northeast Ohio area to serve. The first parish in Cleveland was St. Mary's of the Flats. In 1847, Pope Pius IX established the Catholic Diocese of...
. The principal co-consecrators were Cleveland Auxiliary Bishops Alexander J. Quinn
Alexander James Quinn
Alexander James Quinn is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in the state of Ohio from 1983-2008.-Biography:...
and Anthony E. Pevec
Anthony Edward Pevec
Anthony Edward Pevec is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in the state of Ohio from 1982-2001.-Biography:...
.
Bishop of Davenport
On October 12, 2006, Bishop Amos was appointed the eighth Bishop of Davenport by Pope Benedict XVI. Amos was formally installed by Archbishop Jerome HanusJerome Hanus
-References:...
, OSB of Dubuque on November 20, 2006 in the presence of Archbishop Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. At the time of his death, he was the Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States....
, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The liturgy was held at St. John Vianney Church in Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Bettendorf is the fifteenth largest city in the U.S. state of Iowa and the fourth largest city in the "Quad Cities". As of the 2010 United States Census the population grew to 33,217. Bettendorf is one of the Quad Cities, along with...
.
Since taking office, Amos has had to deal with the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal that had engulfed the church. Two days before he assumed office, the Diocese of Davenport filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As a result of the bankruptcy, the diocese was forced to sell off property, including the bishop's residence, to pay for a financial settlement to abuse victims. They sold the chancery building, St. Vincent Center, and the surrounding property to St. Ambrose University in May, 2009. In March 2010, the diocese bought back the center, which also houses diocesan priests, and five acres of land. A $22 million capital campaign was also initiated in 2009 to replenish diocesan finances and to provide the finances for other projects.
On July 1, 2010 the diocese re-established Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
. The organization was initially introduced into the diocese in 1929 by Bishop Henry Rohlman
Henry Rohlman
Henry Patrick Rohlman was a 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Davenport from 1927–1944 and as coadjutor archbishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque from 1944-1954.-Early Life & Ministry:Rohlman was born in...
and discontinued when St. Vincent’s Home in Davenport was closed in 1968 and its services were absorbed by other local social service agencies. The latest incarnation of Catholic Charities enhances the social justice ministry of the diocese that is already in place, including immigration, disaster response, health ministry and jail ministry. Collaboration with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
provides mental health counseling services.