Robert James Carlson
Encyclopedia
Robert James Carlson is an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of St. Louis. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
(1983–1994), Bishop of Sioux Falls
(1995–2004), and Bishop of Saginaw
(2004–2009).
, Minnesota
, to the late Robert and Jeanne Carlson. His father was serving in the U.S. Navy
on a destroyer
in Guam
when his son was born, and later worked as a Prudential
insurance salesman for 43 years. The eldest of five children, Carlson has four younger sisters, two of whom died in childhood. During high school
, he studied under the Christian Brothers
and played football
. He studied at St. Paul Seminary
, from where he obtained Bachelor's degree in philosophy
in 1966.
Carlson was ordained
to the priesthood
on May 23, 1970. He earned a Master's in Divinity
from St. Paul Seminary in 1976, and a Licentiate of Canon Law
from the Catholic University of America
in 1979. He served as a pastor
, a judge
on the archdiocesan tribunal
, director of the Office of Vocations, and chancellor
of the curia
in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
. He also served at the University of St. Thomas
, where he was a chaplain
to the hockey
team.
of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop
of Avioccala by Blessed Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration
on January 11, 1984 from Archbishop John Roach, with Bishops John Kinney
and Paul Dudley
serving as co-consecrators
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: Ante Crucem Nihil Defensionis, that is, "Before the Cross There is No Defense."
of Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
, on January 13, 1994 by Pope John Paul II. He succeeded Paul Dudley as the seventh Bishop of Sioux Falls
upon the latter's retirement on March 21, 1995. He served chairman
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
' Committee on Vocations from 1992 to 1994, and of the Subcommittee on Youth from 1993 to 1996.
, Michigan
, on December 29, 2004, in one of the last episcopal appointments to the American Catholic Church made by Pope John Paul II. Succeeding the late Bishop Kenneth Untener, he was installed
at St. Mary's Cathedral
on February 24, 2005. During his tenure in Saginaw, Carlson focused on priestly vocations
, Catholic school
s, service to the poor, stewardship, and evangelization
. He also published six pastoral letter
s; created the Saginaw Area Catholic Schools system; and established two charities
, the Bishop's Charity Golf Classic and the Bishop's Charity Ball.
In demonstration of his dedication to vocations, Carlson filled the role of diocesan vocations director himself. In 2005 the number of seminarians increased from 4 to 12, and in 2006 the number of seminarians again increased to 19. In August 2006 the first permanent deacon
in 25 years was ordained for the diocese. In June 2007, two men were ordained to the priesthood and five to the transitional diaconate.
named Carlson the ninth Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri
, on April 21, 2009. He replaced Archbishop Raymond Burke
, who was appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
in the Roman Curia
in June 2008. As Archbishop, Carlson is the spiritual leader of 566,000 Catholics in eastern Missouri.
He received the pallium
, a vestment
worn by metropolitan bishop
s, from Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009, in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica
.
Archbishop Carlson was soon confronted with a crisis in the Archdiocese, as the pastor of a St. Louis parish was arrested and suspended from priestly duties for alleged sexual improprieties with minors. He made a point to visit and speak to the parish soon afterward at one of their Masses, and made sure that the previous parishes the priest had served at knew of the allegations. He was praised for the proper response he showed as archbishop in the matter to the parishioners of the church and the other parishes.
,. His appointment follows a pattern observed by John Allen, Jr.
, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter
, of Pope Benedict choosing prelates "who are basically conservative in both their politics and their theology, but also upbeat, pastoral figures given to dialogue."
Archbishop Carlson has made it a point to try to reconcile with the board and parishioners of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church, whose priest (Father Marek Bozek, originally from another Missouri diocese) and lay board were excommunicated by Archbishop Carlson's predecessor, Archbishop Burke, after they resisted Burke's directive to conform to the organizational structure which most St. Louis parishes now operate under (which gives more sway over some important issues to the archbishop and his appointed pastor, and where the assets of the parish are considered part of the wider archdiocese). Control over parish property, whether Archbishop Carlson will appoint another Polish or Polish-speaking pastor as Bozek's replacement, whether the parish will remain open and served by a Polish priest after Archbishop Carlson is no longer archbishop, who should count as a parishioner or board member (some went back and reconciled to the Church), and the terms of Bozek's status and compensation (all highly legalistic canonical and civil issues) will need to be worked out. The parish and archdiocese are still endeavoring to trust one another, and Archbishop Carlson has not yet visited the breakaway church. Carlson has been widely praised by both sides for trying to amicably resolve the tense situation. St. Stanislaus voted on an offer put forth by the Archbishop on Sunday, August 8, 2010, which could have begun to resolve the matter, but discrepancies and disagreements still remain to be worked out and the measure did not receive enough votes to pass.
During his tenure, Carlson was a frequent critic of U.S. Senator
Tom Daschle
(D
-SD), who held certain positions contrary to Catholic teachings. In 1997, before a Senate vote on partial-birth abortion
legislation, Carlson denounced a compromise proposed by Daschle that would ban the procedure but allow exemptions for women claiming mental or physical health reasons, calling the proposition a "smokescreen" designed to "provide cover for pro-abortion senators and President
Clinton
, who wanted to avoid a veto
confrontation." In response, Daschle described the Bishops as being "more identified with the radical right than with thoughtful religious leadership."
In 2003, Carlson privately urged Daschle to no longer identify himself as a Catholic because of his support for
abortion
. Daschle refused to disclose any details of his communication with Carlson, saying, "I am not going to participate in a debate that is intended to politicize anyone's religious beliefs..." The Bishop later added, "I would never break off dialogue or a pastoral relationship with anyone."
In an August 2004 statement, Carlson reportedly "stopped short" of saying that it was a sin for a Catholic to vote for a Democrat.
During the 2008 presidential election
, Carlson stated, "A Catholic can, in good conscience, vote for a pro-choice candidate only if other issues outweigh this one in number and in kind." The day following Barack Obama
's victory, he said, "This election has shown that any child who is born in America has the opportunity to ascend to the highest political office in the land. We must continue to work and pray tirelessly for the day when every child who is conceived will have the right to live."
On May 15, 2009, Carlson expressed his disappointment over the University of Notre Dame
's decision to have President Obama deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree
, and said, "Notre Dame has to figure out who they are—are they of the culture, or are they of the Church?"
bladder cancer
in the 1990s, having once been told by his doctor to arrange his will
in order to prepare for an imminent death. He has undergone a total of seven cancer-related procedures, and partly credited a trip to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
in Portugal
for his recovery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of St. Louis. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
(1983–1994), Bishop of Sioux Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is a Roman Catholic diocese in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It was founded on November 12, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII and comprises that part of South Dakota east of the Missouri River. The architect for the St...
(1995–2004), and Bishop of Saginaw
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is a Roman Catholic diocese covering eleven counties in Michigan. It was founded on February 26, 1938; the first bishop was William Francis Murphy....
(2004–2009).
Early life and ministry
Robert Carlson was born in MinneapolisMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, to the late Robert and Jeanne Carlson. His father was serving in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on a destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
when his son was born, and later worked as a Prudential
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
insurance salesman for 43 years. The eldest of five children, Carlson has four younger sisters, two of whom died in childhood. During high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he studied under the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
and played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. He studied at St. Paul Seminary
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was founded by Archbishop John Ireland in 1894, to provide ordained priests for the ever-increasing Catholic population of the Upper Midwest. The seminary now sits on the south campus of the University of St. Thomas,...
, from where he obtained Bachelor's degree in philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
in 1966.
Carlson was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 23, 1970. He earned a Master's in Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from St. Paul Seminary in 1976, and a Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law is the title of an advanced graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law...
from the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in 1979. He served as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the archdiocesan tribunal
Ecclesiastical court
An ecclesiastical court is any of certain courts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages in many areas of Europe these courts had much wider powers than before the development of nation states...
, director of the Office of Vocations, and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the curia
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
. He also served at the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
, where he was a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
team.
Episcopal career
On November 19, 1983, Carlson was appointed 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...
of St. Paul and Minneapolis and 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 Avioccala by Blessed Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on January 11, 1984 from Archbishop John Roach, with Bishops John Kinney
John Francis Kinney
John Francis Kinney is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Bishop of St. Cloud.-Biography:...
and Paul Dudley
Paul Vincent Dudley
Paul Vincent Dudley was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sioux Falls from 1978 to 1995.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: Ante Crucem Nihil Defensionis, that is, "Before the Cross There is No Defense."
Bishop of Sioux Falls
Carlson was later named Coadjutor BishopCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Sioux Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is a Roman Catholic diocese in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It was founded on November 12, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII and comprises that part of South Dakota east of the Missouri River. The architect for the St...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, on January 13, 1994 by Pope John Paul II. He succeeded Paul Dudley as the seventh Bishop of Sioux Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is a Roman Catholic diocese in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It was founded on November 12, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII and comprises that part of South Dakota east of the Missouri River. The architect for the St...
upon the latter's retirement on March 21, 1995. He served chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
' Committee on Vocations from 1992 to 1994, and of the Subcommittee on Youth from 1993 to 1996.
Bishop of Saginaw
He was appointed the fifth Bishop of SaginawRoman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is a Roman Catholic diocese covering eleven counties in Michigan. It was founded on February 26, 1938; the first bishop was William Francis Murphy....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, on December 29, 2004, in one of the last episcopal appointments to the American Catholic Church made by Pope John Paul II. Succeeding the late Bishop Kenneth Untener, he was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
at St. Mary's Cathedral
Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption (Saginaw, Michigan)
The Cathedral of Mary the Assumption, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral located in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Saginaw. The parish was founded on 1853 and the church was re-dedicated on August 1, 1978. St...
on February 24, 2005. During his tenure in Saginaw, Carlson focused on priestly vocations
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine, their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation...
, Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
s, service to the poor, stewardship, and evangelization
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
. He also published six pastoral letter
Pastoral letter
A Pastoral letter, often called simply a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of his diocese, or to both, containing either general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circumstances...
s; created the Saginaw Area Catholic Schools system; and established two charities
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, the Bishop's Charity Golf Classic and the Bishop's Charity Ball.
In demonstration of his dedication to vocations, Carlson filled the role of diocesan vocations director himself. In 2005 the number of seminarians increased from 4 to 12, and in 2006 the number of seminarians again increased to 19. In August 2006 the first permanent deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 25 years was ordained for the diocese. In June 2007, two men were ordained to the priesthood and five to the transitional diaconate.
Archbishop of St. Louis
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
named Carlson the ninth Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, on April 21, 2009. He replaced Archbishop Raymond Burke
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
, who was appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
in June 2008. As Archbishop, Carlson is the spiritual leader of 566,000 Catholics in eastern Missouri.
He received the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, a vestment
Vestment
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially among Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans...
worn by metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
s, from Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009, in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
.
Archbishop Carlson was soon confronted with a crisis in the Archdiocese, as the pastor of a St. Louis parish was arrested and suspended from priestly duties for alleged sexual improprieties with minors. He made a point to visit and speak to the parish soon afterward at one of their Masses, and made sure that the previous parishes the priest had served at knew of the allegations. He was praised for the proper response he showed as archbishop in the matter to the parishioners of the church and the other parishes.
Role in sex abuse case
In 1984, Carlson was told of an accusation against parish priest Rev. Thomas Adamson. Adamson had already spent two weeks in an inpatient clinic after being accused with abuse four years earlier. Carlson confronted Adamson about the accusations. Adamson admitted sexual abuse against children, and "agreed that it probably would be first-degree criminal sexual contact". Rather than going to the police with the information, Carlson recommended to Bishop Roach in a memo that "given the seriousness of our exposure that the Archdiocese posture itself in such a way that any publicity will be minimized." Adamson later admitted to sexually abusing children in 10 of the 13 parishes he was assigned to. Carlson later defended his handling of the case, stating, "My job was to investigate and report back to the archbishop what I found out, and that's exactly what I did." St. Paul lawyer Jeffrey Anderson deposed Carlson several times and stated that Carlson "was active in the concealment and the deception, and the deceit of the police, the public and the parishioners." By 2009, Carlson admitted that he should have done more to alert authorities to the priest's behavior.Views
Carlson is considered theologically conservativeConservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
,. His appointment follows a pattern observed by John Allen, Jr.
John L. Allen, Jr.
John L. Allen, Jr. is an American journalist based in Rome who specializes in news about the Catholic Church. He is senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and vaticanologist of CNN and NPR. Allen is also the author of several books about the Catholic Church...
, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
, of Pope Benedict choosing prelates "who are basically conservative in both their politics and their theology, but also upbeat, pastoral figures given to dialogue."
Archbishop Carlson has made it a point to try to reconcile with the board and parishioners of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church, whose priest (Father Marek Bozek, originally from another Missouri diocese) and lay board were excommunicated by Archbishop Carlson's predecessor, Archbishop Burke, after they resisted Burke's directive to conform to the organizational structure which most St. Louis parishes now operate under (which gives more sway over some important issues to the archbishop and his appointed pastor, and where the assets of the parish are considered part of the wider archdiocese). Control over parish property, whether Archbishop Carlson will appoint another Polish or Polish-speaking pastor as Bozek's replacement, whether the parish will remain open and served by a Polish priest after Archbishop Carlson is no longer archbishop, who should count as a parishioner or board member (some went back and reconciled to the Church), and the terms of Bozek's status and compensation (all highly legalistic canonical and civil issues) will need to be worked out. The parish and archdiocese are still endeavoring to trust one another, and Archbishop Carlson has not yet visited the breakaway church. Carlson has been widely praised by both sides for trying to amicably resolve the tense situation. St. Stanislaus voted on an offer put forth by the Archbishop on Sunday, August 8, 2010, which could have begun to resolve the matter, but discrepancies and disagreements still remain to be worked out and the measure did not receive enough votes to pass.
Pro-choice politicians
Regarding withholding Holy Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, and who persist in doing so even after consultation with their Bishop, Archbishop Carlson has stressed the need for personal dialogue with them but also affirmed the validity of denying Holy Communion to such individuals as he said that "If I were to enter into dialogue with somebody, and after they reflect on the discussion and that person persisted, it could come to that point....Archbishop Burke, who is on the Supreme Apostolic Signatura, has combined in an interesting way, and I think he does it correctly. And he's not just speaking anymore as the Archbishop of St. Louis, he is the prefect of the Signatura. It appears that's the direction the church consensus is moving towards. ... Could we get into that situation? Yes. But at least in my own time in St. Louis, I'd like to have a crack at the dialogue first."During his tenure, Carlson was a frequent critic of U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-SD), who held certain positions contrary to Catholic teachings. In 1997, before a Senate vote on partial-birth abortion
Intact dilation and extraction
Intact dilation and extraction is a procedure done in late term abortion. It is also known as intact dilation and evacuation, dilation and extraction , intrauterine cranial decompression and, vernacularly in the United States, as partial birth abortion...
legislation, Carlson denounced a compromise proposed by Daschle that would ban the procedure but allow exemptions for women claiming mental or physical health reasons, calling the proposition a "smokescreen" designed to "provide cover for pro-abortion senators and President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who wanted to avoid a veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
confrontation." In response, Daschle described the Bishops as being "more identified with the radical right than with thoughtful religious leadership."
In 2003, Carlson privately urged Daschle to no longer identify himself as a Catholic because of his support for
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. Daschle refused to disclose any details of his communication with Carlson, saying, "I am not going to participate in a debate that is intended to politicize anyone's religious beliefs..." The Bishop later added, "I would never break off dialogue or a pastoral relationship with anyone."
In an August 2004 statement, Carlson reportedly "stopped short" of saying that it was a sin for a Catholic to vote for a Democrat.
During the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Carlson stated, "A Catholic can, in good conscience, vote for a pro-choice candidate only if other issues outweigh this one in number and in kind." The day following Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's victory, he said, "This election has shown that any child who is born in America has the opportunity to ascend to the highest political office in the land. We must continue to work and pray tirelessly for the day when every child who is conceived will have the right to live."
On May 15, 2009, Carlson expressed his disappointment over the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
's decision to have President Obama deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
, and said, "Notre Dame has to figure out who they are—are they of the culture, or are they of the Church?"
Cancer
Carlson survived stage-fourCancer staging
The stage of a cancer is a description of the extent the cancer has spread. The stage often takes into account the size of a tumor, how deeply it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, how many lymph nodes it has metastasized to , and whether it has spread to distant organs...
bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
in the 1990s, having once been told by his doctor to arrange his will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
in order to prepare for an imminent death. He has undergone a total of seven cancer-related procedures, and partly credited a trip to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima is a Roman Catholic Marian basilica in Fátima, Portugal...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
for his recovery.
Other Appointments
Bishop Carlson serves as:- Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Religious, and Vocations
- Episcopal Advisor for the CursilloCursilloCursillos in Christianity is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church...
Movement, Region VI - Chairman of the USCCB Committee for Catholic Charismatic RenewalCatholic Charismatic RenewalThe Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church. Worship is characterized by vibrant Masses, as well as prayer meetings featuring prophecy, healing and "praying in tongues." This movement is based on the belief that certain charismata , bestowed by the Holy Spirit, such as...
- Member of the Canon Law Society of AmericaCanon Law Society of AmericaThe Canon Law Society of America is a professional association dedicated to the promotion of both the study and the application of canon law in the Catholic Church. The Society's membership includes over fifteen hundred men and women who reside in forty-three countries...
- Board member for the Catholic Mutual Relief Society in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, NebraskaOmaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
- Member of the USCCB Subcommittee on Youth and Young Adults
- Board member for the International Dominican Foundation
- Board member for St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, ColoradoDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
- President of the Bishop's Advisory Board at the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha
Recent publications
- The Liberating Power of this Sacrament, Instruction on the Sacrament of Penance, Lent 2009
- Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, Pastoral Letter on Peace, December 12, 2008
- 'Our witness must grow stronger', Statement on the results of the Nov. 4 General Election, November 5, 2008
- Preparing for the Nov. 4 General Election, On Abortion, Catholic Voters, and Proposal 2, October 28, 2008
- Body and Soul, A reflection for couples called to the vocation of marriage on the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, July 25, 2008
- Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician, Pastoral Letter on Penance, January 25, 2008
- Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, January 6, 2008
External links
- Archdiocese of Saint Louis
- Diocese of Saginaw
- Catholic Hierarchy page on Diocese of Saginaw
- Catholic Hierarchy page on Bishop Robert J. Carlson
- Bishop Carlson, "Promoting the Culture of Life" from Michigan Right to Life News
- Diocese of Saginaw Vocations page
- Article about Saginaw Vocations
- Saginaw Serra Club website
- Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
- Bishop Carlson and Tom Daschle