Thomas C. Kelly
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cajetan Kelly, O.P., (born 1931) is Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville
.
Born in 1931 in Rochester, New York, Archbishop Kelly entered the Dominican Order
in 1951 after two years of study at Providence College
, Providence, Rhode Island. Ordained to the priesthood in 1958, he subsequently earned a Licentiate in Theology
from the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C.
, in 1959 and a doctorate in canon law
from the Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum in Rome in 1962.
Before his episcopal ministry, Archbishop Kelly served in key administrative positions within the Catholic Church in the United States. In 1962 he was assigned as secretary in the Dominican provincial offices in New York City
; he also worked with the National Legion of Decency and the tribunal for the Archdiocese of New York. In 1971 Kelly joined the National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference
as associate general secretary. Kelly moved to Washington in 1965 as a secretary and archivist for the Apostolic Delegation
, a position he held until joining the NCCB/USCC. He was elected in March 1977 to a five-year term as NCCB/USCC chief administrative officer and general secretary.
In July 1977, Pope Paul VI
named him auxiliary bishop
of Washington, D.C., and titular bishop
of Tusuro. He was consecrated a bishop two months later by Archbishop Joseph Bernardin at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington. On December 21, 1981, Pope John Paul II
appointed Kelly Archbishop of Louisville. On June 12, 2007, Archbishop Kelly's retirement was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI
in accord with canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law
. Pope Benedict simultaneously appointed Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville
, as Archbishop Kelly's successor. Archbishop Kelly was the tenth Bishop and third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. He succeeded Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough
(1967–1981).
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
.
Born in 1931 in Rochester, New York, Archbishop Kelly entered the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in 1951 after two years of study at Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
, Providence, Rhode Island. Ordained to the priesthood in 1958, he subsequently earned a Licentiate in Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
from the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1959 and a doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
from the Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum in Rome in 1962.
Before his episcopal ministry, Archbishop Kelly served in key administrative positions within the Catholic Church in the United States. In 1962 he was assigned as secretary in the Dominican provincial offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; he also worked with the National Legion of Decency and the tribunal for the Archdiocese of New York. In 1971 Kelly joined the National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference
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...
as associate general secretary. Kelly moved to Washington in 1965 as a secretary and archivist for the Apostolic Delegation
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
, a position he held until joining the NCCB/USCC. He was elected in March 1977 to a five-year term as NCCB/USCC chief administrative officer and general secretary.
In July 1977, Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
named him 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 Washington, D.C., 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 Tusuro. He was consecrated a bishop two months later by Archbishop Joseph Bernardin at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington. On December 21, 1981, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
appointed Kelly Archbishop of Louisville. On June 12, 2007, Archbishop Kelly's retirement was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope 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...
in accord with canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. Pope Benedict simultaneously appointed Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Tennessee. It was founded on May 27, 1988 from the eastern counties of the Diocese of Nashville. This diocese covers most of East Tennessee; in addition to the see city of Knoxville, it includes Chattanooga and Johnson City....
, as Archbishop Kelly's successor. Archbishop Kelly was the tenth Bishop and third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. He succeeded Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough
Thomas Joseph McDonough
Thomas Joseph McDonough was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Savannah, Georgia and Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky .-Early life and ministry:...
(1967–1981).