William Edwin Franklin
Encyclopedia
William Edwin Franklin (born May 3, 1930) is a bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States
. He served as auxiliary bishop
of Archdiocese of Dubuque
in the state of Iowa
from 1987–1993, and as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
, also in Iowa, from 1993-2006.
, Franklin was educated in the local parochial school
and at the former St. Patrick High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. He graduated from Loras College
, and studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Bernard's Seminary in Dubuque
. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on February 4, 1956. His initial assignment was as secretary to Archbishop Emeritus Henry Rohlman
. He was then engaged in education and pastoral work. From 1959-74 he was a member of the faculty at Wahlert High School
in Dubuque
. In 1984 he was assigned as dean
of the Waterloo Deanery. At the time of his appointment as bishop he was the pastor
of St. Edward's Church in Waterloo
.
On January 29, 1987, Franklin was named Titular Bishop
of Surista and Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque by Blessed John Paul II. He was ordained bishop by Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera, OSB of Dubuque on April 1, 1987 in St. Raphael's Cathedral. Archbishop Emeritus James J. Byrne and Auxiliary Bishop Francis John Dunn
, both of Dubuque, acted as principal co-consecrators. He was assigned to be Episcopal Vicar of the Waterloo Region of the archdiocese.
Bishop Franklin was known for his homily style. He would walk the aisles of the church and speak directly to the congregation, oftentimes asking them questions.
Franklin revised the structure of the diocesan staff, creating an Office of Pastoral Services that combined the ministries of liturgy
, education and social action into the same office to facilitate better communication. He initially did away with the Diocesan Pastoral Council and instituted a Diocesan Pastoral Council Convocation in its place. This yearly event drew together clergy, religious and parishioners from throughout the diocese for their input and formation. He also restructured the deaneries
to include Deanery Councils, again to better facilitate communication between the diocese and its people.
Several parishes in the diocese were either merged or closed because of changing demographics. The Redemptorists
, who had served St. Alphonsus parish in Davenport for 89 years as well as other parishes, left the diocese in 1997 because of decling numbers. The Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton built a new motherhouse in Clinton
called the Canticle, also in 1997. Irene Prior Loftus was the first lay person to serve as the diocesan chancellor
, and Mary Weiser was hired as the first lay person to serve the diocese as superintendent of schools.
In 2000 the diocese, along with the entire Church, celebrated the Jubilee Year
proclaimed by Pope John Paul II. There were no diocesan celebrations, rather they were planned and celebrated in the diocese's six deaneries. The following year the pope bestowed papal honors on 26 people of the diocese upon Bishop Franklin's nomination. Four priests were named Chaplains to His Holiness
, eight lay men were honored as Knights of St. Gregory the Great
, three women received the honor of Dames of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
and 11 men and women received the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
. The three women who were bestowed with the Order of St. Gregory the Great were the first such recipients in the history of the diocese.
The diocese lost two of its colleges just after the turn of the 21st century. Marycrest International University
, which began as a woman's college in the 1930s, closed its doors in 2002. Mt. St. Clair College in Clinton
expanded and became The Franciscan University in 2002 and then The Franciscan University of the Prairies two years later. In 2005 it was sold to Bridgepoint Education, Inc and became Ashford University
, ending its affiliation with the Catholic Church. Franklin's later years as diocesan bishop were consummed by the clergy sexual abuse scandal
.
In 2006 the diocese celebrated it's 125th anniversary. A Eucharistic Congress was held to mark the occasion at the LeClaire Park Bandshell
. Bishop Paul Coakly
of the Diocese of Salina
preached the homily
at the concluding Mass.
On October 12, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI accepted Franklin's resignation, and he was named Bishop Emeritus of Davenport. He currently resides in Davenport.
is named in his honor.
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 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 Archdiocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
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...
from 1987–1993, and as the seventh 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...
, also in Iowa, from 1993-2006.
Early Life & Ministry
Born in Parnell, IowaParnell, Iowa
Parnell is a city in Iowa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.-History:Parnell, in Fillmore Township, Iowa County, Iowa, was named after Charles Stewart Parnell, a noble Irish statesman who had come to the American people to plead the cause of Ireland's...
, Franklin was educated in the local parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
and at the former St. Patrick High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. He graduated from Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
, and studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Bernard's Seminary in Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on February 4, 1956. His initial assignment was as secretary to Archbishop Emeritus 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...
. He was then engaged in education and pastoral work. From 1959-74 he was a member of the faculty at Wahlert High School
Wahlert High School
Wahlert Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic high school in the city of Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of four high schools in Dubuque, the others being Central Alternative High School, Hempstead High School and Dubuque Senior High School. Wahlert is the central Catholic high...
in Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. In 1984 he was assigned as dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Waterloo Deanery. At the time of his appointment as bishop he was the 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"....
of St. Edward's Church in Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
.
On January 29, 1987, Franklin was named 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 Surista and Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque by Blessed John Paul II. He was ordained bishop by Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera, OSB of Dubuque on April 1, 1987 in St. Raphael's Cathedral. Archbishop Emeritus James J. Byrne and Auxiliary Bishop Francis John Dunn
Francis John Dunn
Francis John Dunn was a bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in the state of Iowa from 1969-1989.-Biography:...
, both of Dubuque, acted as principal co-consecrators. He was assigned to be Episcopal Vicar of the Waterloo Region of the archdiocese.
Bishop of Davenport
On November 12, 1993 Blessed John Paul II named Bishop Franklin as the seventh Bishop of Davenport. He was installed January 20, 1994 by Archbishop Kucera in Sacred Heart Cathedral in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan.Bishop Franklin was known for his homily style. He would walk the aisles of the church and speak directly to the congregation, oftentimes asking them questions.
Franklin revised the structure of the diocesan staff, creating an Office of Pastoral Services that combined the ministries of liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
, education and social action into the same office to facilitate better communication. He initially did away with the Diocesan Pastoral Council and instituted a Diocesan Pastoral Council Convocation in its place. This yearly event drew together clergy, religious and parishioners from throughout the diocese for their input and formation. He also restructured the deaneries
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
to include Deanery Councils, again to better facilitate communication between the diocese and its people.
Several parishes in the diocese were either merged or closed because of changing demographics. The Redemptorists
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
, who had served St. Alphonsus parish in Davenport for 89 years as well as other parishes, left the diocese in 1997 because of decling numbers. The Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton built a new motherhouse in Clinton
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
called the Canticle, also in 1997. Irene Prior Loftus was the first lay person to serve as the diocesan chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
, and Mary Weiser was hired as the first lay person to serve the diocese as superintendent of schools.
In 2000 the diocese, along with the entire Church, celebrated the Jubilee Year
Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000 was an international coalition movement in over 40 countries that called for cancellation of third world debt by the year 2000. This movement coincided with the Great Jubilee, the celebration of the year 2000 in the Catholic Church...
proclaimed by Pope John Paul II. There were no diocesan celebrations, rather they were planned and celebrated in the diocese's six deaneries. The following year the pope bestowed papal honors on 26 people of the diocese upon Bishop Franklin's nomination. Four priests were named Chaplains to His Holiness
Chaplain of His Holiness
A Chaplain of His Holiness is a priest to whom the Pope has granted this title. They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges, such as regards ecclesiastical dress....
, eight lay men were honored as Knights of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
, three women received the honor of Dames of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
and 11 men and women received the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal is an award of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also known as the "Cross of Honour". The medal was established by Leo XIII on July 17, 1888, to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally bestowed on those women and men who had aided and...
. The three women who were bestowed with the Order of St. Gregory the Great were the first such recipients in the history of the diocese.
The diocese lost two of its colleges just after the turn of the 21st century. Marycrest International University
Marycrest International University
Marycrest College Historic District is located on a bluff overlooking the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district encompasses the campus of Marycrest International University, which was a small, private collegiate institution...
, which began as a woman's college in the 1930s, closed its doors in 2002. Mt. St. Clair College in Clinton
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
expanded and became The Franciscan University in 2002 and then The Franciscan University of the Prairies two years later. In 2005 it was sold to Bridgepoint Education, Inc and became Ashford University
Ashford University
Ashford University is a private, for-profit university located in Clinton, Iowa. It is the largest educational holding of Bridgepoint Education...
, ending its affiliation with the Catholic Church. Franklin's later years as diocesan bishop were consummed by the clergy sexual abuse scandal
Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic diocese of Davenport
The sexual abuse scandal in Davenport diocese is one of a number of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland.-Allegations against Bishop Soens:...
.
In 2006 the diocese celebrated it's 125th anniversary. A Eucharistic Congress was held to mark the occasion at the LeClaire Park Bandshell
W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion is located on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993...
. Bishop Paul Coakly
Paul Stagg Coakley
Paul Stagg Coakley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.-Early life and education:...
of the Diocese of Salina
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
preached the homily
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
at the concluding Mass.
On October 12, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI accepted Franklin's resignation, and he was named Bishop Emeritus of Davenport. He currently resides in Davenport.
Legacy
Franklin Hall, a residence hall at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
is named in his honor.