Wim Eijk
Encyclopedia
Willem Jacobus "Wim" Eijk (born 22 June 1953 in Duivendrecht, North Holland
) is a Dutch
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. On 11 December 2007 Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Eijk the Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht
and, on the 26 January 2008 Eijk was installed in the Sint Catharina Church in Utrecht
. He is the 70th successor of Saint Willibrord
(658-739) on the See of Utrecht. He was formerly Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden.
in 1978 at the University of Amsterdam. Consecutively studied to become a priest (after an intensive deliberation with the then Bishop, Simonis) at the seminary of Rolduc
in Kerkrade
. From 1979 he combined other elements of his theological formation with the study ofn medical ethics at the University of Leiden
.
He was ordained
to priesthood
in 1985 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Roermond
. Then he went to work as a curate in the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Venlo Blerick.
In 1987 he completed a PhD
degree in Medicine, with a dissertation about euthanasia
, subsequently taking another PhD degree in Philosophy
from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
in 1990, with a thesis which considered genetic manipulation.
Eijk also gained a master's degree and doctorate
in theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
of Rome. At the same time he taught moral theology at the seminary of Rolduc. From 1996, Eijk was Professor of moral theology at Lugano
in Switzerland
, in pontifical Faculty of Theology there. From 1997 to 2002 he was a member of the International Theological Commission
.
When Eijk on 17 July 1999 was appointed as bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden , he chose the motto Noli recusare labore. After a difficult start, the episcopate of Bishop Eijk was marked by signs of growth in all parts of the Church. The most telling example may be seen in the Groningen cathedral, which changed from a church which was closed on weekdays, into a lively and open church community. The diocese saw the appearance of other "places of hope" as well, where parishes and other communities started to thrive. The number of ordinations to the diaconate and the priesthood has risen in recent years.
Eijk is known to be conservative. Some consider his views relatively extreme compared to the majority of the Dutch people, especially his views on abortion
and homosexuality
. Others have argued that he has done nothing else but restate official Roman Catholic teachings. In 2001 Wim Eijk suffered from a subdural hematoma
, but he fully recovered.
In May 2008 Pope Benedict appointed Archbishop Eijk a member of the Congregation for the Clergy
in addition to his duties as Archbishop of Utrecht.
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
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...
. On 11 December 2007 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...
appointed Eijk the Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht
The Archdiocese of Utrecht is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The archdiocese is the metropolitan for 6 suffragans, the dioceses of Breda, Groningen-Leeuwarden, Haarlem-Amsterdam, Roermond, Rotterdam, and 's-Hertogenbosch....
and, on the 26 January 2008 Eijk was installed in the Sint Catharina Church in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. He is the 70th successor of Saint Willibrord
Willibrord
__notoc__Willibrord was a Northumbrian missionary saint, known as the "Apostle to the Frisians" in the modern Netherlands...
(658-739) on the See of Utrecht. He was formerly Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden.
Biography
Born in Duivendrecht he originally took a degree in medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in 1978 at the University of Amsterdam. Consecutively studied to become a priest (after an intensive deliberation with the then Bishop, Simonis) at the seminary of Rolduc
Rolduc
Rolduc is the name of a medieval abbey in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, which is now a Roman Catholic seminary and an affiliated conferencing center.-History:...
in Kerkrade
Kerkrade
Kerkrade is a town and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.It is the western half of the divided region and de facto city, taken together with the eastern half, the German town of Herzogenrath...
. From 1979 he combined other elements of his theological formation with the study ofn medical ethics at the University of Leiden
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
.
He 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 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....
in 1985 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Roermond
Diocese of Roermond
The Diocese of Roermond is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The diocese is one of the seven Roman-Catholic dioceses suffragan to the Archdiocese of Utrecht....
. Then he went to work as a curate in the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Venlo Blerick.
In 1987 he completed a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in Medicine, with a dissertation about euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, subsequently taking another PhD degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1990, with a thesis which considered genetic manipulation.
Eijk also gained a master's degree and doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
of Rome. At the same time he taught moral theology at the seminary of Rolduc. From 1996, Eijk was Professor of moral theology at Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, in pontifical Faculty of Theology there. From 1997 to 2002 he was a member of the International Theological Commission
International Theological Commission
The International Theological Commission of the Roman Catholic Church consists of up to 30 Catholic theologians from around the world. These theologians are appointed for renewable five year terms and have tended to meet together in person once every year for a week...
.
Bishop
Eijk is known to be conservative. Some consider his views relatively extreme compared to the majority of the Dutch people, especially his views on 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...
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Others have argued that he has done nothing else but restate official Roman Catholic teachings. In 2001 Wim Eijk suffered from a subdural hematoma
Subdural hematoma
A subdural hematoma or subdural haematoma , also known as a subdural haemorrhage , is a type of haematoma, a form of traumatic brain injury. Blood gathers within the outermost meningeal layer, between the dura mater, which adheres to the skull, and the arachnoid mater, which envelops the brain...
, but he fully recovered.
In May 2008 Pope Benedict appointed Archbishop Eijk a member of the Congregation for the Clergy
Congregation for the Clergy
The Sacred Congregation for the Clergy is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to religious orders...
in addition to his duties as Archbishop of Utrecht.