His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Eric Stowe

O.F.M. Conv.
Bishop of Lexington
ChurchRoman Catholic
ArchdioceseLouisville
DioceseLexington
AppointedMarch 12, 2015
InstalledMay 5, 2015
PredecessorRonald William Gainer
Orders
OrdinationSeptember 16, 1995
by Alexander James Quinn
ConsecrationMay 5, 2015
by Joseph Edward Kurtz, Armando Xavier Ochoa, and Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña
Personal details
Born (1966-04-15) April 15, 1966
Amherst, Ohio
Alma mater
MottoAnnuntiamus Verbum Vitae
(We Announce the Word of Life)
Styles of
John Eric Stowe
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

John Eric Stowe, O.F.M. Conv., (born April 15, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been the Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky since 2015.

Biography

Early life

John Stowe was born in Amherst, Ohio, on April 15, 1966, to John and Lucy Stowe and grew up in Lorain, Ohio. After graduating from Lorain Catholic High School in 1984, he was admitted as a candidate to the Province of Our Lady of Consolation of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.[1] After Stowe completed his Novitiate year and been admitted to the Order, he was sent to study at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri; he graduated with a double major in history and philosophy.[2] He professed his solemn vows in the Order on August 1, 1992.[1]

Stowe then pursued his seminary studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He received the degrees of Master of Divinity and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology, specializing in church history.[2]

Priesthood

Stowe was ordained as a priest to the Franciscan Order by Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Quinn on September 16, 1995. After his ordination, Stowe assigned by his Province to serve in parishes in El Paso, Texas.[1] In 2002, Stowe was invited by Bishop Armando Ochoa, bishop of El Paso to manage the diocesan chancery and to serve as his vicar general. He was later appointed as the chancellor of the diocese.[2] In 2010, Stowe was elected vicar provincial of his Franciscan province. He was then given the additional responsibilities of rector of the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.[1]

Bishop of Lexington

On March 12, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Stowe bishop of the Diocese of Lexington. He received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Joseph Kurtz with Bishops Armando Ochoa and Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña as co-consecrators on May 5, 2015.[2][1]

In February 2018, Stowe joined the Pax Christi USA Board as their president.[3] In January 2019, Stowe wrote an op-ed that criticized Nick Sandmann and other students from Covington Catholic High School for sporting apparel supporting President Donald Trump during the 2019 March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.[4] He said the slogan "Make America Great Again" on their clothing "supports a president who denigrates the lives of immigrants, refugees and people from countries that he describes with indecent words and haphazardly endangers with life-threatening policies".[5][6]

In March 2021, Stowe expressed support for the federal Equality Act, proposed legislation that was opposed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He wrote that "As a Catholic bishop, I hate to see any form of harmful discrimination protected by law and it is consistent with our teaching to ensure that LGBTQ people have the protection they need."[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 James, Kent, OFM Conv., Very Rev. "Bishop-elect John Stowe, OFM Conv". Conventual Franciscan Friars, Province of Our Lady of Consolation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Elise (March 12, 2015). "Pope Francis names new bishops for Spokane, Lexington dioceses". Catholic News Agency.
  3. ↑ "Bishop Stowe joins Pax Christi USA board as episcopal president". February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Wearing a Trump hat? That's not exactly pro-life, says Catholic Bishop John Stowe". Lexington Herald-Leader. January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ Winters, Sean Michael (January 29, 2019). "Bishop apologises to Covington students". The Tablet. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (January 25, 2019). "Kentucky bishop apologizes to Covington Catholic students, says he expects their exoneration". Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ↑ O'Loughlin, Michael J. (March 25, 2021). "'It is our duty to love and defend' LGBT Americans: Bishop Stowe breaks with U.S. bishops on the Equality Act". America. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
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