Michael Joseph Hoeppner

Michael Joseph Hoeppner (born June 1, 1949) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota from November 30, 2007, to April 13, 2021.

His Excellency The Most Reverend

Michael Joseph Hoeppner
Bishop emeritus of Crookston
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseCrookston
AppointedSeptember 28, 2007
InstalledNovember 30, 2007
RetiredApril 13, 2021
PredecessorVictor Hermann Balke
SuccessorAndrew Cozzens
Orders
OrdinationJune 29, 1975
by Pope Paul VI
ConsecrationNovember 30, 2007
by Harry Joseph Flynn, Victor Hermann Balke, and Bernard Joseph Harrington
Personal details
Born (1949-06-01) June 1, 1949
Winona, Minnesota
MottoOmnia in nomine domini Iesu
(All in the name of the Lord Jesus)
Styles of
Michael Joseph Hoeppner
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

After a Vatican investigation concluded that Hoeppner mishandled an allegation of sexual abuse by a priest, Pope Francis requested and received Hoeppner's resignation as bishop.

Biography

Early life

Hoeppner was born on June 1, 1949, in Winona, Minnesota. He undertook his theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Hoeppner was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Winona on June 29, 1975, by Pope Paul VI at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.[1]

Hoeppner received a Licentiate of Canon Law from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario. In addition to assignments within the Catholic school system, Hoeppner served as diocesan director of vocations. He served as Winona's judicial vicar from 1988 to 1997 and was later appointed vicar general by Bishop John Vlazny.

Following Bishop Vlazny's transfer to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, Hoeppner was elected as diocesan administrator to oversee the diocese until the installation of Bishop Bernard Harrington. Harrington then appointed Hoeppner as his vicar general.

Bishop of Crookston

Hoeppner was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Crookston by Pope Benedict XVI on September 28, 2007.[1] Hoeppner was consecrated by Archbishop Harry Flynn on November 30, 2007.[2]

In May 2017, Hoeppner became the first American bishop to be sued personally for coercion. The lawsuit was filed by Ronald Vasek, a former diaconate candidate in the diocese. Vasek alleged that Monsignor Roger Grundhaus sexually abused him when he was a teenager during a trip to Ohio in 1971. Vasek made his allegations known to the diocese in 2011. In October 2015, Vasek signed a letter recanting his accusations against Grundhaus. Vasek claims that Hoeppner threatened retaliation against Vasek's son, a priest in the diocese, if he failed to sign it. Vasek said that Hoeppner's actions were like "being abused all over again."[3][4][5]

On September 20, 2017, Vasek, the diocese and Hoeppner reached a legal settlement. As part of the agreement, Hoeppner released the letter from October 2015. Vasek's attorney, Mike Finnegan, said the letter proved Hoeppner's guilt.[6][7] In September 2019, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced it would investigate Hoeppner's actions. This was the first investigation in the United States of a bishop for failure to the follow the procedures Pope Francis established in the document Vos estis lux mundi.[8]

Retirement

Following the archdiocese investigation, Pope Francis requested and received Hoeppner's resignation as the bishop of the Diocese of Crookston. It was accepted by the pope on April 13, 2021.[9][10] In his final mass, Hoeppner apologized "...to you and everyone, as I've apologized to the Holy Father, for any failures of mine in governing as bishop."[4]

See also

References
  1. "Rinunce e Nomine, 2007.09.28" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. "Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner". Diocese of Crookston. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. Hofpensberger, Jean (May 10, 2017). "Lawsuit accuses Minnesota bishop of coercion in clergy abuse case". Lawsuit accuses Minnesota bishop of coercion in clergy abuse case. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  4. "Hoeppner apologizes to Crookston Diocese during farewell Mass". National Catholic Reporter. April 19, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  5. "Man Speaks Out Following Resignation Of Bishop Michael Hoeppner Of The Crookston Diocese". www.valleynewslive.com. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. Roewe, Brian (September 26, 2017). "Minnesota diocese settles in lawsuit against Bishop Hoeppner". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  7. "Ex-deacon candidate settles coercion lawsuit against bishop". Fox News. Associated Press. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  8. Williams, Tess (September 11, 2019). "Crookston bishop to be investigated on allegations of sexual abuse cover up". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  9. Shirley, Hannah (April 13, 2021). "Minnesota bishop resigns at request of pope for covering up sexual abuse by clergy". Brainerd Dispatch. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  10. "Statement re: Resignation of Bishop Michael Hoeppner". Diocese of Crookston. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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