William George Curlin (August 30, 1927 – December 23, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1994 to 2002. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1988 to 1994.


William George Curlin
Bishop of Charlotte
SeeDiocese of Charlotte
AppointedFebruary 22, 1994
InstalledApril 13, 1994
Term endedSeptember 10, 2002
PredecessorJohn Francis Donoghue
SuccessorPeter Joseph Jugis
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
1988 to 1994
Orders
OrdinationMay 25, 1957
by Patrick O'Boyle
ConsecrationDecember 20, 1988
by James Aloysius Hickey, Eugene Antonio Marino, and Alvaro Corrada del Rio
Personal details
Born(1927-08-30)August 30, 1927
DiedDecember 23, 2017(2017-12-23) (aged 90)
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
MottoSentire cum Christo (To Think With Christ)
Styles of
William George Curlin
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

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Early life

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William Curlin was born on August 30, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Curlin was the son of Mary and Stephen Curlin. He attended St. John's College and later Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Curlin then entered St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Priesthood

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Curlin was ordained a priest by Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on May 25, 1957.[1] He served in mostly poor parishes, opened a women's shelter and 20 kitchens for the poor and homeless throughout the Washington area. Curlin and Mother Teresa championed the opening of the Gift of Peace Home, a residence in Washington for people with HIV/AIDS.

Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

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Pope John Paul II appointed Curlin as an auxiliary bishop of Washington and titular bishop of Rossmarkaeum on November 2, 1988. He was consecrated by Cardinal James Hickey on December 20, 1988.[1] Curlin served as vicar for the Theological College at the Catholic University of America from 1974 to 1980 and as chair of Associated Catholic Charities in Baltimore.

Bishop of Charlotte

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Mother Teresa, 1995

John Paul II appointed Curlin as the third bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte on February 22, 1994; he was installed on April 13, 1994.[1]

Curtin started the first affordable housing initiative in the diocese and concentrated on ministry to the elderly, sick and dying.[2] As bishop, Curlin continued his ministry to the poor, ordained 28 men to the priesthood and opened numerous Churches throughout the diocese. On June 13, 1995, Curlin invited Mother Teresa to speak at the Charlotte Coliseum, drawing a crowd of over 19,000. In 1995, Curlin stated that any priest in the diocese who had been accused of sexual abuse of a minor would be immediately removed from ministry.[3]

When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Curlin travelled to Calcutta, India, to attend her funeral as a representative of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.[4]

Retirement and legacy

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On September 10, 2002, John Paul II accepted Curlin's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. William Curlin died in Charlotte on December 23, 2017, at age 90.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bishop William George Curlin [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  2. ^ "History of the Diocese of Charlotte - Diocese of Charlotte". 50years.charlottediocese.org. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  3. ^ Longwood, Merle (2018-10-24). Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Trusting the Clergy?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-95528-3.
  4. ^ Hains, David (2017-05-17). Voices and Places of the People of God: The Diocese of Charlotte (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 978-0-259-44562-3.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Bishop Emeritus of Charlotte
2002–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Charlotte
1994–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
1988–1994
Succeeded by