Aug
14
The Pope, today, appointed Bishop Robert Baker of Charleston, SC to the diocese of Birmingham, AL, ending the longest US vacancy in memorable history, 27 months.
Bishop Baker was born 4 June 1944 in Willard, OH (Diocese of Toledo) and ordained to the Priesthood 21 March 1970 for the Diocese of St. Augustine, FL. He received an STD (Doctorate of Sacred Theology) in Dogmatic Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1977. Bishop Baker was appointed bishop of Charleston, SC on 13 July 1999 and ordained 29 September 1999. For more information on Bishop Baker and his appointment to the Diocese of Birmingham, see Whispers in the Loggia and the USCCB.
Bishop Baker’s move leaves ten US Sees vacant:
Little Rock, Arkansas, 15 months (May 2006)
Great Falls-Billings, Montana 13 months (July 2006)
Shreveport, Louisiana, 8 months (December 2006)
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 7 months (January 2007)
Des Moines, Iowa , 4 months (April 2007)
New Ulm, Minnesota, 4 months (April 2007)
Knoxville, Tennessee, 2 months (June 2007)
Military Ordinariate, 1 month (July 2007)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1 month (July 2007)
Charleston, South Carolina, (August 2007)
The Diocese of Charleston is not officially vacant until Bishop Baker takes possession of the Diocese of Birmingham on 2 October 2007.
Congratulations to Bishop Baker and the Diocese of Birmingham.
~cv