Ernest Leo Unterkoefler
American prelate
His Excellency, The Most Reverend Ernest Leo Unterkoefler | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Charleston | |
| See | Diocese of Charleston |
| In office | December 12, 1964 to February 22, 1990 |
| Predecessor | Francis Frederick Reh |
| Successor | David B. Thompson |
| Other post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Richmond 1961 to 1964 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 18, 1944 by John McNamara |
| Consecration | February 22, 1962 by Egidio Vagnozzi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1917 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | January 4, 1993 Columbia, South Carolina, US |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Education | Catholic University of America |
Ernest Leo Unterkoefler (August 17, 1917 – January 4, 1993) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina from 1964 to 1990. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Richmond in Virginia from 1961 to 1964.
Biography
Early life
Ernest Unterkoefler was born on August 17, 1917, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Ernest L. and Anna Rose (née Chambers) Unterkoefler.[1] An avid baseball fan, he once considered a professional career in the sport before studying for the priesthood; he later said, "If I couldn't be bishop of Charleston, I'd love to be commissioner of baseball."[2] Unterkoefler graduated summa cum laude in pre-law from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. in 1940.[3] He also earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (1944) and Doctor of Canon Law (1950).[1]
On May 18, 1944, Unterkoefler was ordained a priest by Auxiliary Bishop John McNamara for the Diocese of Richmond.[4] He then served as a curate for a diocese in Richmond until 1947, when he was transferred to another one in Arlington, Virginia.[1] Unterkoefler returned to Richmond in 1950, and became secretary of the diocesan tribunal in 1954.[1] He also served as chancellor (1960–1964) and vicar general (1962–1964).[3] The Vatican named Unterkoefler a papal chamberlain in 1961.[1]
Auxiliary Bishop of Richmond
On December 13, 1961, Unterkoefler was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Richmond and titular bishop of Latopolis by Pope John XXIII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on February 22, 1962, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops Vincent Waters and Joseph Hodges serving as co-consecrators.[4] Unterkoefler adopted as his episcopal motto: Deo Placere (Latin for "To Please God").[5] Between 1962 and 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome, where he served as secretary of the American delegation of bishops.[3]
Bishop of Charleston
Unterkoefler was named the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Charleston on December 12, 1964 by Pope Paul VI.[4] An active participant in the civil rights movement, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and ended racial segregation in all Catholic institutions in the diocese.[3] He served as chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs from 1978 to 1981. In 1987, Unterkoefler hosted Pope John Paul II during his visit to Columbia, South Carolina.[2]
Unterkoefler was also a prominent advocate for restoring the permanent diaconate in the United States, and ordained Joseph Kemper in 1971 as the first permanent deacon in the nation.[3] In a 1985 interview, he said that his greatest satisfaction was in ordaining new priests, but also expressed his concern that a materialistic culture was making it more difficult to attract young men to the priesthood.[2] "We can't go out and recruit them with high salaries," he said. "We must wait for the Lord to call them."[2]
Unterkoefler's resignation as bishop of Charleston was accepted by John Paul II on February 22, 1990.[4] Unterkoefler died on January 4, 1993, at Providence Hospital in Columbia at age 75.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e Curtis, Georgina Pell (1977). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XXI. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- ^ a b c d e "Retired Bishop Unterkoefler dead at 75 after long illness". The Rock Hill Herald. 1993-01-05.
- ^ a b c d e Roberts, Lori D. (1993-01-05). "CATHOLIC BISHOP UNTERKOEFLER DIES". The State.
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Ernest Leo Unterkoefler". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ "The Bishops of the Diocese of Charleston 1820-present". Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Charleston 1964–1990 | Succeeded by |
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Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
- Ordinaries
- John England
- Ignatius A. Reynolds
- Patrick Neeson Lynch
- Henry P. Northrop
- William Thomas Russell
- Emmet M. Walsh
- John Joyce Russell
- Paul John Hallinan
- Francis Frederick Reh
- Ernest Leo Unterkoefler
- David B. Thompson
- Robert Joseph Baker
- Robert E. Guglielmone
- Jacques E. Fabre
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- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
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- Mepkin Abbey
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- St. Mary Help of Christians Church, Aiken
- St. Andrew's Church, Barnwell
- St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Charleston
- St. Peter's Church, Columbia
- Former cathedral
- Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar, Charleston
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- Bishop England High School, Charleston
- Cardinal Newman High School, Forest Acres
- St. Francis Xavier High School, Sumter
- St. John Paul II Catholic School, Okatie
- St. Joseph's Catholic School, Greenville
- John Barry
- Joseph Bernardin
- John James Joseph Monaghan
- John Moore
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