Christopher J. Coyne

Last updated

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Christopher James Coyne
Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford
Church Roman Catholic
Archdiocese Hartford
AppointedJune 26, 2023 (as coadjutor)
InstalledOctober 9, 2023
Orders
OrdinationJune 7, 1986
by  Bernard Francis Law
ConsecrationMarch 2, 2011
by  Daniel M. Buechlein, Richard Lennon, and Paul D. Etienne
Personal details
Born (1958-06-17) June 17, 1958 (age 65)
Woburn, Massachusetts, US
Previous post(s)
Education University of Massachusetts Lowell
Saint John's Seminary
Pontifical Liturgical Institute
MottoTrust in the Lord
Styles of
Christopher James Coyne
Coat of arms of Christopher Coyne, Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford 2.png
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Archbishop

Christopher James Coyne (born June 17, 1958) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He serves as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford in Connecticut and the administrator of the Diocese of Burlington. Coyne previously served as the bishop of Diocese of Burlington from 2015 to 2023 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Indiana from 2011 to 2015.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Christopher Coyne was born on June 17, 1958, in Woburn, Massachusetts to Rita and Bill Coyne. [1] He attended public schools in Woburn, graduating from Woburn Memorial High School in 1976. In 1980, Coyne received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts. [2] For two years after graduation, Coyne worked as a bartender. [2] In 1986,Coyne graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from St. John's Seminary in Boston.

Priesthood

On June 7, 1986, Coyne was ordained a priest for Archdiocese of Boston by Cardinal Bernard Law. Coyne's first assignment was as parochial vicar for St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Milton, Massachusetts, staying there until 1989. [2] [1] In 1992, he earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology and in 1994 his Doctor of Sacred Liturgy degree from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. [1] [2] In 1994, Coyne was appointed director of the pre-theology program at St. John's Seminary. In 2004, he became an adjunct faculty member there. [2] Coyne became director for the archdiocesan Office of Worship in 2000.

In 2002, Coyne became cabinet secretary for communications and archdiocesan spokesman in the middle of the sex abuse scandal in the archdiocese. According to Coyne, he turned down two prior offers for the position from Law, and on accepting the job, Coyne said he told Law that he would not lie or disparage victims and wanted full access to archdiocese records. [3]

In 2002, Coyne was appointed pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton, Massachusetts. His appointment raised controversy in the parish because Coyne had been the archdiocesan spokesman under Law, who had replaced a former pastor for speaking out against him. [4] [2] On February 1, 2003, after serving four months in Our Lady, Coyne requested a transfer to another parish from Archbishop Sean O'Malley. [5] In 2006, O'Malley transferred Coyne to Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood, Massachusetts

Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis

In January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Coyne as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and titular bishop of Mopta. On March 2, 2011, he was consecrated in St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis. Coyne was the first auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese since 1933. [6] Also in March 2011, Coyne was named vicar general, a post he would hold until 2016. [2]

On September 21, 2011, Coyne was appointed the apostolic administrator for the archdiocese by Benedict XVI. This was due to the early retirement of Archbishop Daniel Buechlein due to ill health. [7] Coyne served as apostolic administrator until the installation of Archbishop Joseph Tobin in 2012. In November 2014, Coyne was elected chair of the Committee on Communication of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). [8]

Bishop of Burlington

On December 22, 2014, Pope Francis named Coyne as Bishop of the Diocese of Burlington. [9] His installation occurred on January 29, 2015. [10]

On September 28, 2016, Coyne waived the non-disclosure agreements for all sexual abuse victims from St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington who had settled lawsuits against the diocese. He said that he wanted these victims to tell their abuse stories without fear of being sued. [11] On December 17, 2020, Coyne apologized to the victims after the release of an investigative report by the State of Vermont that verified sexual abuse crimes at St. Joseph's: [12]

I absolutely believe that children were abused at the orphanage. No one is contesting that at all. Any victim of abuse at the hands of clergy of the church is an awful thing and I can't apologize enough.

Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford

On June 26, 2023, Pope Francis named him coadjutor archbishop of Hartford in Connecticut. [13] He will serve as Administrator of Burlington until a new bishop is appointed. [14] He took up residence in Hartford with a Mass of Welcome on October 9, 2023. [15]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pope names Father Christopher Coyne auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis". www.thebostonpilot.com. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bishop Coyne's Biography". Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ Davis, Mark. "Orphanage Controversy Puts Bishop in a Familiar Setting — the Spotlight". Seven Days. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sex-abuse victims rip promotion for pastor". Boston Herald. January 15, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ "New Pastor Will Leave Embattled Newton Parish, by Matt Viser and Michael Paulson, Boston Globe, February 1, 2006". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  6. ↑ "† Archindy.org: The Criterion Online Edition - March 11, 2011". www.archindy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein". archindy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Winters, Michael Sean (November 11, 2014). "Elections at the USCCB". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Pope nominates Bishop Coyne to diocese of Burlington, USA". Vatican Radio. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ Donohue, Mike (December 22, 2014). "Coyne to become 10th Bishop of Burlington". Burlington Free Press . Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bishop Coyne: survivors 'free' to tell their stories, waives nondisclosure agreement with diocese". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  12. ↑ Perron, Darren (December 17, 2020). "Bishop Coyne apologizes to victims of Burlington orphanage abuse". WCAX. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Resignations and Appointments, 26.06.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Diocese of Burlington Press Release" . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Pope Francis Appoints the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne as Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford" . Retrieved June 26, 2023.

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
-
 Coadjutor Bishop of Hartford
2023–present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Burlington
2015–2023		Succeeded by
Sede Vacante
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis
2010–2014		Succeeded by
-
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