Peter F. Christensen

Last updated
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Peter Forsyth Christensen
Bishop of Boise
Peter F. Christensen.jpg
Church Catholic Church
Diocese Boise
AppointedNovember 4, 2014
InstalledDecember 17, 2014
Predecessor Michael Patrick Driscoll
Orders
OrdinationMay 25, 1985
by  John Roach
ConsecrationSeptember 14, 2007
by  Harry Joseph Flynn, Raphael Michael Fliss, and William Henry Bullock
Personal details
Born (1952-12-24) December 24, 1952 (age 71)
Altadena, California
Denomination Catholic Church
Residence Boise, Idaho
ParentsRobert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen
Occupation Catholic bishop
Previous post(s)
Alma mater University of St. Thomas, and Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
MottoTu es Christus filius Dei vivi
(You are the Christ, the son of the living God)
Styles of
Peter Forsyth Christensen
Coat of arms of Peter Forsyth Christensen.svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

Peter Forsyth Christensen (born December 24, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Boise in Idaho since 2014. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Superior in Wisconsin from 2007 to 2014.

Contents

Christensen was ordained into the priesthood on May 25, 1985, by Archbishop John Roach. On November 4, 2014, Pope Francis named Christensen as the eighth bishop in the Diocese of Boise. He was installed as bishop by Archbishop Harry Flynn in Boise on December 17, 2014, at St. John's Cathedral. [1]

Biography

Early life and education

Peter Christensen was born on December 24, 1952, in Altadena, California. He was the fourth of eight children; [2] his parents were Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen. The family later moved to Palos Verdes, California. Christensen attended Palos Verdes High School, with interests in becoming a potter. [3]

Christensen briefly attended the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, but dropped out in 1975 to move with his mother and siblings to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. Christensen enrolled at the University of St. Thomas in that area, obtaining a Bachelor of Art degree in history degree. After graduation, Christensen worked as a graphic designer. [3]

After deciding to become a priest, Christensen in 1981 entered Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his seminary education, he studied in Israel for a semester. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul Seminary. [3]

Ordination and ministry

Christensen was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul by Archbishop John Roach on May 25, 1985. [4] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Christensen as assistant pastor of St. Olaf Parish in Minneapolis. He left St. Olaf in 1989 to become spiritual director of St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul. [3]

After receiving a Master of Applied Spirituality degree, Christensen became rector of St. John Vianney. During his tenure, St. John Vianney became the largest Catholic college seminary in the United States. In June 1999, Christensen was appointed pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in St. Paul, where he continued traditional practices, such as perpetual Eucharistic adoration. He also reconstructed the church and rectory. [3]

Bishop of Superior

On June 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Christensen as bishop of Superior. After receiving a telephone call from Archbishop Pietro Sambi bringing news of his appointment, he "sobbed for about 15 minutes as he had not sought the episcopal office." [4]

During a press conference, Christensen promised to be a "good listener" in his new role as bishop. [5] He was consecrated at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul on September 14, 2007 by Archbishop Harry Flynn, with Bishops Raphael Fliss, and William Bullock serving as co-consecrators.

Bishop of Boise

On November 4, 2014, Pope Francis named Christensen as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Boise. He was installed on December 17, 2014, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise, Idaho. [4]

On February 2, 2017, police arrested Reverend Thomas Faucher, a retired priest, for possessing and distributing child pornography. Surprised by the announcement, Christensen immediately suspended Faucher from priestly ministry. He later pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican defrocked Faucher in December 2019. Christensen made this statement: “There are no excuses for such behavior by any one of our clergy." [6]

In April 2020, Christensen issued a memo containing orders for diocese priests, including an order banning them from celebrating mass ad orientem (facing the altar). [7]

Viewpoints

Euthanasia

Christensen in 2012 joined the other Wisconsin bishops in warning against the use of Physician (or Provider) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). The bishops wrote to “encourage all Catholics to avoid using all such documents, programs and materials.” [8]

Education

In January 2014, Christensen announced that the Diocese of Boise would not allow the use of the Common Core curriculum in its schools.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen, M.A., D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Soon to be: His Eminence, Bishop Peter F. Christensen". Leibowitz's Canticle. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "BISHOP PETER CHRISTENSEN". Diocese of Boise. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bishop Peter Forsyth Christensen [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  5. ↑ Catholic Herald. Christensen named Fliss' successor [ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Vatican laicizes former Diocese of Boise priest". catholicsentinel.org. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  7. ↑ "Boise bishop bans 'ad orientem' posture in 'ordinary form' Masses" . Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Herald, The Catholic (2012-07-25). "Bishops urge against use of POLST, living wills". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Boise
2014–present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Superior
2007–2014		Succeeded by
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