David Eugene Fellhauer
Encyclopedia
David Eugene Fellhauer is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the second and current Bishop of Victoria in Texas
.
David Fellhauer was born in Kansas City
, Missouri
, and ordained
to the priesthood
on May 29, 1965. He obtained his doctorate in canon law
from Saint Paul University
in 1979, and did pastoral
and curial
work in the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth
, during which time he has been accused of having transferred sexually-abusive priests
to various posts.
On April 7, 1990, Fellhauer was appointed the second Bishop of Victoria in Texas
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following May 28 from Archbishop Patrick Flores
, with Bishops Thomas Tschoepe
and Charles Grahmann
serving as co-consecrators
. He was given the Role of Law award from the Canon Law Society of America in 1998.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he formerly chaired
the Committee on Canonical
Affairs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the second and current Bishop of Victoria in Texas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas is a Roman Catholic diocese in Victoria, Texas. It was founded on April 13, 1982. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory serves as the cathedral church...
.
David Fellhauer was born in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 29, 1965. He obtained his doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
from Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in 1979, and did pastoral
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
and curial
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
work in the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on July 15, 1890 by Pope Leo XIII. The diocese's cathedral is the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe....
, during which time he has been accused of having transferred sexually-abusive priests
Roman Catholic sex abuse cases
The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. These cases began receiving public attention beginning in the mid-1980s...
to various posts.
On April 7, 1990, Fellhauer was appointed the second Bishop of Victoria in Texas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas is a Roman Catholic diocese in Victoria, Texas. It was founded on April 13, 1982. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory serves as the cathedral church...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following May 28 from Archbishop Patrick Flores
Patrick Flores
Patrick Fernández Flores , is a Roman Catholic cleric and was Archbishop of San Antonio from 1979 until 2004. Flores was the first Mexican American to become a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:...
, with Bishops Thomas Tschoepe
Thomas Ambrose Tschoepe
Thomas Ambrose Tschoepe was the second Roman Catholic bishop of San Angelo, Texas and the fifth bishop of Dallas, Texas....
and Charles Grahmann
Charles Victor Grahmann
Charles Victor Grahmann is the former sixth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Texas.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He was given the Role of Law award from the Canon Law Society of America in 1998.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he formerly chaired
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
the Committee on Canonical
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
Affairs.