Eusebius J. Beltran
Encyclopedia
Eusebius Joseph Beltran (born August 31, 1934) is an American
prelate
. He was the archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
from 1993 until 2010. Before his appointment to Oklahoma City, Beltran was bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa
from 1978 to 1992.
Beltran was ordained in 1960 and did pastoral
and curial
work in the Archdiocese of Atlanta
until 1978. He also participated in the 1965 Selma marches
during the civil rights movement.
, to Joseph and Helen (née Kozlowski) Beltran. His father was a Spanish
immigrant
and coal miner
, who later died of black lung disease
. The fifth of eight children, Beltran has two siblings who entered the religious life
as well; one brother also became a priest and one sister became a nun
, taking the religious name Sister Sponsa and working as a missionary in Liberia
. He was raised in Wilkes Barre
and attended Marymount School. He took the name Joseph as his confirmation name.
Beltran's father later moved the family to Georgia
in search of employment. Aspiring to become a missionary, he became a seminarian
for the Diocese of Savannah
following his graduation from high school
. Beltran returned to Pennsylvania
for eight years, studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
in Overbrook. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Francis Hyland
on May 14, 1960. Beltran then did pastoral
and curial
work in the Archdiocese of Atlanta
until 1978. He also participated in the 1965 Selma marches
during the civil rights movement.
, Oklahoma
, by Pope Paul VI
. He was consecrated on April 20 by Archbishop Charles Salatka
, with Archbishop Thomas Donnellan
and Bishop Andrew McDonald
serving as co-consecrators
. His mother, Helen, died shortly afterwards.
Most notable among his charity
work were his efforts to assist persons in need, including unwed mothers
, AIDS
victims, unborn children threatened by legal abortion, homeless families, and women who had just been released from prison
.
of Oklahoma City
by Pope John Paul II
. He was installed on January 22, 1993.
Beltran continues to perform works of charity. Because of his designation as Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Beltran is also the official publisher the Sooner Catholic
, a bi-monthly newspaper
that delivers news and other information to Catholics who live in Oklahoma
. Beltran's homilies
are featured in each publication.
Beltran allowed a priest to continue to serve in a church in Duncan, Oklahoma, despite knowledge that he had committed sexual abuse twice previously. The priest abused two more boys and was sent to prison in 1999.
In 2009, he expressed his opposition to President
Barack Obama
giving the commencement speech at and receiving an honorary degree
from the University of Notre Dame
, saying, "President Obama, by word and action, has approved of
abortion
and other atrocities against human life. Therefore he deserves no recognition at a Catholic institution."
Upon reaching his 75th birthday in 2009, Beltran submitted to the Vatican a letter of resignation, as required by Catholic canon law
. His request was accepted on December 16, 2010, during a press conference at which his successor, Bishop Paul Stagg Coakley
of the Diocese of Salina
, Kansas, was introduced. The installment of Archbishop-designate Coakley was on February 11, 2011, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes
.
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...
. He was the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop...
from 1993 until 2010. Before his appointment to Oklahoma City, Beltran was bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
from 1978 to 1992.
Beltran was ordained in 1960 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 Archdiocese of Atlanta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southeastern United States. It is composed of the northern counties of the state of Georgia and is led by a prelate archbishop, who is also pastor of the mother church, the...
until 1978. He also participated in the 1965 Selma marches
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
during the civil rights movement.
Early life and ministry
Eusebius Beltran was born in Ashley, PennsylvaniaAshley, Pennsylvania
Ashley is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, one mile from Wilkes Barre. It was a productive coal-mining area at the start of the twentieth century. Population in 1900, 4,046; in 1910, 5,601; and in 1940, 6,371...
, to Joseph and Helen (née Kozlowski) Beltran. His father was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
immigrant
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
and coal miner
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, who later died of black lung disease
Coalworker's pneumoconiosis
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis , colloquially referred to as black lung disease, is caused by long exposure to coal dust. It is a common affliction of coal miners and others who work with coal, similar to both silicosis from inhaling silica dust, and to the long-term effects of tobacco smoking...
. The fifth of eight children, Beltran has two siblings who entered the religious life
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
as well; one brother also became a priest and one sister became a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, taking the religious name Sister Sponsa and working as a missionary in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. He was raised in Wilkes Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
and attended Marymount School. He took the name Joseph as his confirmation name.
Beltran's father later moved the family to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in search of employment. Aspiring to become a missionary, he became a seminarian
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
for the Diocese of Savannah
Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the southern counties of the state of Georgia...
following his graduation from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. Beltran returned to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
for eight years, studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is the seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Named for Charles Borromeo, it is located in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania,...
in Overbrook. He was 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....
by Bishop Francis Hyland
Francis Edward Hyland
Francis Edward Hyland was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Atlanta from 1956 to 1961.-Biography:...
on May 14, 1960. Beltran then 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 Archdiocese of Atlanta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southeastern United States. It is composed of the northern counties of the state of Georgia and is led by a prelate archbishop, who is also pastor of the mother church, the...
until 1978. He also participated in the 1965 Selma marches
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
during the civil rights movement.
Bishop of Tulsa
On February 28, 1978, Beltran was appointed Bishop of TulsaRoman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He was consecrated on April 20 by Archbishop Charles Salatka
Charles Salatka
Charles Alexander K. Salatka was the second Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette, Michigan....
, with Archbishop Thomas Donnellan
Thomas Andrew Donnellan
Thomas Andrew Donnellan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, having served as the 9th Bishop of Ogdensberg, New York from 1964 to 1968, and the 2nd Archbishop of Atlanta from 1968 until his death in 1987....
and Bishop Andrew McDonald
Andrew Joseph McDonald
Andrew Joseph McDonald is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Little Rock from 1972 to 2000.-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...
. His mother, Helen, died shortly afterwards.
Most notable among his charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
work were his efforts to assist persons in need, including unwed mothers
Single parent
Single parent is a term that is mostly used to suggest that one parent has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the child or children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver...
, AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
victims, unborn children threatened by legal abortion, homeless families, and women who had just been released from prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
.
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
On November 24, 1992, Beltran was elevated to the position of ArchbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
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 was installed on January 22, 1993.
Beltran continues to perform works of charity. Because of his designation as Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Beltran is also the official publisher the Sooner Catholic
Sooner Catholic
The Sooner Catholic is a bi-monthly newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. There is no subscription charge for Catholics in Oklahoma who request the newspaper; a subscription rate of $20 a year is requested for those persons who are not members of the...
, a bi-monthly newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
that delivers news and other information to Catholics who live in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Beltran's homilies
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
are featured in each publication.
Beltran allowed a priest to continue to serve in a church in Duncan, Oklahoma, despite knowledge that he had committed sexual abuse twice previously. The priest abused two more boys and was sent to prison in 1999.
In 2009, he expressed his opposition to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
giving the commencement speech at and receiving an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, saying, "President Obama, by word and action, has approved of
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and other atrocities against human life. Therefore he deserves no recognition at a Catholic institution."
Upon reaching his 75th birthday in 2009, Beltran submitted to the Vatican a letter of resignation, as required by Catholic canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. His request was accepted on December 16, 2010, during a press conference at which his successor, Bishop Paul Stagg Coakley
Paul Stagg Coakley
Paul Stagg Coakley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.-Early life and education:...
of the Diocese of Salina
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
, Kansas, was introduced. The installment of Archbishop-designate Coakley was on February 11, 2011, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is the name used to refer to the Marian apparition said to have appeared before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France...
.
See also
- Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe 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...
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma CityRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma CityThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of TulsaRoman Catholic Diocese of TulsaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
- Sooner CatholicSooner CatholicThe Sooner Catholic is a bi-monthly newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. There is no subscription charge for Catholics in Oklahoma who request the newspaper; a subscription rate of $20 a year is requested for those persons who are not members of the...