Joseph Hubert Hart
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hubert Hart is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Cheyenne
from 1978 to 2001.
, Missouri
. His brother James was a priest
of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
, and his sister Rosemary was human resources
director for the Environmental Protection Agency
. He attended St. Peter's Grade School (1936–1944) and Bishop Hogan High School
(1944–1948) before studying at Rockhurst College
and St. Meinrad Seminary
.
a priest by Bishop John Cody on May 1, 1956. He then served as assistant pastor
at Guardian Angels Parish (1956–1962) and at Visitation Parish (1962–1966). He was vice-chancellor
of the Kansas City Diocese from 1964 to 1969, during which time he also assisted at St. Therese Parish (1966–1968) and St. James Parish (1968–1969). From 1969 to 1976, he was pastor
of St. John Francis Regis Parish. He also taught as Bishop Lillis High School, Loretto Academy
, and St. Pius X High School
.
of Cheyenne
, Wyoming
, and Titular Bishop
of Thimida Regia by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 31 from Bishop Hubert Newell, with Bishops Charles Helmsing
and Michael McAuliffe
serving as co-consecrators
. As an auxiliary bishop, he served as vicar general
of the Cheyenne Diocese and pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Casper
.
Following the retirement of Bishop Newell, Hart was named the sixth Bishop of Cheyenne
on April 25, 1978. He was formally installed
at St. Mary's Cathedral on the following June 12, and selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominus Pars." During his tenure as Bishop, he established the annual Bishop's Appeal and ordained 25 priests for the Diocese. He was an active member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, and served as chairman
of the bishops of Conference Region XIII (which includes the states of Arizona
, Colorado
, New Mexico
, and Wyoming) for six years. He retired on September 26, 2001, after twenty-three years as ordinary
of the Cheyenne Diocese.
In 2002, Hart was accused of repeatedly coercing a 14-year-old boy to expose himself in 1977, when Hart was an auxiliary bishop in Cheyenne. He was later cleared of the charges in July of that year. In 2004, Hart was named in a civil lawsuit
alleging that he sexually abused three children while he was serving in Kansas City and later Cheyenne. In 2005, a fifth person alleged abuse by Hart in 1973 or 1974, when he was 12-years-old old parishioner at St. John Francis Regis Parish.
In August 2008, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese paid a $10 million settlement to a group of 47 victims who cited Hart among 12 other clergymen responsible for their abuse.
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 served as Bishop of Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
from 1978 to 2001.
Early life and education
Hart was born to Hubert and Kathryn (née Muser) Hart in Kansas CityKansas 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...
. His brother James was a priest
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....
of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on September 10, 1880, as the Diocese of Kansas City, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. ...
, and his sister Rosemary was human resources
Human resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
director for the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
. He attended St. Peter's Grade School (1936–1944) and Bishop Hogan High School
Hogan Preparatory Academy
Hogan Preparatory Academy is a charter high school at 1221 East Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri....
(1944–1948) before studying at Rockhurst College
Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University is a private, coeducational Jesuit university located in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College. The school adheres to the motto etched into the stone of the campus bell tower: "Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition." It is one of 28...
and St. Meinrad Seminary
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is located in Saint Meinrad in southern Indiana and is affiliated with the St. Meinrad Archabbey, which itself is affiliated with Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland...
.
Priesthood
Hart was ordainedHoly 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....
a priest by Bishop John Cody on May 1, 1956. He then served as assistant pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Guardian Angels Parish (1956–1962) and at Visitation Parish (1962–1966). He was vice-chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Kansas City Diocese from 1964 to 1969, during which time he also assisted at St. Therese Parish (1966–1968) and St. James Parish (1968–1969). From 1969 to 1976, he was pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. John Francis Regis Parish. He also taught as Bishop Lillis High School, Loretto Academy
Loretto Academy (Kansas City, Missouri)
Loretto Academy, at 1111 W. 39th St in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri is a former girls' academy dedicated in 1904 as a "boarding and day school for girls." It is named after the Sisters of Loretto, who established a presence in Kansas City in 1899.-History:The land upon which...
, and St. Pius X High School
Saint Pius X Catholic High School (Kansas City, Missouri)
Saint Pius X Catholic High School is a private Roman Catholic university preparatory secondary school in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph....
.
Episcopal ministry
On July 1, 1976, Hart was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Thimida Regia 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 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 August 31 from Bishop Hubert Newell, with Bishops Charles Helmsing
Charles Herman Helmsing
The Most Reverend Charles Herman Helmsing was an American Roman Catholic bishop.- History :...
and Michael McAuliffe
Michael Francis McAuliffe
Michael Francis McAuliffe was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the second bishop of the Bishop of Jefferson City.-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...
. As an auxiliary bishop, he served as vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Cheyenne Diocese and pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Casper
Casper, Wyoming
Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316...
.
Following the retirement of Bishop Newell, Hart was named the sixth Bishop of Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
on April 25, 1978. He was formally installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
at St. Mary's Cathedral on the following June 12, and selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominus Pars." During his tenure as Bishop, he established the annual Bishop's Appeal and ordained 25 priests for the Diocese. He was an active member of 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...
, and served as chairman
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...
of the bishops of Conference Region XIII (which includes the states of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Wyoming) for six years. He retired on September 26, 2001, after twenty-three years as ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Cheyenne Diocese.
Sexual abuse scandal
In 1989 and 1992, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph received accusations that Hart had sexually abused young boys in the early 1970s, when he was still a Missouri priest. He volunteered to go to an Arizona residential facility for a psychiatric evaluation, which later concluded that Hart "does not appear to be a threat to himself or others on any level." The allegations were reported to the Papal Nuncio and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, but were not revealed to the public until January 2002. Hart "categorically and completely" denied the allegations, which he described as "baseless" and sources of "great pain...[and] embarrassment."In 2002, Hart was accused of repeatedly coercing a 14-year-old boy to expose himself in 1977, when Hart was an auxiliary bishop in Cheyenne. He was later cleared of the charges in July of that year. In 2004, Hart was named in a civil lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
alleging that he sexually abused three children while he was serving in Kansas City and later Cheyenne. In 2005, a fifth person alleged abuse by Hart in 1973 or 1974, when he was 12-years-old old parishioner at St. John Francis Regis Parish.
In August 2008, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese paid a $10 million settlement to a group of 47 victims who cited Hart among 12 other clergymen responsible for their abuse.