Jozef De Kesel
Encyclopedia
Jozef De Kesel is the current bishop of Bruges
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 25 June 2010. He previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop
of Mechelen-Brussels.
De Kesel was born in 1947 in Ghent
. He entered the seminary in 1965, studied Philosophy and theology at the seminary of Saint-Paul in Ghent and received his degree in Philosophy and Letters at the Catholic University of Leuven
. From 1968 until 1972 he studied theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University
, he gained first license and in 1977 his doctorate
.
He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1972 for the diocese of Ghent. While in Ghent he held the following positions: Professor of Religion at the College of Bishops Eeklo (1974–1980), Professor of Religion, Philosophical Anthropology and Contemporary Thought at the School of Social Gent (1977–1980), professor of fundamental theology and of dogmatic theology at the seminary of Ghent (1980–1996) and at the same time, Professor of Theology Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Ghent, where he was also Dean, professor of Christology
at the Catholic University of Louvain (1989–1992), responsible for the formation of pastoral workers in Ghent (1983–2002) episcopal vicar for theological training and pastoral in the diocese of Ghent (1992–2002).
He was appointed Titular Bishop
of Bulna and Auxiliary of Malines-Brussels on 20 March 2002, by Pope John Paul II
and was consecrated on 26 May and has been appointed as Vicar General
for the Vicariate of Brussels. In the bishops' conference he is responsible for inter-diocesan Commission for Pastoral Liturgy (Flemish and French) and delegate to the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community
( COMECE ).
He was appointed as bishop of Bruges
after the early resignation of the previous bishop, Roger Vangheluwe
. In September 2010 Bishop De Kesel said: "I think the Church must ask itself the question of whether it is appropriate to keep the mandatory character of celibacy. We could say that there are celibate priests, but that people for whom celibacy is humanly impossible should also have the chance of becoming priests." Public opinion polls show that 73 per cent of Belgian Catholics
support marriage for priests. But ending celibacy has been ruled out by Archbishop
Andre-Joseph Leonard
, the conservative head of the Belgian church. "If you were to reason that way, you could conclude that marriage should be banned because the majority of sex abuse cases occur within family settings," Archbishop Leonard said earlier in September dismissing the link between paedophile priests and celibacy.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brugge
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bruges, is a diocese of the Roman Catholic church in Belgium. The diocese was restored after the French Revolution in 1834. Its territory coincides with West Flanders. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels...
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 25 June 2010. He previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary 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 Mechelen-Brussels.
De Kesel was born in 1947 in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. He entered the seminary in 1965, studied Philosophy and theology at the seminary of Saint-Paul in Ghent and received his degree in Philosophy and Letters at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
. From 1968 until 1972 he studied theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, he gained first license and in 1977 his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
.
He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1972 for the diocese of Ghent. While in Ghent he held the following positions: Professor of Religion at the College of Bishops Eeklo (1974–1980), Professor of Religion, Philosophical Anthropology and Contemporary Thought at the School of Social Gent (1977–1980), professor of fundamental theology and of dogmatic theology at the seminary of Ghent (1980–1996) and at the same time, Professor of Theology Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Ghent, where he was also Dean, professor of Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
at the Catholic University of Louvain (1989–1992), responsible for the formation of pastoral workers in Ghent (1983–2002) episcopal vicar for theological training and pastoral in the diocese of Ghent (1992–2002).
He was appointed 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 Bulna and Auxiliary of Malines-Brussels on 20 March 2002, 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 ...
and was consecrated on 26 May and has been appointed 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...
for the Vicariate of Brussels. In the bishops' conference he is responsible for inter-diocesan Commission for Pastoral Liturgy (Flemish and French) and delegate to the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community
Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community
The Commissio Episcopatuum Communitatis Europaeae or Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community is an organisation of Roman Catholic bishops in Europe to examine European Union policy and legislation from a Catholic perspective...
( COMECE ).
He was appointed as bishop of Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
after the early resignation of the previous bishop, Roger Vangheluwe
Roger Vangheluwe
Roger Joseph Vangheluwe is the former Bishop of Bruges. He gained notoriety after admitting to having sexually abused two nephews over the course of a 15-year period while serving first as a priest and then as bishop, though the admission came after the statute of limitations for the crimes had...
. In September 2010 Bishop De Kesel said: "I think the Church must ask itself the question of whether it is appropriate to keep the mandatory character of celibacy. We could say that there are celibate priests, but that people for whom celibacy is humanly impossible should also have the chance of becoming priests." Public opinion polls show that 73 per cent of Belgian Catholics
Roman Catholicism in Belgium
The Belgian Catholic Church, part of the global Roman Catholic Church, is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome and the Conference of Belgian Bishops.-Dioceses:...
support marriage for priests. But ending celibacy has been ruled out by 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...
Andre-Joseph Leonard
André-Joseph Léonard
André-Joseph Léonard is a Belgian prelate, the current archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and thus Primate of Belgium since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 January 2010. He had previously served as bishop of Namur from 1991 until 2010 as André-Mutien Léonard.- Early life :Léonard was born...
, the conservative head of the Belgian church. "If you were to reason that way, you could conclude that marriage should be banned because the majority of sex abuse cases occur within family settings," Archbishop Leonard said earlier in September dismissing the link between paedophile priests and celibacy.