Lawrence Donald Soens
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Donald Soens is a bishop
of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sioux City
in the state of Iowa
from 1983 to 1998.
, Iowa
on August 26, 1926. He was educated at Loras College
in Dubuque, Iowa
, Saint Ambrose College
in Davenport, Iowa
and studied for the priesthood at Kenrick Seminary near Saint Louis, Missouri
. He also completed graduate studies at the University of Iowa
.
He was ordained a priest on May 6, 1950 for the Diocese of Davenport
. He was engaged in both academic and pastoral work in the diocese as a priest. He served as rector
of the seminary program at Saint Ambrose College
. In 1982 Soens was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope
John Paul II. At the time of his appointment, Soens was the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Clinton, Iowa
.
by Archbishop James Joseph Byrne. Bishops Gerald Francis O'Keefe
of Davenport and Frank Henry Greteman
Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City were the principal co-consecrators. While he was bishop of the diocese many programs were established or expanded including: Ministry 2000, the Priests Retirement Fund, youth ministry programs and the diocese mandated parish pastoral and finance commissions.
In 1997 Soens requested a coadjutor bishop be named and on August 19, 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Daniel DiNardo
from the Diocese of Piitsburgh
. Bishop Soens resignation as Bishop of Sioux City was accepted by the Holy See
on November 28, 1998, and he was named Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City. Under his reign several ethnic churches were closed, displacing hundreds of parishioners.
in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations. However, numerous allegations continue and the actual number of students who say he abused them has risen.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sioux City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City is the Roman Catholic diocese for the northwestern quarter of the state of Iowa, US The diocese comprises 24 counties in northwestern Iowa, and it covers an area of ....
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from 1983 to 1998.
Early life & Ministry
Lawrence Soens was born in Iowa CityIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
on August 26, 1926. He was educated at Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, Saint Ambrose College
Saint Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It is located in a residential area of Davenport, Iowa.-History:...
in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
and studied for the priesthood at Kenrick Seminary near Saint Louis, 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...
. He also completed graduate studies at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
He was ordained a priest on May 6, 1950 for the Diocese of Davenport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
. He was engaged in both academic and pastoral work in the diocese as a priest. He served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the seminary program at Saint Ambrose College
Saint Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It is located in a residential area of Davenport, Iowa.-History:...
. In 1982 Soens was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
John Paul II. At the time of his appointment, Soens was the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
.
Bishop of Sioux City
On June 15, 1983 Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Soens as the fifth bishop of Sioux City. He was ordained a bishop and installed on August 17, 1983 at the Cathedral of the EphiphanyCathedral of the Epiphany (Sioux City, Iowa)
The Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa is the cathedral parish for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. The Cathedral is located at 1000 Douglas Street in Sioux City.-History:...
by Archbishop James Joseph Byrne. Bishops Gerald Francis O'Keefe
Gerald Francis O'Keefe
Gerald Francis O'Keefe was a 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Paul in the state of Minnesota from 1961–1966 and bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1966-1993.-Early Life &...
of Davenport and Frank Henry Greteman
Frank Henry Greteman
Frank Henry Greteman was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church.-Biography:Frank Greteman was born in Willey, Iowa, to Bernard and Mary Greteman...
Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City were the principal co-consecrators. While he was bishop of the diocese many programs were established or expanded including: Ministry 2000, the Priests Retirement Fund, youth ministry programs and the diocese mandated parish pastoral and finance commissions.
In 1997 Soens requested a coadjutor bishop be named and on August 19, 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Daniel DiNardo
Daniel DiNardo
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the second and current Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving since 2006. He previously served as Bishop of Sioux City from 1998 to 2004....
from the Diocese of Piitsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
. Bishop Soens resignation as Bishop of Sioux City was accepted by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on November 28, 1998, and he was named Bishop Emeritus of Sioux City. Under his reign several ethnic churches were closed, displacing hundreds of parishioners.
Abuse Scandal
After his resignation as bishop of Sioux City he was accused of fondling as many as 15 students during his tenure as principal at Regina Catholic High SchoolRegina High School (Iowa)
Regina High School is the only Catholic K-12 Education Center in Iowa City, Iowa. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It currently houses 450+ in the elementary, and 400+ in the Junior/Senior High School...
in Iowa City during the 1960s. Soens denies the allegations. However, numerous allegations continue and the actual number of students who say he abused them has risen.