Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Encyclopedia
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
of the Latin Rite 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...
in the western region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
and Imperial Counties
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
.
Leadership and religious membership
The dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
is headed by Bishop Robert Henry Brom
Robert Henry Brom
-Early life:Brom was born in Arcadia, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin on September 18, 1938. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona in Winona, Minnesota on December 18, 1963. On March 25, 1983, Brom was appointed the Roman Catholic Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth...
who was installed July 10, 1990. There are 233 priests, 118 deacons, 290 religious sisters and 22 religious brothers.
History
The dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
was established on July 11, 1936 at which time it also included Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. In 1978 these two counties were separated to form the Diocese of San Bernardino
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in San Bernardino, California. It was founded on July 14, 1978, and comprises San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Diocese of San Bernardino formerly was part of the Diocese of San Diego...
. Currently the Diocese of San Diego includes 99 parishes and 16 missions. In addition, the diocese includes 45 elementary schools, 5 high schools and 2 universities (University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
and John Paul the Great Catholic University
John Paul the Great Catholic University
John Paul the Great Catholic University is located in San Diego, California. It currently offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Communications Media and Business, each with two or more concentrations offered...
).
On February 28, 2007, the diocese filed for bankruptcy protection after the diocese was unable to reach a settlement agreement with numerous plaintiffs suing over alleged clergy abuse
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...
. On September 7, 2007, the Diocese agreed to pay $198.1 million to settle
Settle
Settle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is from Leeds Bradford Airport...
144 claims of child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
by clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, the 2nd-largest payment by a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
.
Ordinaries
- Charles Francis Buddy (1936–1966)
- Francis James Furey (1966–1969)
- Leo Thomas MaherLeo Thomas MaherLeo Thomas Maher was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Santa Rosa and Bishop of San Diego .-Early life and education:...
(1969–1990) - Robert Henry BromRobert Henry Brom-Early life:Brom was born in Arcadia, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin on September 18, 1938. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona in Winona, Minnesota on December 18, 1963. On March 25, 1983, Brom was appointed the Roman Catholic Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth...
(1990– )
High schools
- Academy of Our Lady of PeaceThe Academy of Our Lady of PeaceAcademy of Our Lady of Peace , is a Catholic high school for young women in San Diego, started by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet...
, Normal Heights, San Diego, administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletSisters of St. JosephThe title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
*** - Cathedral Catholic High SchoolCathedral Catholic High SchoolCathedral Catholic High School is a private coeducational Catholic High School in San Diego, California. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, and was originally founded as the University of San Diego High School in 1957...
*, Carmel Valley, San Diego - Mater Dei Catholic High SchoolMater Dei Catholic High School (Chula Vista, California)Mater Dei Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Chula Vista, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Mater Dei Catholic replaced its former school, Marian Catholic High School, in September 2007. The rebuilding/renaming came as a result of...
**, Chula Vista - St. Augustine High School, North Park, San Diego, administered by the AugustiniansAugustiniansThe term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
- Vincent Memorial Catholic High SchoolVincent Memorial Catholic High SchoolVincent Memorial Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Calexico, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego The school serves approximately 300 students.-Background:...
, Calexico. - Saint Joseph Academy***, San Marcos
- * Formerly the University of San Diego High SchoolUniversity of San Diego High SchoolThe University of San Diego High School , also known as The University High School or "Uni", was a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school located in San Diego, California...
- ** Formerly Marian Catholic High School
- *** Catholic school not associated with Diocese, formerly known as Sierra Madre Academy