During his priestly ministry, Kurtz served as high school teacher, college lecturer, administrator, and pastor in Catasauqua and Bethlehem, both in Pennsylvania. He was raised to the rank of Monsignor in 1986.[2]
In addition to his diocesan duties, Kurtz served as chair of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life. He was elected as the vice president of the USCCB in November 2010.[4] On November 11, 2013, Kurtz was elected USCCB president. On February 19, 2014, Kurtz was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.[5] On November 14, 2014, he was elected as a delegate to the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family, pending Vatican approval.[6][2]
On February 1, 2019, Kurtz released a report that named 22 priests from the archdiocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse. The report was prepared by an independent investigator who was not part of the church. None of the 22 men were active priests in 2019.[7]
In July 2019, Kurtz underwent treatment for urothelial cancer, which required a three-month medical leave of absence from the archdiocese.[8]
Retirement
On February 8, 2022, Pope Francis accepted Kurtz's letter of resignation as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville[9][3] and named Shelton Joseph Fabre as archbishop of the Archdiocese.[10] He was installed on March 30, 2022.[11]
Doctrinal positions
Kurtz is generally seen as a conservative and a firm follower of Vatican directives on doctrine and liturgy. The Rev. Thomas J. Reese indicates that Kurtz is a "smiling conservative" like Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who is "very gracious but still holds the same positions" as a cleric like Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who has openly criticized Catholic politicians who support abortion rights for women.[12]
Coat of arms of Joseph Edward Kurtz
Notes
The coat of arms was designed and adopted when Kurtz was installed as the Archbishop of Louisville
Adopted
2007
Escutcheon
The arms of his jurisdiction, the Archdiocese of Louisville, is seen in the dexter impalement (left side) of the design. On the right side of the shield is a gold cross, surrounded at the center by a white ring. A white lily on the top left of the cross and an anchor at the bottom left are also found.
Motto
Hope in the Lord
Symbolism
The gold cross on the right side of the shield symbolizes faith. The center white ring is a symbol of Kurtz's native Diocese of Allentown and of its patron saint, Saint Catherine of Siena. The white lily is a symbol of Saint Joseph, the archbishop's patron saint. The anchor is a traditional symbol of hope and fits with Kurtz's motto, "Hope in the Lord."
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