Carl Frederick Mengeling

On May 25, 1957, Mengeling was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Andrew Grutka at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, Indiana. His was the first ordination in the new Diocese of Gary. After his ordination, , Mengeling became associate pastor of St. Mark's Parish in Gary.[1] In 1961, Mengeling entered the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, obtaining his Licentiate of Sacred Theology. He also attended the Alphonsian Academy, earning a Doctorate in Sacred Theology. Mengeling acted as a page during som sessions of the Second Vatican Council.[2] After returning to Indiana in 1964, Mengeling began teaching at Bishop Noll High School in Hammond, Indiana, St. Joseph Calumet College in East Chicago, Indiana, and St. Procopius Seminary in Lisle, Illinois.[1]

In 1968, Mengeling became pastor of All Saints Parish in Hammond, then in 1970 was transferred to Holy Name Parish in Cedar Lake, Indiana. In 1971, he was made pastor of Nativity of Our Savior Parish in Portage, Indiana (1971–85). Raised to Monsignor in June 1984, Mengeling chaired the Diocesan Worship Commission and the Vocations Committee in Gary. He also founded the diocesan Institute of Religion and chaired it for 14 years. Mengeling also served on the Presbyteral Council, the Ecumenical Commission and the Permanent Diaconate Formation team. In 1985, he was appointed pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Munster, Indiana.[1]

On November 7, 1995, Pope John Paul II appointed Mengeling as the fourth Bishop of Lansing, Michigan,[2][3][4] He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1996, from Adam Cardinal Maida, with Bishops Kenneth Povish and Dale Melczek serving as co-consecrators, in St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing Mengeling selected as his episcopal motto: "He must increase", from John 3:30.[5]

During his tenure, Mengeling has opened several parochial schools and churches. He has also involved himself with the activities of Hispanic, Vietnamese, and African-American Catholics in his diocese.[1]

In 2002, Mengeling removed from ministry Vincent DeLorenzo, a priest in a Flint, Michigan parish. A young man had accused DeLorenzo of sexually abusing him when he was a minor and DeLorenzo admitted his guilt. The diocese forwarded the accusation to the Genesee County Michigan district attorney and asked the Vatican to defrock DeLorenzo.[6] In 2003, In response to sexual misconduct scandals among the clergy, Mengeling instituted the Virtus program in 2003 and visited retreats for victims of sexual abuse.[1] Also in 2003, he issued a statement on the war in Iraq, calling for "a swift end to hostilities and commitment to reconciliation..."[7]