Lawrence Eugene Brandt

Lawrence Brandt was born in Charleston, West Virginia, the son of Lawrence E. and Priscilla (Purdy) Brandt. As a child, Lawrence Brandt would pretend to celebrate the Mass using a small workbench as an altar, Necco Wafers as hosts, and one of his father’s architectural manuals as the lectionary. The family later moved to Lake City, Pennsylvania, where Brandt attended St. John the Evangelist School in Girard, Pennsylvania. He then studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, for high school and college courses.[1]

Brandt then studied in Austria at the University of Innsbruck, obtaining his doctorate in philosophy in 1966. He also completed his theological studies at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. [1]

Brandt was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1969, in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Brandt then attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, and entered the Vatican Diplomatic Service in 1973, serving in Madagascar, Germany, Ecuador, and Algeria[1]In 1974, Pope Paul VI. named Brandt chaplain of his holiness with the title of monsignor.[1]

In 1981, Brandt left diplomatic service for family reasons and returned to Pennsylvania. In 1984, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Erie, where he served as vice-chancellor. In 1985 to 1998, Brandt was appointed assistant chancellor and resident chaplain of Gannondale Residential Center for Girls, a residential facility for victims of violence and abuse.[1]

In 1983, Brandt returned to Rome to obtain his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, audited by Tarcisio Bertone. Brandt also studied at the University of Paris and the University of Florence.[1]

In 1991, Brandt was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. In 1998, Brandt left his positions at Gannondale to became pastor of St. Hedwig Church in Erie.[1] He later served as pastor at Christ the King Parish in Dunbar, West Virginia,., and Sacred Heart Parish in Charleston. [1]

On January 2, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed Brandt as the fourth Bishop of Greensburg in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He received his episcopal consecration at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg on March 4 from Justin Cardinal Rigali, with Bishops Anthony Bosco and Donald Trautman serving as co-consecrators.[1]

In 2010, Brandt established the Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund for direct aid to the poor in the diocese.[1]

On June 3, 2014, Brandt and the diocese sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service over a provision in the Affordable Care Act that required certain religious institutions to provide contraceptive coverage in employer health insurance plans. The suit characterized this provision as an infringement on religious liberty.[2]