Robert Joseph Baker

Robert Joseph Baker (born June 4, 1944, in Willard, Ohio) is an American Catholic prelate who is bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.

This article is about the Catholic figure. For the mammalogist, see Robert James Baker.
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Robert Joseph Baker
Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham
Bishop Robert Baker with Friars
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseMobile
DioceseBirmingham
AppointedAugust 14, 2007
InstalledOctober 2, 2007
Term endedMarch 25, 2020
PredecessorDavid Edward Foley
SuccessorSteven J. Raica
Orders
OrdinationMarch 21, 1970
by Paul Francis Tanner
ConsecrationSeptember 29, 1999
by John Francis Donoghue, Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, and John J. Snyder
Personal details
Born (1944-06-04) June 4, 1944
Willard, Ohio
Previous post(s)Bishop of Charleston
MottoREJOICING IN HOPE
Styles of
Robert Joseph Baker
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Baker was appointed bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on August 14, 2007, and installed on October 2, 2007. Baker became a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 2008 and became the State AOH Chaplain.[1] He has written several books.

On June 25, 2019, Baker asked Pope Francis to accept his letter of resignation.[2]

Biography

Born in Willard, Ohio, Baker entered the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, in 1966. He graduated with a college degree in philosophy.[3][4]

On March 21, 1970, Baker was ordained for the diocese of St. Augustine in St. Wendelin Parish in Fostoria, Ohio. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Paul Parish in Jacksonville Beach, Florida[4]

In 1972, Baker went to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where in 1975 he received an S.T.L. degree in Dogmatic Theology. [3]

In 1976, Baker was appointed director of the Catholic Student Parish at the University of Florida and assigned as pastor of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida .[3] In 1977, Baker received a doctorate of theology,[4]

In 1981, Baker was appointed instructor of Sacramental Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida.[3] In 1984, he became the pastor of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine and in 1997 was transferred to Christ the King Parish in Jacksonville.[4]

Bishop of Charleston

In 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed Baker Bishop of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. During his tenure here, Baker dedicated new or expanded churches, schools, and parish facilities.

On January 26, 2007, the diocese of Charleston reached a $5 million minimum settlement with sexual abuse victims and their family members. Baker said that he deeply regretted the anguish suffered by them.[5]

Bishop of Birmingham

On August 14, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Baker as Bishop of Birmingham. He was installed as bishop on October 2, 2007. [3]

Resignation

On turning 75 years old, Baker sent a letter of resignation to the pope, as required by all Bishops when they reach this age. On June 25, 2019, however, it was revealed that Baker had sent a second letter to Pope Francis, asking that he accept his resignation.[2] On March 25, 2020, Pope Francis accepted his resignation.[6]

In a 2020 interview with the Catholic World Report, Baker gave his opinion on the cause of the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church:

I agree with Pope Benedict XVI that the origins of the scandals we’re experiencing are related to the changing sexual mores in society that we really began to see in the 1960s.  The 1969 music festival at Woodstock, New York symbolized the change in American culture.  Moral values in our country, and in the Western hemisphere, had changed.  The drug culture came with it.[7]

Bibliography
  • Cacique: A Novel of Florida's Heroic Mission History Saint Catherine of Siena Press
  • When Did We See You, Lord? Baker, Robert J. and Groeschel, C.F.R., Benedict J., Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. (Huntington, Indiana), 2005.

See also

References
  1. "New Catholic bishop to be installed". Gadsden Times. September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  2. "Bishop sent retirement letter to Pope, plans BJCC event". 25 June 2019.
  3. "- Diocese of Birmingham - Birmingham, AL". Diocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  4. "Bishop Robert J. Baker (1999-2007) · History of the Diocese of Charleston · Diocese of Charleston Archives". dioceseofcharleston.omeka.net. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. "Catholic Diocese in Charleston Reaches Settlement Over Abuse". wltx.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  6. CNA. "Bishop Steven Raica to follow Bishop Baker as head of Birmingham, Alabama diocese". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  7. Graves, Jim. "Bishop Baker of Birmingham reflects on being a shepherd, scandals, and the South". www.catholicworldreport.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.

Episcopal succession


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