David Laurin Ricken | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Green Bay | |
_(cropped).jpg) Bishop Ricken in 2023 | |
| Archdiocese | Milwaukee |
| Diocese | Green Bay |
| Appointed | July 9, 2008 |
| Installed | August 28, 2008 |
| Predecessor | David Zubik |
| Previous posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 12, 1980 by Arthur Tafoya |
| Consecration | January 6, 2000 by Pope John Paul II,Giovanni Battista Re, and Marcello Zago |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-11-09)November 9, 1952 (age 73) |
| Education | Pontifical College Josephinum Conception Seminary College St. Meinrad School of Theology Catholic University of Leuven |
| Motto | Caritas - sapientia - fortitudo (Charity, wisdom, fortitude) |
| Styles of David Laurin Ricken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
David Laurin Ricken (born November 9, 1952) is anAmerican Catholic prelate who has served as theBishop of Green Bay in Wisconsin since 2008. He previously served asbishop of Cheyenne in Wyoming from 1999 to 2008.
David Ricken was born on November 9, 1952, to George William "Bill" Ricken and Bertha (Davis) Ricken inDodge City, Kansas. He has a brother, Mark, and a sister, Carol. For his primary education, David Ricken attendedSacred Heart Cathedral Grade School in Dodge City.[1]
Deciding as a teenager to become a priest, Ricken entered St. Francis High School Seminary inVictoria, Kansas, graduating in 1970.[1] He then went toWorthington, Ohio, to studyphilosophy at thePontifical College Josephinum. Ricken then attended theConception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, graduating there in 1974.[1]
Ricken then entered theSt. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana. His final studies were at theCatholic University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, where he was awarded aMaster of Theology degree in 1980.[1]
Ricken wasordained to the priesthood by BishopArthur Tafoya on September 12, 1980, for theDiocese of Pueblo at La Junta Church inLa Junta, Colorado.[2] After his ordination, the diocese assigned Ricken as associatepastor of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish inPueblo. In 1985, Tafoya named Ricken asparish administrator of Holy Rosary Parish in Pueblo andvice-chancellor of the diocese.[1]
In 1987, Ricken traveled to Rome to study at thePontifical Gregorian University, where he earned aLicentiate of Canon Law in 1989.[1] After returning to Colorado, Ricken was named diocesanvocation director andvicar for ministry formation. Tafoya named him as chancellor of the diocese in 1992.[1] The Vatican appointed Ricken as an official of theCongregation for the Clergy in Rome in 1996.[1]
On December 14, 1999, Ricken was appointed ascoadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne byPope John Paul II to assist BishopJoseph Hart. Ricken received hisepiscopal consecration in Rome on January 6, 2000, from John Paul II, with ArchbishopsGiovanni Re and Marcello Zago serving asco-consecrators, inSt. Peter's Basilica.[2] When Hart retired on September 26, 2001, Ricken automatically succeeded him as bishop of Cheyenne.[3]
In early 2002, Hart was accused of repeatedly coercing a 14-year-old boy to expose himself in 1977, when Hart was auxiliary bishop in Cheyenne. Ricken said that he spoke to Hart about the changes and believed him to be innocent.[4] Hart was cleared in July 2002.
Ricken co-foundedWyoming Catholic College in Lander, Wyoming, in 2005 and established the Wyoming School of Catholic Thought at the new college. Ricken also founded the John Paul II Catholic School inGillette, Wyoming, and oversaw the construction of a new building for St. Mary's Catholic School in Cheyenne.[5]
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Pope Benedict XVI named Ricken as the twelfth bishop of Green Bay on July 9, 2008.[6] Ricken was installed on August 28, 2008.[7] In 2015, Ricken criticizedSt. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, for inviting the journalistGloria Steinem to speak at the college, due to her support ofabortion rights for women.[8]
In 2017, Cheyenne BishopSteven Biegler determined that the 2002 investigation of Hart was flawed and opened a new one.[9] At that time, more alleged victims voiced accusations against him.[10][11] During this period, Ricken was criticized for his role in defending him, and possibly protecting him, in 2002.[12] In 2019, Ricken replied: "Well I suppose reading back you could say that, but I did what I knew to do at the time with what I knew, and that’s what I did."[9]
Ricken announced in March 2019 that he was removing the name of BishopAloysius J. Wycislo, a former bishop of Green Bay, from the Cathedral Center in Green Bay. Ricken took this action due to Wycislo's failure to address sexual abuse allegations against clergy.[13]In 2021 the Vatican cleared Hart of seven allegations and determined seven other allegations could not be proven beyond areasonable doubt; however, the Vatican gave Hart a severe reprimand.[14]
In November 2023, Ricken objected to a Christmas tree being exhibited at theNational Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, during its yearly Festival of Trees. The tree, prepared by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin inChippewa Falls, featured inverted crosses,pentagrams and othersatanic symbols. Ricken condemned what he termed the desecration of a traditional understanding of Christmas.[15]Ricken is a 2009 inductee in the Catholic Education Foundation's Hall of Fame.[5]
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| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Green Bay 2008 – present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Cheyenne 2001–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by – | Coadjutor Bishop of Cheyenne 1999–2001 | Succeeded by – |
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