Joseph Victor Adamec | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Altoona–Johnstown | |
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| Church | Roman Catholic |
| See | Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown |
| Appointed | March 12, 1987 |
| Installed | May 20, 1987 |
| Term ended | January 14, 2011 |
| Predecessor | James John Hogan |
| Successor | Mark Leonard Bartchak |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 3, 1960 by Luigi Traglia |
| Consecration | May 20, 1987 by Jozef Tomko,James John Hogan, andFrancis Frederick Reh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1935-08-13)August 13, 1935 |
| Died | March 20, 2019(2019-03-20) (aged 83) |
| Motto | Household of God |
| Styles of Joseph Victor Adamec | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Joseph Victor Adamec (August 13, 1935 – March 20, 2019)[1] was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church who served as bishop of theDiocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania from 1987 to 2011.[2]
On March 1, 2016, Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralKathleen Kane implied that as bishop, Adamec led a major cover-up scandal involving the sexual assault of hundreds of children byDiocese of Altoona-Johnstown priests.[3]
Joseph Adamec was born on August 13, 1935, inBannister, Michigan, the son of Michal August Adamec and Alzbeta Eva Ochran Adamec.[4] He attendedMichigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, from 1953 to 1955.[4] He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical Nepomucene College inRome.
Adamec was ordained to the priesthood by CardinalLuigi Traglia in theChurch of St. Anselm in Rome on July 3, 1960, for theDiocese of Nitra in Slovakia (the former diocese of his parents).[5] He earned a Licentiate inSacred Theology at thePontifical Lateran University in Rome in 1961.[4]
Adamec returned to theDiocese of Saginaw,Michigan, where he served as secretary of the bishop andmaster of ceremonies, ecclesiastical notary, andchancellor of thediocese. In 1980, he received the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" medal which recognized service to the Catholic Church and pope. In 1985, the Vatican elevated Adamec to the rank ofprelate of honor. Adamec also served as the national president of the Slovak Catholic Federation, a position he held from 1971 to 1988.
On March 12, 1987, Adamec was named the bishop of Altoona-Johnstown byPope John Paul II. Adamec was consecrated on May 20, 1987, in theCathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Altoona by CardinalJozef Tomko.[6][5]
Adamec's retirement and the appointment of his successor were announced byPope Benedict XVI on January 14, 2011.Mark Leonard Bartchak, of theDiocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, was named Adamec's successor.[5]Joseph Adamec died inHollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 2019, at age 83.[5]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by — | Bishop Emeritus of Altoona-Johnstown 2011–2019 | Succeeded by — |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown 1987–2011 | Succeeded by |
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