John Zuhlsdorf

John Todd Zuhlsdorf (born October 28, 1959) is an American Catholic priest, incardinated in the Diocese of Velletri-Segni.[1] [2] He is a Traditionalist Catholic blogging personality known as "Father Z". From 2014 to 2021, he lived and worked in the Diocese of Madison.[3]

The Reverend

John T. Zuhlsdorf
Orders
OrdinationMay 26, 1991
by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
Born (1959-10-28) October 28, 1959
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
MottoZelus Domus Tuæ (Zeal for your House)
Ordination history of
John Zuhlsdorf
History
Diaconal ordination
Ordained byPaul Augustin Card. Mayer
DateJuly 2, 1990
PlaceBasilica San Nicola in Carcere, Rome
Priestly ordination
Ordained byPope John Paul II
DateMay 26, 1991
PlaceSaint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Life

Zuhlsdorf was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1959. As a young man he studied at the University of Minnesota. Formerly a Lutheran, he says his conversion to Catholicism was set into motion after hearing a piece of sacred polyphony on the radio. He was ordained a priest in Rome by Pope John Paul II on May 26, 1991.

After ordination, Fr Zuhlsdorf attended the Patristic Institute Augustinianum, which conferred a Licentiate of Sacred Theology.

Later, Zuhlsdorf became a weekly columnist for the traditionalist newspaper The Wanderer,[4] and has appeared on EWTN and the Fox News Channel. Since 2011 he has written a weekly column for the Catholic Herald in the UK. He is best known for his blog Fr. Z's Blog (previously named: What Does the Prayer Really Say?), in which he comments on Catholic tradition and current Church events, advocates for reverent celebration of both authorized forms of the Roman Rite liturgy of the Mass, the post-Vatican II form and the 1962 Tridentine form, and for the growth of the sacrament of Penance.[5][3] "The Staggers", the blog of the British magazine New Statesman, listed Zuhlsdorf's site as one of the top ten Christian blogs in the world.[6]

In September 2017, after Zuhlsdorf wrote a post titled “Should a seminary headline a homosexualist activist as a speaker?” about an upcoming talk by Fr. James Martin, SJ at Theological College, a seminary located at but independent of the Catholic University of America. Martin became the subject of online criticism.[7] Two days after the post was published, Theological College withdrew Martin's invitation.[8] The Catholic University of America issued a statement denouncing the decision to cancel.[9]

In January 2021, Zuhlsdorf became involved in a public dispute over his execution of a live-streamed exorcism against participants in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.[10] He said he had received the permission of his local ordinary, Bishop Donald J. Hying, the bishop of the Diocese of Madison, to celebrate the exorcism as it related to the election. However, Hying disputed that statement, saying he had granted permission to Zuhlsdorf to pray the exorcism against the COVID-19 pandemic, and not for political activity.[11]

Zuhlsdorf is president of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, Wisconsin.[12]

On January 16, 2021, the Diocese of Madison announced that Zuhlsdorf had reached a mutual decision with Hying to leave his position of ministry there, and relocate to an unnamed new location. He remains in good canonical standing, and intends to continue writing his blog. According to canon law, he will need to obtain faculties from another bishop before beginning to minister in his jurisdiction.[13][14][15]

References
  1. "Presbiteri Diocesani" (in Italian). Dioscesi Suburbicaria Velletri-Segni. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  2. "Active Clergy". Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  3. Salai, Sean (August 7, 2014). "The Catholic Blogosphere: Q&A with Father John Zuhlsdorf". America.
  4. Stewart, Phil (July 7, 2007). "Pope revives old Latin mass, sparks Jewish concern". Reuters. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  5. Rarey, Matthew A. (November 2, 2012). "Pilgrims arrive in Rome to celebrate Latin Mass permission". Catholic News Agency. Vatican City.
  6. Emanuelle Degli Esposti (June 10, 2011). "Top Ten Christian Blogs". "The Staggers" rolling blog. New Statesman. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  7. Zuhlsdorf, John (September 13, 2017). "Should a seminary headline a homosexualist activist as a speaker?". Fr. Z's Blog. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  8. Joe Bernstein (February 1, 2018). "Meet the Blogger Priest Firing Red Pills At the Vatican". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  9. Catholic University Public Relations Office (September 16, 2017). "University Statement on Father James Martin, S.J. Invitation". Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  10. Martin, James (January 12, 2021). "How Catholic Leaders Helped Give Rise to Violence at the U.S. Capitol". America. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  11. Lamb, Christopher (January 8, 2021). "Priest performed US 'election exorcisms'". The Tablet. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  12. "Father John Zuhlsdorf, new President of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, to Celebrate Traditional Mass at Holy Redeemer Church Nov 25". November 18, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  13. "Controversial traditionalist Fr. Zuhlsdorf to leave Madison Diocese". National Catholic Reporter. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  14. "Election 'exorcist' priest leaves diocese". The Tablet. January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. "Priest who conducted elections-related exorcisms leaves Madison Diocese". Wisconsin State Journal. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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