Joseph Edward Kurtz

Joseph Kurtz was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, to George and Stella (née Zmijewski) Kurtz. He is of Polish descent.[1] One of five children (Rose Marie, Theresa, George, and Patricia), he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1964, from where he obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's in divinity. Kurtz was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph McShea on March 18, 1972, and did his post-graduate work at Marywood University in Scranton, earning a master's in social work.

During his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Allentown, Kurtz served as a high school and college teacher, an administrator, and a pastor in Catasauqua and Bethlehem. He was raised to the rank of Monsignor in 1986. Prior to becoming Archbishop (with his brother's death) he had a close bond with his brother George. George would have a large impact on him and his church community forming relationships with staff and parishioners.

In July 2019, Archbishop Kurtz revealed he was suffering from urothelial cancer (a type of transitional cell carcinoma), a type of bladder cancer, that was affecting the bladder and prostate. The precise stage and level of aggressiveness and spread were not indicated. He will receive as-yet unspecified chemotherapy and immunotherapy for 12 weeks- a 3 month absence from the Archdiocese (though he will remain in close contact with officials there; the article did not say if he would temporarily transfer some or all powers to a temporary administrator). He has informed the Vatican, through the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Christophe Pierre, of the situation, and has received their support. Care is being provided through the chief oncologist of the Duke Cancer Institute.[5]

Kurtz is generally seen as a conservative and a firm follower of Vatican directives on doctrine and liturgy. The Rev. Thomas J. Reese indicates that Kurtz fits the mold of a "smiling conservative" in the vein of New York's Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who is "very gracious but still holds the same positions" as a cleric like Philadelphia's Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who has not hesitated to call out Catholic politicians who dissent from church teachings on abortion.[6]

Coat of arms of Joseph Edward Kurtz

Notes The coat of arms was designed and adopted when he was installed as the Archbishop of Louisville Adopted 2007 Escutcheon The arms of his jurisdiction, the Archdiocese of Louisville, is seen in the dexter impalement (left side) of the design. On the right side of the shield is a gold cross, surrounded at the center by a white ring. A white lily on the top left of the cross and an anchor at the bottom left are also found. Motto Hope in the Lord Symbolism The gold cross on the right side of the shield symbolizes faith. The center white ring is a symbol of Kurtz's native Diocese of Allentown, which is in turn a tribute to its patroness, St. Catherine of Siena, who is said to have been wedded to Christ. The white lily is a symbol of St. Joseph, the archbishop's patron saint, for whom he was named. The anchor is a traditional symbol of hope and fits with Kurtz's motto, "Hope in the Lord."

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville Official Site