Introduction
Edward Urban Kmiec (/ˈkɪmɪk/ KIM-ik, born June 4, 1936, Trenton, New Jersey) is a retired Roman Catholic Bishop of Buffalo. Kmiec served as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Trenton from 1982 until his installation as Bishop of Nashville in 1992. He was succeeded in Nashville in 2005 by David Choby.
Early religious life
At age 25, Kmiec was ordained a priest in Trenton, New Jersey on December 20, 1961.
Episcopal career
Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey
Kmiec served as Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton, New Jersey for 10 years.He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in Trenton on August 26, 1982, and was named Titular Bishop of Simidicca on the same date.
Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee
Kmiec was Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee for 13 years.He was appointed Bishop on October 13, 1992, and installed on December 3, 1992.
Bishop of Buffalo, New York
On August 12, 2004, Kmiec was appointed the Bishop of Buffalo; he was installed on October 28, 2004.
In 2007, Kmiec announced that the Diocese of Buffalo had a balanced budget, after spending cuts reduced a $2.1 million deficit from the previous year.
In August 2009, the Buffalo News was the first to break the story of what became a major situation during Kmiec's tenure as Bishop of Buffalo. The removal of Monsignor Fred R. Voorhes, as Administrator of St. Teresa's in South Buffalo and the subsequent dismissal of Marc J. Pasquale, as Business Administrator and Director of Religious Education at St. Teresa's gained much popularity in the press. Parishioners expressed in interviews with The Buffalo News their discontent with these removals. Mr. Pasquale had gone to the Erie County District Attorney's Office prior to his dismissal to raise concerns about questionable financial practices.
Kmiec was heavily criticized for downsizing the diocese from 274 parishes and missions in 2005 to 170 in 2011. He also oversaw the closures of 25 elementary schools.
Increasing the number of vocations to the priesthood in the Buffalo Diocese remains a challenge. The Diocese under Kmiec ordained only 18 priests from 2004 to 2011.
Retirement
On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Kmiec's resignation due to his having surpassed the mandatory retirement age of 75.Bishop Richard Joseph Malone from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine was appointed as Kmiec's successor.Malone was installed at St. Joseph Cathedral on August 10, 2012.
Kmiec was Bishop of Buffalo for eight years.He is currently Bishop Emeritus of Buffalo, having been a priest for more than 52 years.
Episcopal succession
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry J. Mansell |
Bishop of Buffalo 2004–2012 |
Succeeded by Richard Joseph Malone |
| Preceded by James Daniel Niedergeses |
Bishop of Nashville 1992–2004 |
Succeeded by David Choby |
| Preceded by – |
Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton 1982–1992 |
Succeeded by – |