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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2007POPE ACCEPTS BISHOP MOEDDEL’S RESIGNATION
The Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel on June 7 submitted to Pope Benedict XVI his resignation as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for reasons of ill health. The Holy Father has accepted.
Doctors have diagnosed Bishop Moeddel, 69, as suffering from vascular dementia connected with previous strokes and diabetes.
"Bishop Moeddel has been an outstanding member of the Cincinnati presbyterate since his ordination to the priesthood in 1962," said Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. "I have enjoyed working with him in many capacities over the years. Since he became auxiliary bishop in 1993, he has been my right-hand man. I will sorely miss having the benefit of his wisdom, energy and experience. I pray that his years of retirement will be pleasant and peaceful for him."
Ordained a bishop on August 24, 1993, Bishop Moeddel has been vicar general, director of the Department of Pastoral Services and director of the Office of Priests’ Personnel as well as auxiliary to Archbishop Pilarczyk.
He was born in Cincinnati on December 28, 1937. After receiving Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from the Athenaeum of Ohio / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, he was ordained to the priesthood by then-Archbishop Karl J. Alter.
In the 1960s and 1970s he held a number of positions of responsibility within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, including executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Commission on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, director of Continuing Education of Priests, assistant chancellor, assistant treasurer, assistant pastor of St. Louis Church in Cincinnati and vicar for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Bishop Moeddel was appointed pastor of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in August 1976. Retaining that position, he also became dean of the Cathedral Deanery in September 1976, director of finance for the Archdiocese in May 1978, and vicar for finance and chairman of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese in November 1983.
He became pastor of St. James of the Valley Parish in Wyoming, Ohio, in August 1985, remaining vicar of finance and chairman of the Finance Council for another year.
He was chairman of the board of trustees of St. Margaret Hall and chairman of the governing board of St. Rita School for the Deaf. He is also past president of the Ohio Council of Churches, the first Catholic ever to hold that post, and past president of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC).
Copyright © 2007 the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
