Edward Bernard Scharfenberger Explained

Type:Bishop
Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency, The Most Reverend
Edward Bernard Scharfenberger
Bishop of Albany
Archdiocese:New York
Diocese:Albany
Appointed:February 11, 2014
Enthroned:April 10, 2014
Predecessor:Howard James Hubbard
Ordination:July 2, 1973
Ordained By:James Aloysius Hickey
Consecration:April 10, 2014
Consecrated By:Timothy M. Dolan, Howard James Hubbard, and Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio
Birth Date:29 May 1948
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, US
Religion:Roman Catholic
Parents:Edward and Elaine Scharfenberger
Previous Post:Pastor of St. Matthias Ridgewood, Queens
Motto:Lord, make me a channel of your peace
Edward Bernard Scharfenberger
Dipstyle:

Edward Bernard Scharfenberger (born May 29, 1948) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Albany since 2014.[1]

Biography

Early life and education

Scharfenberger was born on May 29, 1948, in Bushwick, Brooklyn.[2] He is the oldest of five children of Edward Scharfenberger Sr. (1920-2015) and Elaine Magdal (1920-2019).[3] Scharfenberger has Russian Jewish ancestry through his mother.[4] [3]

Scharfenberger attended Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Elementary School in Ridgewood, Queens,[5] and graduated from Cathedral Preparatory Seminary High School in Queens in 1965.[6] In 1969, Scharfenberger graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, Queens. Scharfenberger continued his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1972 .

Ordination and ministry

Scharfenberger received his priestly ordination on July 2, 1973, in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by Bishop James Hickey, rector of the North American College. He was incardinated into his native diocese, the Diocese of Brooklyn.[7] [5] Following his 1973 ordination, the diocese assigned Scharfenberger as to the pastoral staffs at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Maspeth, New York and St. Ephrem Parish in Brooklyn, New York.[8]

Scharfenberger traveled again to Rome to attend the Alphonsian Academy of the Pontifical Lateran University, receiving a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1977. and a Licentiate of Canon Law from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1980. He graduated with a J.D. degree from Fordham University in New York City in 1990 and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1991.

Scharfenberger served as pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Ridgewood, Queens, from 2003 to 2014. In addition to doing pastoral work for decades, he held various roles in the diocesan curia. He served as a member of the diocesan tribunal, a judicial vicar, an adviser to the canonical ordinary, and a promoter of justice and member of the committee for sexually abused children. From 2013, Scharfenberger was the episcopal vicar for the Borough of Queens.[9]

Bishop of Albany

On February 11, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Scharfenberger as bishop of Albany.[10] He was consecrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan on April 10, 2014, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, with Bishops Howard Hubbard, and Nicholas DiMarzio acting as co-consecrators.[1] During his tenure, he has written a column for the diocesan newspaper, The Evangelist.

He has served as a Consultor to the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, as well as five committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: National Advisory Council, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Administrative Committee, Committee on Priorities and Plans, and Subcommittee on the Church Africa.[11]

Apostolic Administrator of Buffalo

On December 4, 2019, Francis appointed Scharfenberger as apostolic administrator of Diocese of Buffalo in New York, following the resignation of Bishop Richard Malone.[12] According to The New York Times, Malone resigned his post following a Vatican investigation on the handling of sex abuse allegations in Buffalo.[13]

The New York Times reported that in recent years, Scharfenberger had "gained a reputation for taking a more empathetic approach in his handling of the abuse crisis." At a news conference announcing his appointment, Scharfenberger said, "I am here to walk with you, and I am [here] to help you heal." Scharfenberger's responsibilities as Bishop of Albany were left unchanged.

On January 15, 2021, Bishop Michael Fisher was installed as bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, taking over for Scharfenberger.[14] Scharfenberger was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2021, and underwent surgery.[15]

Scharfenberger speaks fluent Italian, Spanish and German. He can celebrate a mass in Polish and knows some Hebrew, Russian and Portuguese.

Viewpoints

Abortion

Scharfenberger advocates laws against abortion rights for women. In February 2017, Scharfenberger criticized three Catholic politicians, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy and US Congressman Paul Tonko, for supporting and attending a rally for Planned Parenthood.[16] In January 2019, Scharfenberger wrote an open letter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in response to the passage of the Reproductive Health Act:

Interfaith dialogue

On March 8, 2016, at an interfaith event, Scharfenberger said: "Christians cannot be anti-Semitic and be Christian."[17] In July 2019, Scharfenberger was appointed by Pope Francis as consultor to the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.[18] [4]

On October 18, 2018, Scharfenberger celebrated the feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham with Dean Leander Harding at the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, a celebration observed both by Catholics and Anglicans. Afterwards, Scharfenberger told the congregation that there were more similarities than differences between the two denominations.[19]

Sexual abuse crisis

Scharfenberger said in 2018 that laypeople should investigate bishops accused of sexual abuse and failure to address cases of sexual abuse. In responding to Cardinal Donald Wuerl's suggestion that a committee of bishops should investigate allegations into other bishops in the aftermath of the sexual abuse scandal of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Scharfenberger said that "we have reached a point where bishops alone investigating bishops is not the answer."[20]

On April 28, 2020, Scharfenberger sent a letter to 23 suspended, as well as accused, Buffalo clergy, informing them that due to the diocese's bankruptcy agreement, it could no longer pay them or provide them with retirement funds, health care, car insurance or dental care, effective May 1, 2020.[21]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Amid pageantry, Albany has a new bishop. Bryan. Fitzgerald. April 10, 2014. Times Union.
  2. Web site: Bishop-elect Scharfenberger: 'I'm here to be a shepherd to the people who are here…'. Molly. Eadie. The Record. 2019-12-10. 2019-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20191210172109/https://www.troyrecord.com/news/bishop-elect-scharfenberger-i-m-here-to-be-a-shepherd/article_eabb7e32-2a98-533e-9483-42b21304a026.html. dead.
  3. Web site: A bishop 'of the people'. April 17, 2014. October 26, 2019. The Evangelist. October 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026105221/https://evangelist.org/MobileContent/Features/People-of-faith/Article/A-Bishop-of-the-people-/16/69/24518. dead.
  4. Web site: Anderson . Dale . December 2, 2019 . Meet Bishop Scharfenberger, Buffalo Diocese's new temporary administrator . Buffalo News.
  5. Web site: McAndrew . Mike . December 4, 2019 . Bishop Scharfenberger: from birth in Brooklyn to bishop in Albany . Buffalo News.
  6. Web site: Pozarycki . Robert . February 13, 2014 . Ridgewood Priest's Higher Calling . 10 December 2019 . QNS.com.
  7. Web site: New Bishop for Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany . Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany . April 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140628160850/http://www.rcda.org/PDF/Transition.pdf . June 28, 2014 .
  8. Web site: Pope Names Brooklyn Priest as Bishop of Albany, New York; Names Rockville Centre, New York Priest as Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre . 2024-03-05 . US Conference of Catholic Bishops . en.
  9. Web site: Who is new bishop? . The Evangelist . 12 February 2014 . 19 October 2019 . 19 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191019233838/https://evangelist.org/MobileContent/Features/People-of-faith/Article/Who-is-new-bishop-/16/69/24414 . dead .
  10. Web site: Pope Francis picks Queens priest to lead Albany diocese. Bob. Gardinier. February 11, 2014. Times Union.
  11. Web site: BISHOP EDWARD B. SCHARFENBERGER . rcda.org . Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany . 5 May 2024.
  12. News: New York Times . December 4, 2019 . December 4, 2019 . Otterman . Sharon . Buffalo Bishop Resigns After Scandal Over Secret List of Abusive Priests .
  13. Web site: Albany Bishop Scharfenberger takes over Buffalo diocese in temporary role – The Daily Gazette. dailygazette.com. 4 December 2019 .
  14. Web site: Ward . Jo . January 16, 2021 . Fisher Installed As 15th Bishop Of Buffalo Diocese . March 5, 2024 . Post-Journal.
  15. Web site: Bishop Scharfenberger recovering from colon surgery . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112231835/https://wnyt.com/albany-new-york-news/bishop-edward-scharfenberger-recovering-from-colon-surgery/6299400/ . 12 November 2021 . 12 November 2021 . wnyt.com . WNYT-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company.
  16. News: Churchill: Bishop scolds Catholic politicians who stood with Planned Parenthood. Albany Times-Union. Churchill. Chris. February 16, 2017. February 16, 2017.
  17. Web site: Bishop Against Anti-Semitism. March 8, 2016. November 12, 2019. Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York. November 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112151834/https://www.jewishfedny.org/2016/03/bishop-against-anti-semitism/. dead.
  18. Web site: Pope Appoints Bishop Scharfenberger Consultor. Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. July 1, 2019. November 12, 2019.
  19. Web site: Bishop preaches at Episcopal cathedral. Emily. Benson. October 18, 2018. November 12, 2019. The Evangelist. November 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112151830/https://evangelist.org/Content/Opinion/Our-Neighbors-Faith/Article/Bishop-preaches-at-Episcopal-cathedral/4/66/27095. dead.
  20. News: Albany bishop says laypeople should investigate misconduct by U.S. bishops . August 6, 2018. December 4, 2019. Michael J.. O’Loughlin. America.
  21. Web site: Buffalo Diocese stops paying 23 priests accused of abuse. Jay. Tokasz. The Buffalo News. 28 April 2020 .