David Zubik

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

David Allen Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh
SeeDiocese of Pittsburgh
AppointedJuly 18, 2007
InstalledSeptember 28, 2007
PredecessorDonald Wuerl
Orders
OrdinationMay 3, 1975
by Vincent Leonard
ConsecrationApril 6, 1997
by Donald Wuerl, Nicholas C. Dattilo, and Thomas Joseph Tobin
Personal details
Born
David Allen Zubik

(1949-09-04) September 4, 1949 (age 74)
Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Previous post(s)
Alma materSt. Paul Seminary
Duquesne University
St. Mary's Seminary and University
MottoNothing is impossible with God
Styles of
David Allen Zubik
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

David Allen Zubik (/ˈzuːbɪk/ ZOO-bik; born September 4, 1949) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania since 2007. Zubik previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin from 2003 to 2007, and as an auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2003.

Biography[edit]

Early life and education[edit]

David Zubik was born on September 4, 1949, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to Stanley (1927 to 2015) and Susan Zubik (née Raskosky; 1925 to 2006).[1][2] The grandson of Polish and Slovak immigrants, he is an only child.[3] He was raised in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and attended St. Stanislaus Church there. His parents would take him to a local amusement park after mass on Sundays.[4]Zubik first considered becoming a priest in the first grade, but later thought about a law career. He finally decided to enter the priesthood after attending a retreat in 1965 in Pittsburgh.[5][6]

After graduating from St. Veronica High School Ambridge in 1967, he entered St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh. He earned an undergraduate degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1971. Zubik continued his studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1975.[6]

Ordination and Priestly Ministry[edit]

Zubik was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vincent Leonard on May 3, 1975, for the Diocese of Pittsburgh at Saint Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.[7]After his 1975 ordination, the diocese assigned Zubik as the parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Pittsburgh. He was also named as vice-principal of Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, Pennsylvania, and chaplain to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden. During this period, Zubik attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, receiving a Master of Educational Administration degree in 1982.[8]

From 1987 to 1991, Zubik served as priest-secretary to Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua.Zubik became an associate spiritual director of St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1989. Bishop Donald Wuerl appointed Zubik as diocesan director of clergy personnel in 1991. He was named president of the diocesan finance council in 1995. In 1996, Zubik was appointed as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the diocese.

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh[edit]

On February 18, 1997, Zubik was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Jamestown by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on April 6, 1997, from Wuerl, with Bishops Nicholas Dattilo and Thomas Tobin serving as co-consecrators, at St. Paul Cathedral. Zubik selected as his episcopal motto: "Nothing is Impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).[9]

Bishop of Green Bay[edit]

Zubik was named the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay on October 10, 2003, replacing Bishop Robert Banks. Zubik was installed on December 12, 2003. In address to sexual abuse scandals, Zubik met with representatives of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), but was criticized by the group for not disclosing the names of priests who were accused of sexual abuse but never sued or charged with a crime.[3]

Bishop of Pittsburgh[edit]

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Zubik the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on July 18, 2007. He was installed on September 28, 2007.[7] After his installation, Zubik declined to take up residence at the episcopal mansion in Pittsburgh, the bishop's residence since 1949. He instead moved into Saint Paul Seminary, explaining that the Catholic church needed to move away from being "attached to buildings".[10][11]

In April 2009, Zubik held a Service of Apology at St. Paul Cathedral, where he begged the "forgiveness of anyone hurt by the Church... in any way."[12][13] Under Zubik, the diocese implemented a policy of reporting all allegations of sexual abuse to law enforcement.[14]Zubik in 2010 handed off the case of Reverend David Dzermejko to the Vatican after a diocese review board found that allegations of child sexual abuse against Dzermejko were credible. Dzermejko was removed as pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Charleroi, Pennsylvania in June 2009 after a couple informed the diocese that he had sexually abused their son. Another man came forward to say that Dzermejko had abused him as a child.[15] Dzermejko was removed within 48 hours of the diocese receiving the first allegation.[16]

In 2018, after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that left 12 people dead, Zubik strongly condemned anti-Semiticism and called for prayers for the victims.[17]

On August 7, 2020, Zubik and the diocese were sued by several survivors of sexual abuse.[18] The plaintiffs claim lawsuit claimed that Wuerl had broken a promise he made in 1994 not to reassign Reverend Leo Burchianti to another parish. Burchianti had been accused of sexually abusing at least eight boys. However, Wuerl and Zubik gave Burchianti a voluntary work assignment at St. John Vianney Manor, a home for retired priests.[18] Burchianti remained there from 1995 to 2012 and died in 2013.[18] Zubik has also been named as a defendant in other sex abuse lawsuits involving the diocese as well.[19][20][21]

In November 2023, Zubik underwent back surgery to correct collapsing discs, the sixth such procedure he has had.[22]

Pennsylvania grand jury report[edit]

In August 2018, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro published a grand jury report on sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy in six dioceses in the state, including the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Zubik apologized for the abuse in Pittsburgh that was detailed in the report, "In the name of the Church of Pittsburgh, and in my own name, and in the name of my predecessors, we are sorry. I am sorry." Zubik also stated that the details of the report disgusted him. Zubik offered to apologize in person to victims but acknowledged that apologies would not be enough.[23]

The grand jury report found that when Zubik was director of clergy personnel in the early 1990s, he knew about allegations of sexual abuse against minors by of abuse made against Reverend Ernest Paone, but did not contact law enforcement. Instead, Zubik concealed the allegations in the diocesan confidential files.[24] In response, Zubik said that neither he or Wuerl attempted to cover up sexual abuse allegations:

"The Diocese of Pittsburgh is not the church described in the report. That means that the report ignores 30 years of reforms and actions to protect children and identify and remove abusing priests from ministry." ... "The truth is that 90 percent of the incidents of abuse occurred before 1990, and the efforts we have made to protect children—such as turning over allegations to law enforcement, creating the first Independent Review Board and training more than 70,000 people on how to look for and report abuse—have significantly reduced the incidents of abuse."[25]

Viewpoints[edit]

Abortion and same-sex marriage[edit]

During the 2004 US presidential election, Zubik urged Catholics to consider Catholic teachings on abortion rights and same-sex marriage before voting. Although he has said that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights for women should refrain from receiving communion, Zubik has also stated he would not deny them communion.[3]

Zubik in 2009 described the University of Notre Dame's decision to have President Barack Obama deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree as "painful" and "embarrassing," Zubik said that Obama was "the single most outspoken pro-abortion president since the issue was foisted upon the country by the Supreme Court."[26]

Capital punishment[edit]

Zubik opposes capital punishment.[3]

Immigration[edit]

In July 2014, Zubik gave his support to the Holy Family institute in Emsworth, Pennsylvania, which provided housing, food and other support to child immigrants from Central America.[27]

Zubik in February 2017 released a statement calling on Catholics to put aside fears of immigrants and refugees. This was in response to an action by the Trump Administration banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations.[28]

LGBTQ issues[edit]

Zubik canceled a planned mass at Duquesne University in July 2023 that was advertised in flyers as a "Pride Mass" He said that he had not heard of the mass nor approved it. Organizers said that the mass was mislabled, that it was planned to show solidarity with LBGTQ individuals.[29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Stanley Zubik Obituary". Legacy.com. August 12, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Susan Zubik". Legacy.com. January 16, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Rodgers, Ann (July 18, 2007). "Zubik named bishop of Diocese of Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ^ "Dads have their say on Father's Day". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. June 15, 2008. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  5. ^ Widmer, Jeffrey (December 25, 2008). "Bishop David Zubik feels at home in St. Paul Seminary". Trib Total Media.
  6. ^ a b "Most Reverend David Allen Zubik". Diocese of Green Bay. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Bishop David Allen Zubik [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  8. ^ "Office of the Diocesan Bishop". Diocese of Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  9. ^ "Coat of Arms of Bishop David A. Zubik". Diocese of Pittsburgh. 2009. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  10. ^ Levin, Steve (September 27, 2007). "A bishop settles for a humbler abode". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  11. ^ Palmo, Rocco (September 27, 2007). "Bye-Bye, Bishop's House". Whispers in the Loggia. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  12. ^ Zubik, David. "I Am Sorry". Bridging the Gap by Bishop David A. Zubik. Diocese of Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  13. ^ Schaarsmith, Amy McConnell (April 8, 2009). "Bishop Zubik leads service of apology". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  14. ^ Ann, Rodgers (6 March 2009). "Experts say case unlikely to be prosecuted because statute of limitations expired". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  15. ^ "Catholic Diocese finds sexual abuse allegations "credible"". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 11 August 2010.
  16. ^ Rodgers, Ann (18 June 2009). "Catholic pastor accused of child sexual abuse". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  17. ^ "Tree of Life synagogue shooter handed federal death penalty". www.catholicworldreport.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  18. ^ a b c "Lawsuit against Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh accuses priest of rape". 7 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Diocese, Zubik, Wuerl sued in latest round of accusations".
  20. ^ "Man sues Pittsburgh diocese, alleging sexual abuse by priests decades ago | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  21. ^ "Former altar boys sue Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese over alleged sexual abuse". 20 November 2019.
  22. ^ Behanna, Garrett (2023-11-20). "Bishop David Zubik to undergo 6th back surgery - CBS Pittsburgh". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  23. ^ "Welcome".
  24. ^ "InterimRedactedReportandResponses.PDF".
  25. ^ "Welcome".
  26. ^ Zubik, David (April 23, 2009). "Our Lady embarrassed". Pittsburgh Catholic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  27. ^ "Bishop Zubik Defends Holy Family Institute, Fostering Immigrant Children - CBS Pittsburgh". www.cbsnews.com. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  28. ^ Media, Eric Poole and Ryan O'Shea Calkins. "Bishop Zubik aims to alleviate fear with immigration statement". Ellwood City Ledger. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  29. ^ "Pittsburgh's Bishop Zubik cancels LGBTQ Mass after pressure online". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2024-03-21.

External links[edit]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Pittsburgh
2007–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Green Bay
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh
1997–2003 		Succeeded by
–
Preceded by
Created
 Titular Bishop of Jamestown
1997–2003 		Succeeded by
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