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Alexander Sample

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Alexander Sample
Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdiocesePortland in Oregon
AppointedJanuary 29, 2013
InstalledApril 2, 2013
PredecessorJohn George Vlazny
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationJune 1, 1990
by Mark Schmitt
ConsecrationJanuary 25, 2006
by Adam Maida, James Henry Garland, and Mark Schmitt
Personal details
Born (1960-11-07) November 7, 1960 (age 63)
Kalispell, Montana, US
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma mater
MottoVultum Christi contemplari
(English: "To contemplate the face of Christ")
Styles of
Alexander King Sample
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop
Ordination history of
Alexander Sample
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byMark Schmitt
DateJune 1, 1990
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byAdam Maida
DateJanuary 25, 2006
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Alexander Sample as principal consecrator
Peter Leslie SmithApril 29, 2014
Austin VetterNovember 20, 2019

Alexander King Sample (born November 7, 1960) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Portland since 2013. He previously served as Bishop of Marquette from 2005 to 2013.

Biography

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Early life

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Alexander King Sample was born on November 7, 1960, in Kalispell, Montana, to Alexander and Joyce (née Dory) Sample.[1] His father was of Scottish heritage and his mother Polish.[2] The younger Alexander Sample graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1978.[3] He attended Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Michigan, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 and a Master of Science degree in metallurgical engineering in 1984.[4]

Interested in becoming a priest since the fourth grade, Sample decided to study for the priesthood after graduating from MTU, saying, "I knew I would never know peace until I explored the vocation to be a priest."[5] He graduated in 1986 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then entered the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.[4]

Priesthood

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Sample was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Marquette by Bishop Mark Schmitt on June 1, 1990.[6] After his ordination, Sample had the following pastoral assignments in Michigan parishes:

In 1994, Sample entered the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), earning a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1996.[2]

After returning to Marquette in 1996, Sample was named chancellor of the diocese and pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Marquette.[4] He also served as a member of the college of consultors, as director of ministry personnel services and of ongoing formation of priests, and diocesan chaplain to the Knights of Columbus.[2] Within the marriage tribunal, Sample served as judge, adjutant judicial vicar, defender of the bond, and promoter of justice.[7] He was also director of the Bishop Baraga Association and vice-postulator of the cause of beatification for Bishop Frederic Baraga, a 19th-century missionary to Native Americans in the Upper Midwest.[4]

Bishop of Marquette

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On December 13, 2005, Sample was appointed the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Marquette by Pope Benedict XVI.[6] He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 2006, from Cardinal Adam Maida, with Bishops James Garland and Mark Schmitt serving as co-consecrators. At the time of his consecration, Sample was the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States and the first to be born in the 1960s.[8] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Vultum Christi contemplari", meaning "To contemplate the face of Christ".[2]

On October 7, 2007, at the invitation of Archbishop Raymond Burke, Sample attended the Red Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, delivering the homily.

In July 2012, Sample ordained five seminarians to the diaconate, and ten new subdeacons. These new subdeacons include five from the United States for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.[9][10]

Archbishop of Portland

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On January 29, 2013, Sample was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland, succeeding the retiring Archbishop John Vlazny.[11][12] He was the last American residential bishop appointed during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.[13] Sample was installed on April 2, 2013, at the Chiles Center Arena on the campus of the University of Portland.[14]

In August 2018, Sample acknowledged the history of sexual abuse crimes committed by clergy in the archdiocese, which he described as an "institutional and spiritual" failure,[15] and issued an apology.[15]

In May 2018, Sample directed that Catholics attending Mass in the archdiocese must kneel after chanting the Lamb of God until they receive communion.[16]

Viewpoints

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Abortion

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In April 2009, Sample expressed his "disappointment and dismay" over the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Barack Obama to deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree, given Obama's support of abortion.[17] He added:

It saddens me beyond words that the great university named after Our Lady would bestow distinction and honor on a politician who would seek to expand threats to such innocent human life.[17]

Immigration

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In December 2016, at a Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sample condemned racist and bigoted language used against minorities by Donald Trump in the 2016 US Presidential Election Campaign.[18] He stated:

It does not matter to me from where you have come, when you came, or whether you have the proper documents or not. You are loved! You are loved by God and precious in his eyes. You are loved by Our Lady of Guadalupe. You are her special children, her little ones, and she will not abandon you.[18]

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In 2017, Sample decreed that Catholics in the archdiocese who are sexually-active LGBT, divorced and remarried (without a declaration of nullify) should not receive the eucharist. These individuals must first "sacramentally confess all serious sins with a firm purpose to change" before they can take communion.[19] In 2023, Sample released guidelines for the Portland Archdiocese regarding gender and pronouns. [citation needed] He asked that teachers not to use preferred pronouns. After a coalition of parents and teachers asked for a meeting to discuss, he closed down the Department of Catholic schools, which Sample reported was unrelated and due to mismanagement by school officials.[citation needed]

Sexual abuse scandal

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In August 2018, Sample expressed his shock and disappointment over the Pennsylvanian grand jury report on sexual abuse of minors by clergy.[20] He stated:

These horrific revelations are particularly painful in light of what victims in our own archdiocese have suffered and the impact that sexual abuse has had on the church here in western Oregon. I am sorry beyond words for the harm that has been done.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Langlois, Ed (January 1, 2018). "Joyce Sample, mother of the archbishop, dies at 89". Catholic Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bishop's Office". Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette.
  3. ^ Fee, Vickie (13 April 2013). "He's a regular man who embraced a special life". Catholic Sentinel. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Maluchnik, David (January 25, 2006). "Bishop Alexander Sample To Join Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors" (Press release). Michigan Catholic Conference. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014.
  5. ^ "Tech Alumnus Becomes Bishop". Michigan Tech Magazine. 43 (1). Michigan Technological University. Spring 2006.
  6. ^ a b "Bishop Alexander King Sample". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  7. ^ a b "Chancellor Named Bishop of Marquette, Michigan; Bishop Garland's Resignation Accepted" (Press release). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. December 13, 2005.
  8. ^ Palmo, Rocco (December 13, 2005). "Breaking the Barrier". Whispers in the Loggia. Self-published.[unreliable source]
  9. ^ "Ordinations Week 2012". www.institute-christ-king.org. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06.
  10. ^ Jones, Kevin J. (June 21, 2011). "Deacons should preach less at Mass, Michigan bishop says". Catholic News Agency.
  11. ^ Walsh, Mary Ann (January 29, 2013). "Pope Accepts Resignation Of Archbishop John Vlazny; Names Bishop Alexander Sample To Succeed Him" (Press release). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  12. ^ "Appointments: Bishop Sample to Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon". Vatican Radio. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
  13. ^ "Year 2013, January, Bishop Events [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  14. ^ Haught, Nancy (April 2, 2013). "Archbishop Sample calls Catholics to recognize Jesus, proclaim good news". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  15. ^ a b "Portland archbishop: Sex abuse by priests an 'institutional and spiritual' failure". The Oregonian. January 29, 2019. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  16. ^ "Archbishop Sample Abolishes Standing In Front of the Blessed Sacrament". gloria.us. May 3, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Bishop Disapproves of Obama Commencement". Negaunee, MI: WLUC-TV. April 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009.
  18. ^ a b "'We stand with you and we love you,' Portland archbishop tells immigrants". Catholic Philly. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  19. ^ "Portland archbishop: active gays must repent and change before receiving Communion". July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, issues guidelines for implementing 'Amoris Laetitia,' says persons living unchastely must "sacramentally confess all serious sins with a firm purpose to change, before receiving the Holy Eucharist"
  20. ^ a b "Archbishop Sample 'shaken to core,' calls for lay-run abuse investigation". National Catholic Reporter. 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
2013–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Marquette
2006–2013 		Succeeded by
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