Joseph Nathaniel Perry

Joseph Nathaniel Perry (born April 18, 1948) is an American Catholic prelate who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1998 to 2023.

Perry is a past vice-president of the board of the National Black Catholic Congress, and chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Subcommittee on African-American Affairs. He is also a supporter and celebrant of the sacraments according to the Extraordinary Form.

Biography

Early life and education A native of Chicago, Joseph Nathaniel Perry was born on April 18, 1948.

In 1967, Perry entered the Capuchin Seminary of St. Mary in Crown Point, Indiana where he studied through 1971. He then attended Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, receiving a Bachelor of Philosophy degree and a Bachelor of Theology degree. Perry then entered St. Francis Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 1975.

Ordination and ministry On May 24, 1975, Perry was ordained a priest by Archbishop William Edward Cousins for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was consecrated on June 29, 1998 by Cardinal Francis George. Upon becoming bishop, he was made the episcopal vicar for Vicariate VI of the archdiocese. He has praised Pope Benedict XVI for promulgating Summorum Pontificum, the motu proprio allowing the celebration of the traditional Mass, comparing Benedict as "like an Angel from heaven" by allowing "two legitimate forms of the Roman liturgy".

Membership and appointments In 2010, George named Perry as the diocesan postulator for the sainthood cause of Augustus Tolton, a former slave who became the first known African-American priest in the Catholic Church.

Perry served as chair of the USCCB Committee on African American Catholics. He has also served on several other USCCB committees, including those for Education, Home Missions; the Ad Hoc Committee on Catholics' Use of Holy Scripture; the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth; and the Ad Hoc Committee for a Plenary Council, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the subcommittee for the Defense of Marriage and the subcommittee for Migrants, Refugees and Travelers.