Kenneth Edward Untener

Kenneth Edward Untener (August 3, 1937 – March 27, 2004) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Saginaw in Michigan from 1980 until his death in 2004.

Biography

Early life Kenneth Untener was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 3, 1937, the seventh of nine children. His family lived on Belle Isle, where his father worked for the recreation department. Kenneth Untener attended the Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, followed by St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. After his ordination, Untener served in Detroit for a time, and then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning a doctorate. He returned to the United States, taught at Sacred Heart Seminary, and eventually became the rector of St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan in 1977.

Bishop of Saginaw In 1980, Pope John Paul II appointed Untener as the fourth bishop of Saginaw. Untener made two trips to the Vatican and an appeal to the pope. On the second trip, Cardinal John Francis Dearden accompanied Untener, publicly supporting him. Untener was consecrated bishop on November 24, 1980 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit by Dearden. Untener later stated of the ordeal, "Having experienced that right away freed me of the burden of trying to be held in favor." Pope Francis quoted this reflection verbatim in his remarks to the Roman Curia in December 2015.

Sex abuse scandal In 2002, an Ohio man accused a priest in Saginaw of sexually molesting him as a minor during the 1980s. The priest was Reverend John Hammer, pastor of St. Mary's parish in Alma, Michigan. In the early 1980s, Hammer was serving in a parish in the Diocese of Youngstown in Ohio. After the accusations were made, he was removed from ministry and sent for treatment at a facility in Maryland for several years. In 1990, Hammer petitioned Untener for a transfer to the Diocese of Saginaw, admitting his guilt and asking for another chance.

Before accepting Hammer, Untener requested two medical opinions about his fitness to return to ministry. After receiving a positive report, Untener accepted the transfer, but partnered Hammer with a senior priest for observation. Hammer was assigned to Mount St. Joseph Parish in St. Louis, Michigan and then to St. Mary's. Untener did not notify either parish of Hammer's record. When the victim from Ohio came forward in 2002, Hammer admitted his guilt. The diocese removed Hammer from ministry and the Vatican later laicized him. Three years after Unterer's death, some of his reflections were published in a book, The Practical Prophet: Pastoral Writings.

Views

Equality Untener's career was marked by a consistent focus on egalitarianism in the church, ministry to the poor and participative liturgy. His liberal views often put him at odds with conservative Catholics and with the Vatican. He was regarded as being sensitive to the viewpoints of liberal Catholics. His overall view was that one should keep an open mind, consider the logic of one's actions and how they affect the church, and reflect openly over controversial issues. He frequently derided the Vatican for avoiding debate on real issues that potentially harmed the entire Church.

Diversity Untener frequently observed that Jesus kept quite diverse company in his lifetime, including many people who were unwelcome in the synagogues of the time. Untener felt that modern Catholics should adopt this view in welcoming people into their own parishes. He was noted for his advocation of helping the poor, and his emphasis that needy people should be treated equally and not judged for their worthiness of help. He spoke out for women's rights in society and in the church, although never outright endorsing the ordination of women as priests.

Birth control Some of the more controversial issues that Untener addressed were modern church attitudes toward birth control and abortion. He occasionally lamented that the church was moving toward "corporate severity" instead of a more accepting state of mind. Untener encouraged priests to stick to one point in their homilies and to keep their talks at seven minutes or less.