Stephen Jay Berg

Stephen Jay Berg (born March 3, 1951) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo in Colorado since 2014.

Biography

Early life Stephen Berg was born on March 3, 1951, the eldest of ten children to Connie and Jeanne Berg, in Miles City, Montana. He was educated in the local Catholic schools and in 1969 graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Miles City. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado, and a Master of Music degree from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. After college, Berg taught music at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. He later worked in management for a nursery company in Georgia, California, and Texas for 14 years. The liturgy was held in Pueblo Memorial Hall in Pueblo, Colorado.

In 2020, the Diocese of Pueblo faced scrutiny following a report released by former U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer concerning its handling of historical sexual abuse allegations. According to local media reports, the diocese delayed notifying law enforcement for several months after receiving an allegation involving a former priest. Advocacy organizations, including (SNAP) Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called for disciplinary action, citing concerns about transparency and accountability in the diocese’s response. Bishop Stephen Berg disputed aspects of the report, stating that the diocese had followed its established procedures and that most allegations are reported promptly, attributing the delay to the manner in which the claim was initially received.

On August 10, 2021, Berg and other Colorado bishops signed a letter opposing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for business and government employees. In June 2022, Berg and the other Colorado bishops expressed their displeasure at the passing of the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) by the Colorado General Assembly. The bishops called for state legislators who supported the bill to refrain from taking communion during mass.