William G. Curlin

William George Curlin (August 30, 1927 – December 23, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1994 to 2002. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington in the District of Columbia from 1988 to 1994.

Biography

Early life William Curlin was born on August 30, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Curlin was the son of Mary and Stephen Curlin. He attended St. John's College and later Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Curlin then entered St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Priesthood Curlin was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington by Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on May 25, 1957. Curlin served as vicar for the Theological College at the Catholic University of America from 1974 to 1980 and as chair of Associated Catholic Charities in Baltimore.

Bishop of Charlotte John Paul II appointed Curlin as the third bishop of Charlotte on February 22, 1994; he was installed on April 13, 1994. As bishop, Curlin continued his ministry to the poor, ordained 28 men to the priesthood and opened numerous Churches throughout the diocese. In June 1995, Curlin invited Mother Teresa to speak at the Charlotte Coliseum, drawing a crowd of over 19,000. That same year, Curlin stated that any priest in the diocese who had been accused of sexual abuse of a minor would be immediately removed from ministry.

When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Curlin travelled to Calcutta, India, to attend her funeral as a representative of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Retirement and legacy On September 10, 2002, John Paul II accepted Curlin's resignation as bishop of Charlotte. William Curlin died in Charlotte on December 23, 2017, at age 90.