Pope Names Vicar General as Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Father Joseph Binzer, 55, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and pastor of St. Louis Parish in Cincinnati, as an auxiliary bishop for the Cincinnati Archdiocese.

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Father Joseph Binzer, 55, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and pastor of St. Louis Parish in Cincinnati, as an auxiliary bishop for the Cincinnati Archdiocese.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, April 6, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Joseph R. Binzer was born April 26, 1955, in Cincinnati. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University (Ohio), a Master of Divinity degree from Mount St. Mary’s of the West Seminary, and a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America.

Bishop-elect Binzer was ordained a priest for the Cincinnati Archdiocese in 1994.

After ordination to the priesthood he was named parochial vicar of St. Dominic Parish and in 1997, he was assigned to study at Catholic University in Washington.

He was named temporary administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish, Dry Ridge, Ohio, and St. Bartholomew Parish, Cincinnati in 1998; appointed to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Tribunal Office in 1999, and appointed archdiocesan master of ceremonies to the archbishop and parochial vicar of St. Louis Parish, Cincinnati while continuing work at the Tribunal in 2000.

He was appointed chancellor and director of the Department of Executive Services of the Cincinnati Archdiocese and pastor of St. Louis Church in 2003. He was appointed vicar general of the archdiocese while continuing as chancellor and director of Executive Services, in 2007.

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