Roger Joseph Foys

Roger Joseph Foys is the tenth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, in Kentucky, United States. Foys was ordained a priest in 1973 in the Diocese of Steubenville; he served there until he was installed as Bishop of Covington on July 15, 2002.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Roger Joseph Foys D.D.
Bishop of Covington
Bishop Foys in 2013
Archdiocese	Louisville
Diocese	Covington
Appointed	May 31, 2002
Installed	July 15, 2002
Predecessor	Robert William Muench
Orders
Ordination	May 16, 1973 by Anthony John King Mussio
Consecration	July 15, 2002 by Thomas C. Kelly, Gilbert Sheldon and Robert William Muench
Personal details
Born	July 27, 1945 Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Alma mater	Franciscan University of Steubenville
Motto	LUCEAT LUX VESTRA (Let Your Light Shine)

Styles of Roger Joseph Foys
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Early life and priesthood

On July 27, 1945, Roger Joseph Foys was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his religious studies for the Diocese of Steubenville at St. John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale, Ohio, part of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He completed his graduate studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Bishop Anthony John King Mussio ordained Foys a priest on May 16, 1973, in Holy Name Cathedral of Steubenville, Ohio. Throughout his years with the Diocese of Steubenville, Foys served as Diocesan Treasurer, Chairman of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, and Moderator of the Curia. He was appointed Vicar General in 1982 and made a monsignor in 1987. He also taught Canon Law for one year at St. John Vianney Seminary. Pope John Paul II made him a Prelate of Honor in 1986 and a Protonotary Apostolic in 2001.

Episcopal career

Bishop of Covington

Foys was appointed Bishop of Covington on May 31, 2002 by Pope John Paul II and was consecrated at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption on July 15, 2002.[1]

Sex abuse scandal

Foys came to the Diocese of Covington as it was in the midst of a class action lawsuit concerning the sexual abuse of minors by over 80 diocesan employees including priests.[2] The lawsuit was filed one day before Foys was appointed by the pope to the See of Covington. The claim was originally for $50 million,[3] but eventually grew to be much more over the years of litigation.

Foys vowed to meet with every victim of abuse who was willing to meet saying, "Those harmed by these shameful, despicable deeds now need the institutional Church and, more importantly, the pastoral Church to provide as much comfort and peace as possible. Our hearts must remain open, like Christ's".[4] He eventually met with over 70 victims of abuse personally and agree to create a system of payment where victims who were abused between 1948 and 1998 could receive compensation while not having to undergo the process of a trial.

The settlement eventually cost the diocese $120 million; $80 million of which came from insurance while $40 million came from the mortgage of diocesan properties (most notably Catholic Center/Marydale property in Erlanger). No parish properties were affected by the settlement. Each victim received between $5,000 and $450,000 depending on the severity of their case. Foys said "While no amount of money can compensate for the atrocities that were committed here, I pray that this settlement will bring victims some measure of peace and healing to victims and their loved ones".[5]

Vocations

The number of priestly vocations in the Diocese dramatically increased under his tenure. This can possibly be attributed to the fact that the Bishop was a vocation director in Diocese of Steubenville and devotes significant diocesan resources to vocation promotion, including the hiring of a full-time Vocation Promoter (Father Greg Bach) for the Diocese.[6] As of 2013, the diocese had 28 seminarians studying for the priesthood.[7]

Pater Noster controversy

In anticipation of the release of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal and General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Foys issued a decree that discourages the laity from holding hands during the Pater Noster (or "Our Father") at the celebration of Mass. The decree states, "Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the Our Father. Only the priest is given the instruction to "extend" his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this. No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed."[8] The decree caused controversy in the diocese.[9]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Roger Joseph Foys

Notes Bishop Roger Foys' coat of arms combines his own design with the design of the Diocese of Covington. The left side of the shield displays the diocesan design, commissioned by Bishop William Mulloy after the 1953 elevation of the diocese's Cathedral to the status of minor basilica by Pope Pius XII. The coat of arms was designed by A.W.C. Phelps, Cleveland, Ohio, in consultation with the Most Reverend Roger Joseph Foys, D.D. Below the shield is the Latin phrase Luceat Lux Vestra, Latin for Let your light shine (Matthew 5: 16). It is the episcopal motto by which Bishop Foys hopes to lead the diocese.[10] Escutcheon Imposed on the blue upper portion is a gold fleur-de-lis set within the arms of a silver crescent moon. Below it is a red cross on a white field. Pointing upward on the vertical beam of the cross is a gold sword. Symbolism "Galero": a gold processional Cross topped by a galero, or wide-brimmed hat, signifies the rank of bishop. Fleur-de-lis in the Crescent: the gold fleur-de-lis within the arms of a silver crescent moon is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. Gold Sword: The red cross set against a white field containing a gold sword points upwards, symbolizes Saint Paul, patron of the Diocese of Covington. "White Fleur-de-lis": Symbolizes not only Mary in this instance, but also the Cistercian Order and Blessed Roger Ellant. "White Lilly": Represents Saint Joseph who, along with Blessed Roger Ellant, are baptismal patrons of Bishop Foys.

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

References

1. "Most Rev. Roger Joseph Foys, D.D." Diocese of Covington. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
2. McKee, Tom (June 6, 2010). "Covington Diocese sex abuse settlement - 1 year later (archive)". KYPost.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
3. O'Neill, Tom (July 15, 2002). "Bishop Foys says he won't be silent". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
4. Foys, Roger Joseph (June 2005). "Letter from Bishop Foys About Abuse Cases". Diocese of Covington. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
5. Cooperman, Alan (June 4, 2005). "Ky. Diocese to Pay Sex-Abuse Victims Up to $120 Million". Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
6. Ziegler, Jeff (December 2007). "Priestly Vocations in America: Recent Trends". The Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010.
7. "Vocations Supplement" (PDF). The Messenger. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
8. Gibson, David (December 1, 2011). "'Our Father' update: No hands please, we're laity". Commonweal. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
9. Warren, Jay (November 30, 2011). "Covington Bishop: No Holding Hands at Mass". Kentucky Post.
10. http://www.covingtondiocese.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=88254&From=Home

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington Home Page

Episcopal succession