Joseph Ritter

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Joseph Cardinal Ritter
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=Saint Luis|

Joseph Elmer Cardinal Ritter (July 20, 1892—June 10, 1967), was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Saint Louis from 1946 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1961.

Biography

Joseph Ritter was born in New Albany, Indiana, to Nicholas and Bertha (née Luette) Ritter. After studying at St. Meinrad's Seminary he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Chartrand on May 30, 1917. He then did pastoral work in Indianapolis until 1933, also serving as rector of the unfinished Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

On February 3, 1933, Ritter was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis and Titular Bishop of "Hippos". He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 28 from Bishop Chartrand, with Bishops Alphonse Smith and Emmanuel Ledvina serving as co-consecrators. Ritter succeeded Chartrand as Bishop of Indianapolis on March 24, 1934. In Indianapolis, he reorganized the local Catholic Charities organization, introduced the Catholic Youth Organization, and completed the construction of the cathedral. In Indianapolis during the 1930s, Ritter directed the racial integration of a parish school despite a revolt by white parishioners. [Donald J. Kemper, "Catholic Integration in St. Louis, 1935-1947," "Missouri Historical Review", Oct. 1978, pp. 1-13.] On November 11, 1944, he became an Metropolitan Archbishop when Indianapolis was elevated to the rank of an archdiocese.

Pope Pius XII named Ritter as the fourth Archbishop of Saint Louis, replacing the late John Cardinal Glennon, on July 20, 1946. Although he did not possess Glennon's flair for oratory, Ritter was very good at administration and addressed some issue his predecessor had not. Key among these was racial integration. [Donald J. Kemper, "Catholic Integration in St. Louis, 1935-1947," "Missouri Historical Review", Oct. 1978, pp. 1-13.] In 1947, he announced that all segregation in Saint Louis' parochial schools would end before the beginning of the fall term that year [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804234,00.html Caution!] September 29, 1947] . Some Catholics were considering bringing charges against Ritter, on the basis that state segregation laws would apply also to parochial schools, but when Ritter pointed out to them that Church law clearly stated that anyone who brought charges against a bishop in a secular court was automatically excommunicated, the threat of lawsuits disappeared [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,895171,00.html Four New Hats] December 26, 1960] . Also during his tenure as Saint Louis' archbishop, he forbade Catholics to see "The French Line" under pain of mortal sin [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,819376,00.html The Censors] January 11, 1954] , and declared that Catholics must have written permission from the archdiocese to attend secular or non-Catholic colleges [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826439,00.html The Letter] June 20, 1960] .

He also was one of the first bishops to create a diocesan mission, specifically in La Paz, Bolivia. Until that time, most missions had been conducted by religious orders. The people of Saint Louis regularly contributed more money to these foreign missions than any archdiocese of its size.

He was created Cardinal Priest of "Ss. Redentore e S. Alfonso in Via Merluana" by Pope John XXIII in the consistory of January 16, 1961. From 1962 1965, Ritter actively participated in the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council, during and after which he was viewed as a liberal [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,897340,00.html Cum Magno Dolore] October 23, 1964] [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876036-3,00.html The Unlikely Cardinal] August 21, 1964] . He also protested against the Roman Curia's oppressive actions [Ibid.] and Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani's draft on the sources of Revelation at the Council [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829504,00.html The Cardinal's Setback] November 23, 1962] . On his return to Saint Louis, many Catholics expected him to make several changes to the existing administrative structure to give priests and laity a greater role in Church governance, as recommended by the Council. However, before he could implement such reforms, Ritter died from a heart attack [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843983,00.html Milestones] June 16, 1967] at age 74, ten days short of his next birthday.

A one-hour documentary of Ritter's life is currently being filmed. [ [http://www.news-tribune.net/homepage/local_story_204175601.html Plaque marks Cardinal Ritter's birthplace in New Albany] "Newsandtribune.com"]

Legacy

*Ritter was a friend of Lionel Hampton [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826791-2,00.html] January 27, 1961] and Cardinal Ottaviani [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829504,00.html The Cardinal's Setback] November 23, 1962] .
*In a gesture of ecumenism, Ritter granted his approval to the mixed marriage of a Catholic and an Episcopalian in 1964 [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,875971,00.html Toward Easier Mixed Marriage] July 17, 1964] . He also authorized the first English Mass in the United States [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843983,00.html Milestones] June 16, 1967] .
*Ritter, intensely dedicated to racial equality, even withheld Communion from Catholics who practiced discrimination [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,875263-1,00.html Waking Up to Race] October 4, 1963] .
*He was "dismayed" and "indignant" after the rector of Catholic University of America, Monsignor William McDonald, refused to allow certain liberal theologians speak at the university [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,896755,00.html Crisis at Catholic U.] March 29, 1963] .

References

ee also

*Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 1963

External links

* [http://www.archstl.org/archives/about/shepherds.htm Archdiocese of Saint Louis]
* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-r.htm#Ritter Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/britter.html Catholic-Hierarchy]