Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile


The Archdiocese of Mobile is a Roman Catholic archdiocese comprising the lower 28 counties of Alabama. It is the metropolitan seat of the Province of Mobile, which includes the suffragan bishopric sees of the Diocese of Biloxi, the Diocese of Jackson, and the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. The Archbishop of Mobile is the pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception located in Mobile, Alabama.
, it contained 65,588 Roman Catholics from a population of just over 1.65 million, and was approximately 4% Roman Catholic. Most of the archdiocese's Catholic population lives in the Mobile area - 46,503 as of 2000 - and, as a result, the Mobile area is considerably more Catholic than the archdiocese at large. These numbers are based solely on parish membership lists; many Catholics in the area do not formally register with a parish, while many children are often not included in parish lists.

History

The diocese was originally erected by Pope Leo XII in 1825, as Vicariate Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas. It was established as the Diocese of Mobile by Pope Pius VIII on May 15, 1829. The diocese had its name changed to the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham by Pope Pius XII on July 9, 1954, and was redesignated as the Diocese of Mobile by Pope Paul VI on June 28, 1969. The Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile was erected by Pope John Paul II on November 16, 1980. Before then, the diocese had been part of the Ecclesiastical Province of New Orleans.

Reports of Sex Abuse

In December 2018, Archbishop Thomas Rodi released the names of 29 priests and religious order clergy who were accused of committing acts of sex abuse while serving in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Claims of sex abuse dated as early as 1950. At least 2 Catholic clergy on this list were convicted, with one other being sued. Rodi also issued an apology and asked for forgiveness.

Bishops

The lists of the bishops and archbishops of Mobile and dates of service, followed by other affiliated bishops:

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mobile

  1. Michael Portier
  2. John Quinlan
  3. Dominic Manucy
  4. Jeremiah O'Sullivan
  5. Edward Patrick Allen
  6. Thomas Joseph Toolen, elevated to Archbishop in 1954
  7. John Lawrence May, appointed Archbishop of Saint Louis

    Archbishops of Mobile

  8. Oscar Hugh Lipscomb
  9. Thomas John Rodi

    Auxiliary Bishop

Secondary schools

High schools