Pope: New Bishop for Lincoln, Nebraska

(Vatican Radio) On Friday, Pope Benedict XVI nominated James D. Conley, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, as the new Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska. He succeeds Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz, who resigned upon having reached the age limit.

Bishop James Douglas Conley was born March 19, 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, where he obtained a Bachelor's in English Literature. A convert to the Catholic Faith, he was baptised December 6, 1975 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence. After completing his studies in philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary in Erlanger Kentucky, he studied theology at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Later, he obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome.

Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita (Kansas) May 18, 1985, Bishop Conley held the positions of assistant pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Wichita (1985-1987), Director of the Diocesan Office of Pro-Life (1987-1989 and 1991 - 1996), and chaplain of Saint Paul Parish / Newman Center at Wichita State University (1991-1996).

He then served at the Congregation for Bishops (1996-2006). While in Rome, he also held the offices of chaplain for the program at the University of Dallas (1997-2003) and Instructor of Theology attached to the program of Christendom College (2004-2006). He returned to the diocese of Wichita in 2006, where he was pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish (2006-2008).

He was appointed Titular Bishop of Cissa and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Denver on April 10, 2008, and was ordained on May 30 next. From 2011 to 2012, he was Apostolic Administrator of Denver.

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