Joseph Ritter
Joseph Elmer Cardinal Ritter ( born July 20, 1892 in New Albany, Indiana, USA, † June 10, 1967 in St. Louis) was Archbishop of Saint Louis.
Life
Joseph Elmer Ritter was born on July 20, 1892 in New Albany, Indiana, the son of Nickolas and Bertha (nee Luetta ) Ritter. After studying in St. Meinard 's Seminary and was ordained on May 30, 1917 by Bishop Joseph Chartrand for the Diocese of Indianapolis as a priest. Until 1933 he worked in pastoral ministry, then as rector of the unfinished Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
On February 3, 1933 Knight was instituted by Pope Pius XI. appointed auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis and titular bishop of Hippos. He received his episcopal consecration Bishop Chartrand on March 28. Co-consecrators were the bishop of the diocese of Nashville, Alphonse John Smith, and the Bishop of Corpus Christi, and Emmanuel Boleslaw Ledvina. A year later, Knight joined the succession of Chartrand as Bishop of Indianapolis on March 24, 1934. During his tenure, he organized the Catholic Caritas newly founded a Catholic youth organization and completed the construction of the cathedral. He fought against the racial discrimination, in which he integrated the ethnic groups in the church schools, despite the opposition of the white locals. On 11 November 1944 the diocese was elevated to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and appointed Knight archbishop.
Pope Pius XII. appointed Knight on July 20, 1946 4th Archbishop of St. Louis. Although he was not as powerful as its predecessor talking John Cardinal Glennon, he knew how to lead his diocese very well and set its own priorities such as combating racial discrimination. In 1947, he announced that the segregation would be lifted at church schools. Then tried some Catholics to sue Knights, but as knights pointing out that an action against a bishop before a secular court automatically lead to an excommunication, they drew their accusation back. Knight was the first bishop, who organized a diocesan mission in La Praz, Bolivia. Most missions he transferred the Order and the population supported the missions with donations.
On January 16, 1961, Archbishop Knights of Pope John XXIII. created cardinal and appointed Cardinal Priest of the Most Holy Redeemer e Sant'Alfonso in Via Merulana. Cardinal Ritter took part in the sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965 ). He protested at the Council against the Curia, and against the draft on the revelation of Cardinal Ottaviani. On his return to St. Louis expected some Catholics from him that he is reforming the existing administrative structures and the priests and laity in diocesan leadership confers a greater role was as recommended by the Council. But before he could carry out the reforms that he died on 10 June 1967 at the age of 74 years to a heart attack.
About his life, there is a one - hour documentary.