View source for Michael David Pfeifer

{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]], [[The Most Reverend]]
| name = Michael David Pfeifer
| title = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo|Bishop Emeritus of San Angelo]]
| image = 
| caption = 
| church = [[Roman Catholic]]
| archdiocese = 
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo|San Angelo]]
| see = 
| appointed = May 31, 1985
| enthroned = July 26, 1985
| retired = December 12, 2013
| predecessor = [[Joseph Anthony Fiorenza]]
| successor = [[Michael Sis]]
<!--   Orders   -->| ordination = December 21, 1964
| ordained_by = [[Stephen Aloysius Leven]]
| consecration = July 26, 1985
| consecrated_by = [[Patrick Flores]], [[Joseph Fiorenza]], and [[John Joseph Fitzpatrick]]
| rank = <!--   Personal details   -->
| birth_date = May 18, 1937
| birth_place = [[Alamo, Texas]], US
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| previous_post = 
| motto = For Christ and his people through Mary
}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles  
| name=  Michael David Pfeifer
| dipstyle=  
*[[Excellency|His Excellency]]
*[[The Most Reverend]]    
| offstyle=[[Your Excellency]] 
| relstyle=[[Bishop]] 
| image = Mitre (plain).svg
| image_size = 200px
}}

'''Michael David Pfeifer''' (born May 18, 1937) is an American prelate of the [[Roman Catholic church|Roman Catholic Church]]. He served as bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo|Diocese of San Angelo]] in Texas from 1985 to 2012.

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
Michael Pfeifer was born on May 18, 1937, in [[Alamo, Texas]], the son of Maund Pfeifer and Alice Clausney Savage.<ref name=":1" /> He grew up on a family farm, dealing with periods of poverty. Pfeifer entered St. Anthony’s Junior Seminary at age 13. He took his first vows with the [[Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate]] on May 31,1958<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Past Bishops of the Diocese of San Angelo|url=https://sanangelodiocese.org/past-bishops|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Diocese of San Angelo|language=en}}</ref>

On December 21, 1964, Pfeifer was [[ordination|ordained]] into the priesthood by Bishop [[Stephen Aloysius Leven|Stephen Leven]] for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. After his ordination, Pfeifer served as a [[missionary]] in [[Mexico]] for several years. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

=== Bishop of San Angelo ===
On May 31, 1985, [[Pope John Paul II]] named Pfeifer as bishop of San Angelo. He was consecrated by Archbishop [[Patrick Fernández Flores|Patrick Flores]] at the [[San Angelo Coliseum]] in [[San Angelo, Texas]], on July 26, 1985.<ref name=":1">{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bpfeifer|Bishop Michael David Pfeifer, O.M.I.|21 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-15 |title=Bishop Michael Pfeifer: 25 years of compassion » Abilene Reporter-News |url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jul/23/hed-kicker-here-25-years-of-compassion/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315063910/http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jul/23/hed-kicker-here-25-years-of-compassion/ |archive-date=2012-03-15 }}</ref>

Pfeifer has spoken against medical research using [[embryonic stem cell]]s, instead promoting the use of [[adult stem cell]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christales |first=Victor |date=2012-03-15 |title=Bishop leads a rosary in protest of abortions |url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jan/20/bishop-leads-a-rosary-in-protest-of-abortions/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Abilene Reporter-News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315063931/http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jan/20/bishop-leads-a-rosary-in-protest-of-abortions/ |archive-date=2012-03-15 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bethel |first=Brian |date=July 23, 2010 |title=Bishop Michael Pfeifer: 25 Years of Compassion |work=San Angelo Standard Times |url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jan/22/letter-stem-cell-research-leaps-forward/?preventMobileRedirect=1 |access-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318185947/http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jan/22/letter-stem-cell-research-leaps-forward/?preventMobileRedirect=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pfeifer |first=Michael |date=January 22, 2011 |title=Letter: Stem Cell Research Leaps Forward |work=Standard Times |url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jan/22/letter-stem-cell-research-leaps-forward/?preventMobileRedirect=1 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318185947/http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jan/22/letter-stem-cell-research-leaps-forward/?preventMobileRedirect=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 17, 2008, Pfeifer and the Diocese of San Angelo were sued by a San Angelo man. The plaintiff claimed that Reverend David Espitia, pastor of St. Ann's Parish in [[Colorado City, Texas]], had [[Sexual abuse|sexually abused]] him from 1994, when he was age eight, to 2002 and that the diocese covered up the crimes. In response, Pfeifer said that Espita told him on June 13, 2003, about the allegations and denied all of them. At that time, Pfeifer initiated an investigation. A week after his meeting with Pfeifer, Espita committed suicide.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-06-13|title=Pastor of Catholic church found dead after abuse allegations|url=https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Pastor-of-Catholic-church-found-dead-after-abuse-8946402.php|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Plainview Herald|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104210250/https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Pastor-of-Catholic-church-found-dead-after-abuse-8946402.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|date=December 30, 2009|title=Lawsuit Claims Abuse by Priest at West Texas Churches|url=https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/lawsuit-claims-abuse-by-priest-at-west-texas-churches/513-2e1fb20e-63f7-4408-bb7a-bc7fa50248f8|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.newswest9.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Man claims abuse by late San Angelo priest |url=https://abc13.com/archive/7196393/ |access-date=2022-01-04 |website=ABC13 Houston |language=en}}</ref> On November 21, 2011, the diocese reached an [[Out of court settlement|out-of-court settlement]] with the plaintiff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Diocese of San Angelo reaches out of court settlement in child abuse lawsuit|url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/diocese-of-san-angelo-reaches-out-of-court-settlement-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-ep-439543191-356525721.html|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.gosanangelo.com|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The [[Grand jury investigation of Catholic Church sexual abuse in Pennsylvania|2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on sexual abuse by clergy]] included a section on the transfer of Reverend Thomas C. Kelley, a priest from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie|Diocese of Erie]] in Pennsylvania, to the Diocese of San Angelo, despite a record of sexual abuse of young men. Five men aged 28 to 25 accused Kelley of sexual advances either at a high school or in the seminary; one man received a financial settlement from the Diocese of Erie. Kelley was sent to for psychological treatment twice; both facilities released him with recommendations to have no contact with young parishioners.   

In 1995, Kelley requested a transfer to the Diocese of San Angelo. Pfeifer had a conversation in 1995 with Erie Bishop [[Donald Walter Trautman|Donald Trautman]] in which they discussed Kelley's record and his transfer. Pfeiffer eventually agreed to Kelley's transfer without any restrictions. There were no allegations of abuse filed against Kelley during his ten years in the Diocese of San Angelo; he died in 2005. Pfeifer has refused to comment on the story. Bishop [[Michael Sis]], the current bishop of San Angelo, said he felt hurt and angry about the Kelley allegations. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Peguero|first=Joshua|date=2018-08-17|title=San Angelo Diocese Bishop hurt and angry by report accusing ex-priest of sexual misconduct|url=https://ktxs.com/news/local/san-angelo-diocese-bishop-hurt-and-angry-by-report-accusing-ex-priest-of-sexual-misconduct|access-date=2022-01-04|website=KTXS}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Pfeifer submitted his resignation letter as bishop of San Angelo to [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on Pfeifer's 75th birthday on May 18, 2012.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130908215434/http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_a837a5af-ce44-5ddb-9efe-d8248d1fde98.html?mode=jqm Bishop Pfeifer announces retirement],  mywesttexas.com, May 12, 2012</ref> [[Pope Francis]] accepted Pfeifer's resignation on December 12, 2013.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Texas}} 
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[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]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091032/http://www.sanangelodiocese.org/ The Diocese of San Angelo Official Site]
* [http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jul/23/hed-kicker-here-25-years-of-compassion/  Bishop Michael Pfeifer: 25 years of compassion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315063910/http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jul/23/hed-kicker-here-25-years-of-compassion/ |date=2012-03-15 }}

==Episcopal succession==
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{succession box  
	|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo|Bishop of San Angelo]]  
	|before= [[Joseph Anthony Fiorenza]] 
	|after= [[Michael Sis]]
	|years= 1985-2013 | }}
{{s-end}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pfeifer, Michael David}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of San Antonio]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Hidalgo County, Texas]]
[[Category:Religious leaders from Texas]]
[[Category:Catholics from Texas]]
[[Category:Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate]]
[[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]]
{{US-RC-bishop-stub}}