Peter F. Christensen

The Most Reverend Peter Christensen
Bishop of Boise
File:Peter F. Christensen.jpg
Church	Catholic Church
Diocese	Diocese of Boise
Appointed	November 4, 2014
Predecessor	Michael Patrick Driscoll
Personal details
Born	Altadena, California
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Residence	Boise, Idaho
Parents	Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen
Occupation	Catholic bishop
Alma mater	University of St. Thomas, and Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
Coat of arms	Peter Christensen's coat of arms

Peter Forsyth Christensen (born December 24, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho.

On November 4, 2014, Pope Francis named Christensen the eighth bishop in the Diocese of Boise, Idaho. He was installed as bishop in Boise on December 17, 2014, at St. John's Cathedral.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Altadena, California, he was the fourth of eight children born to Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen. The family later moved to Palos Verdes, and in 1964, Robert and Ann obtained a divorce. Christensen attended Palos Verdes High School.

He moved to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1975 and there studied at the University of St. Thomas, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in art history. Christensen then worked as a graphic designer before entering St. Paul Seminary in 1981. During his seminary education, he studied in Israel for a semester.

Ordination and ministry

Christensen was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Roach on May 25, 1985, and then served as assistant pastor of St. Olaf parish in Minneapolis before becoming spiritual director (1989) and rector (1992) of the archdiocesan minor seminary until 1995.

In June 1999, he was made pastor of Nativity of Our Lord parish in St. Paul, where he continued traditional practices, such as perpetual Eucharistic adoration. He also reconstructed the church and rectory.

Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin

On June 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Christensen Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin. After receiving a telephone call from Archbishop Pietro Sambi bringing news of his appointment, he "sobbed for about 15 minutes" as he had not sought the episcopal office. During a press conference, Christensen promised to be a "good listener" in his new role as bishop. Christensen received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 14, 2007, and was installed as Bishop of Superior on September 23, 2007.

Christensen joined with other Wisconsin bishops in issuing a warning against the use of POLST, Physician (or Provider) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, in a statement published Wednesday, July 25, 2012. In “Upholding the Dignity of Human Life,” the bishops wrote that the use of POLST has grave implications for the dignity of human life and they “encourage all Catholics to avoid using all such documents, programs and materials.” In January 2014, Christensen announced that Common Core would not be allowed in the Catholic schools of his diocese.

Bishop of Boise, Idaho

On November 4, 2014, Christensen was named the new bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho. He was installed as the eighth bishop of Boise on December 17, 2014, in St. John's Cathedral.

See also

• 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

External links

• Diocese of Boise
• Diocese of Superior
• Whispers in the Loggia: "Appointments: Not Just for Tuesdays"
• Catholic News Agency: "Pope Benedict names new bishop for Diocese of Superior"

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Michael Patrick Driscoll	Bishop of Boise 2014–present	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Raphael Michael Fliss	Bishop of Superior 2007–2014	Succeeded by James Patrick Powers