Michael Joseph Hoeppner


Michael Joseph Hoeppner, DD has been the Bishop of Crookston in Minnesota since his consecration on November 30, 2007. Bishop Hoeppner replaced Victor Hermann Balke, who previously had served as Bishop of Crookston for 31 years.

Biography

Bishop Hoeppner is a native of Winona, Minnesota, and comes from a background in parish work and administration coupled with teaching ministry.
Bishop Hoeppner undertook his theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Winona on June 29, 1975, by Pope Paul VI at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
He further continued his education and received a Licentiate in Canon Law from St Paul's in Ottawa. In addition to assignments within the Catholic school system, Hoeppner served as diocesan director of vocations. He served as Winona's judicial vicar from 1988–1997 and was later appointed vicar general by Bishop John George Vlazny.
Following Bishop Vlazny's transfer to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, Hoeppner was elected as diocesan administrator to oversee the diocese during the interregnum before the appointment and arrival of Bishop Bernard Harrington, who subsequently appointed Hoeppner as his vicar general.

Bishop of Crookston

Hoeppner was appointed Bishop of Crookston by Pope Benedict XVI on September 28, 2007. Hoeppner was ordained and installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston on November 30, 2007.

2017 Coercion Allegation

In May 2017, Bishop Hoeppner became the first bishop to be sued individually for coercion, after allegedly pressuring a diaconate candidate to silence about a past priestly abuse claim. The victim claimed Hoeppner's coercion was like "being abused all over again."
On September 20, 2017, a settlement was reached between the claimant and Bishop Hoeppner, with the latter releasing a copy of a letter the diaconate candidate was allegedly pressured to sign keeping the past abuse confidential. Attorney Mike Finnegan says that this letter proves Bishop Hoeppner's guilt in coercing the retraction of the abuse claim.
In September 2019, it was announced that Bishop Hoeppner would be the first bishop, worldwide, to be investigated for abuse cover-ups under Pope Francis' document Vos Estis Lux Mundi.

Episcopal succession