Robert Baker

Bishop Robert J. Baker (born 1944 in Ohio) is the bishop-elect for the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, chosen in August 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Baker graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio and was ordained as a priest on March 21, 1970 in St Augustine, Florida. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St Paul's Parish in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He also taught at Bishop Kenny High School there for two years.

In 1972 he enrolled in the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, earning a graduate degree in dogmatic theology in 1975. He returned to his alma mater in Columbus to serve as spiritual director and later pastored the Cathedral-Basilica of St Augustine and the Christ the King Church in Jacksonville, back in Florida.

Baker was director of the Catholic Student Parish at the University of Florida and taught theology at St Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida.

In 1999, Baker was ordained a Bishop and became the head of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. He chairs the U. S. Catholic Bishop's Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship.

Baker has close ties with the Eternal Word Television Network, having co-authored the book When Did We See You, Lord? with EWTN's Benedict Groeschel. His other books include Cacique: A Novel of Florida's Heroic Mission History. with Tony Sands and, most recently, The Questioner's Prayer.

References

• Garrison, Greg (August 14, 2007) "Vatican chooses bishop for Catholic Diocese of Birmingham." Birmingham News.