Frederic Xavier Katzer

Background

Frederick Xavier Katzer was born on February 7, 1844 at Ebensee, Upper Austria, the son of Charles and Barbara (Reinhartsgruber) Katze.

Education

Katzer received his preparatory training at Gmunden, Austria, and continued his studies at Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, under the direction of the Jesuit Fathers, from 1857 to 1864 when he graduated. In the latter year Father Francis Pierz visited Austria to appeal to the priests and seminarians in his native land to join him in his missionary labors among the Indians in Minnesota. Katzer was one of the fifteen students who answered his appeal. Coming to America filled with zeal and a desire to serve God in difficult fields, he finished his course at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was ordained a priest, December 21, 1866, at St. Francis, Wisconsin, by Bishop Henni.

Career

In 1866 Katzer joined the faculty of the St. Francis Seminary as a teacher of mathematics and later philosophy and dogmatic theology until 1875, when he became secretary to Bishop Krautbauer. Upon the death of the latter in 1885, Katzer was appointed administrator of the diocese, and in that capacity took part in the deliberations of the First Provincial Council of Milwaukee, which opened its sessions May 23, 1886, at St. John's Cathedral. In the following week in May 31 he was chosen bishop of Green Bay, and was consecrated in St. Francis Xavier's cathedral, on September 21 of the same year by Archbishop Michael Heiss.

The most significant thing in Bishop Katzer's life to those outside of the Church was the part he took in the campaign against the Bennett law, a law passed during the administration of W. D. Hoard as governor of Wisconsin making it compulsory to use the English language in all public, private, and parochial schools. This law--which was introduced by a Roman Catholic public-school teacher--had passed without much opposition; but it was soon conceived to be a blow at parochial schools and the German language, and a vigorous opposition was developed, especially among Catholics and Lutherans. The law was vigorously opposed by Archbishop Heiss of Milwaukee, Bishop Flasch of La Crosse, and Bishop Katzer of Green Bay as unnecessary, harmful, and unjust. Both Heiss and Flasch soon died, and the burden of the closing stages of the campaign fell to Katzer. The Bennett law became the political issue in the election of 1890, and Governor Hoard was defeated by a majority of twenty-eight thousand. The effect upon the Republican party was disastrous. The new legislature promptly repealed the law, and the state Republican convention of 1892 declared that it regarded the "education issue of 1890 as permanently settled in this state, not to be renewed in any of its phases by the Republican party or under its auspices. "

In December 1890, after the death of Archbishop Heiss, Katzer was appointed to the archepiscopal dignity as third archbishop of Milwaukee. He remained some months at Green Bay, however, and did not assume his new duties until June 30, 1891. Cardinal Gibbons, in his address at Archbishop Katzer's reception of the pallium, spoke of the "loyalty, reverence and filial affection" which had "marked his career as a priest, a professor and a bishop of the Church of God. " His administration of the archdiocese was characterized by a uniform regard for justice and strict adherence to the laws of the Church.

He was interested in poetry and manifested some poetical talent in his allegorical drama, entitled Der Kampf der Gegenwart (The Combat of the Present Age), published in 1873.

Achievements

• Katzer was recognized for his efficient administration of his diocese churches and for lobbying to the repeal of the Bennett Law in 1890. His most significant pastoral letter was probably that issued on June 20, 1895, on secret societies.

Religion

Katzer was a strong supporter and promoter of the growth of Catholic schools. He also was engaged in a battle with anti-Catholic groups.

Politics

Katzer opposed the socialist movement in Milwaukee.

Personality

Katzer was a man of profound learning and an excellent theologian.

Connections

Father:

Charles Katzer

Mother:

Barbara (Reinhartsgruber) Katzer

References

• The Catholic Church in Wisconsin