Pope, Clarence Cullam, Jr.

(b. Oct. 26, 1929). Leading traditionalist bishop. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Pope received his B.A. from Centenary College in 1950, and his B.D. from the University of the South in 1954. He was ordained deacon on June 29, 1954, and priest on May 9, 1955. Pope began his ordained ministry as curate at Trinity Church, Baton Rouge, in 1954, and he was priest-in-charge of St. George's Church, Bossier City, Louisiana, from 1956 until 1958. He was rector of St. George's, 1958-1963. From 1963 until 1985, Pope was rector of St. Luke's Church, Baton Rouge. He was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of Fort Worth on Jan. 5, 1985, and became Bishop on Jan. 1, 1986. Pope was president of the Episcopal Synod of America, 1989-1993. He retired as Bishop on Dec. 31, 1994. Before he retired, on Oct. 25, 1994, Pope announced that he was leaving the Episcopal Church to enter the Roman Catholic Church. On Feb. 1, 1995, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church by Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston and the Rt. Rev. Joseph Delaney, Archbishop of Fort Worth, at the Anglican Rite Catholic Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Arlington, Texas. On Aug. 19, 1995, Pope returned to the Episcopal Church. This was before the House of Bishops had time to act on his resignation as a Bishop of the Episcopal Church.