Church Catholic Church Predecessor David Edward Foley Name Robert Baker | Coat of arms Successor incumbent | |
 | ||
In office August 14, 2007 — present Born June 4, 1944 (age 79)
Willard, Ohio ( 1944-06-04 ) Books When Did We See You, Lord?, Cacique: A Novel of Florida's Heroic Mission History Education Pontifical College Josephinum, Pontifical Gregorian University | ||
Robert Joseph Baker (b. June 4, 1944 Willard, Ohio) is an American Roman Catholic prelate who serves as the Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. He was appointed to this post by Pope Benedict XVI on August 14, 2007 and installed on October 2, 2007. He has written several books.
Biography
Baker was ordained for the diocese of St Augustine in 1970 and sent to Rome for doctoral studies in dogmatic theology shortly thereafter. He has served in turns as a parish priest, campus minister, and seminary formator.
In 1999, Baker was appointed Bishop of Charleston. As bishop of Charleston, Baker presided over rapid growth, thanks to a combination of adult conversion and Hispanic immigration (the state's population of Roman Catholics boomed by almost 40% to over 175,000 during his tenure). Bishop Baker dedicated new or expanded churches, schools, and parish facilities.
He was transferred to Alabama to become Bishop of Birmingham. The Diocese of Charleston bishopric was filled Jan. 24, 2009 by Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone, formerly rector of St. Agnes Cathedral of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York.