LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville said
he has been diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer and will undergo an
extended treatment plan.
The archbishop made the announcement July 10 in an online post
published by The Record, the archdiocesan newspaper.
Archbishop Kurtz, 72, said he had been experiencing "some
health issues" in recent months and that the cancer was discovered during
a series of medical tests and hospitalizations.
"I have been diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma in my
bladder and prostate and will take part in a treatment plan that includes
immunotherapy and chemotherapy for at least 12 weeks," the archbishop's
statement said.
"At the end of the treatment, I will have surgery to have my
bladder and prostate removed," he said.
The type of bladder cancer the archbishop has is the most common.
Archbishop Kurtz also said he was grateful for the work of Dr.
Dan George, chief oncologist at the Duke Cancer Institute and his team in
Durham, North Carolina.
"I feel well, and with the encouragement of Dr. George, I
have remained active during this time," the statement continued.
"While the doctor gives me good cause for optimism, there are always
dangers and unexpected issues that can arise during cancer treatment, so I ask
for your continued prayers."
Archbishop Kurtz will remain in North Carolina throughout his treatment
and said he will be in regular contact with Father Martin Linebach and Brian
Reynolds, archdiocesan vicar general and chancellor, respectively.
He acknowledged that he would miss opportunities to visit
parishes in the coming weeks and pledged to offer prayers for the people of the
archdiocese. "Please keep me in yours," he added.
Archbishop Kurtz was installed in the Louisville Archdiocese in
August 2007 after serving for more than seven years as the bishop of Knoxville,
Tennessee. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Allentown,
Pennsylvania, in 1972.
He served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
from 2013 to 2016. He currently chairs the bishops' Committee for Religious
Liberty.