Robert William Muench

Early life

Robert Muench was born on December 28, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, to William Anthony and Mary Kathryn (née Allgeier) Muench; he has three sisters, Jo Ann, Mary Alice, and Marsha. When he was age three, the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. Muench attended Jefferson Davis and St. Leo the Great primary schools in New Orleans.^[1]

In 1956, Muench entered Saint Joseph Seminary in Saint Benedict, Louisiana. He graduated from the high school and junior college program in 1962. He then attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1964.^[1]

From 1964 to 1968, Muench studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Education degree and completing his seminary studies. He also attended courses at Loyola University New Orleans and the University of New Orleans.^[1]

Priesthood

On May 18, 1968, Muench was ordained to the priesthood at Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans by Archbishop Philip Hannan for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.^[2] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Muench to the faculty of St. John Vianney Preparatory School in New Orleans. He worked there until 1977, serving as religion teacher, liturgy director, guidance counselor, and eventually rector. Muench also assisted at various parishes in New Orleans. In 1976, he was named associate pastor of St. Matthias Parish in New Orleans, later becoming pastor.^[1]

In 1977, Hannan named Muench as vicar for Christian formation, then moved him in 1981 to director of vocations. In 1983, Muench was named director of the Pope John XXIII House for Vocation Discernment and executive assistant to Archbishop Hannan. The Vatican elevated Muench to the rank of honorary prelate of his holiness in 1985. Archbishop Francis B. Schulte named Muench as his vicar general in 1989 and moderator of the curia in 1990.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans

On May 8, 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed Muench as an auxiliary bishop of New Orleans and titular bishop of Mactaris.^[1] He was consecrated on June 29, 1990, at Saint Louis Cathedral in by Schulte, with Hannan and Bishop John Favalora serving as co-consecrators.^[2] Muench selected as his episcopal motto, "Jesus Must Increase" John 3:30.^[3]

Bishop of Covington

On January 5, 1996, John Paul II appointed Muench as the ninth bishop of Covington. He was installed on March 19, 1995, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky.^[1][2]

Muench served as a board member of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Northern Kentucky and chancellor of Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. He was a member of the Committee on Priestly Formation within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He also initiated renovations of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption^[1]

Bishop of Baton Rouge

On December 15, 2001, John Paul II appointed Muench as the fifth bishop of Baton Rouge. He was installed at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on March 14, 2002, with Archbishop Alfred Hughes presiding. Muench also served on the board of trustees of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and Saint Joseph Seminary College.^[1]

On November 12, 2004, the Diocese of Baton Rouge settled a sexual abuse lawsuit brought by a Baton Rouge man. The plaintiff claimed that the late Bishop Joseph Sullivan had abused him when the man was 17 years old in 1975. Muench authorized the settlement, calling the accusations credible. He promised to rename the Bishop Sullivan High School before the next school term. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Muench joined Hughes and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco in a televised appearance declaring a day of prayer for the state of Louisiana.^[4]

Retirement

On June 26, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Muench's letter of resignation as bishop of Baton Rouge after Muench reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.^[2]