Kenneth Edward Untener
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The Most Reverend Kenneth Edward Untener |
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| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Saginaw |
| Appointed | October 4, 1980 |
| In office | November 24, 1980 – March 27, 2004 |
| Predecessor | Francis Frederick Reh |
| Successor | Robert James Carlson |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 1, 1963 |
| Consecration | November 24, 1980 by John Francis Dearden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 3, 1937 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | March 27, 2004 (aged 66) Saginaw, Michigan |
Kenneth Edward Untener (August 3, 1937 – March 27, 2004) was a Roman Catholic bishop, serving the Diocese of Saginaw from 1980 until his death.
Kenneth Edward Untener was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1937, and was the seventh of nine children. His family lived on Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River where his father worked. Untener attended the Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, followed by St. John's Seminary near Plymouth, Michigan.
He was an active athlete, playing sports such as golf, ice hockey, and handball. It was while playing the last that Untener broke his right leg, only a year before his ordination. Due to complications caused by a genetic deformity, doctors amputated the leg below the knee, and Untener wore a prosthesis for the remainder of his life.
Untener was ordained in 1963. After his ordination, he served in Detroit for a time, and then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning a doctorate. He returned to the United States, taught for a period at Sacred Heart Seminary, and eventually became the rector of St. John's Seminary in 1977.
In 1980, Untener was named the fourth Bishop of Saginaw. His consecration to the episcopacy immediately became embroiled in controversy, however, as area Catholics filed complaints with the Vatican about a recent workshop on sexuality Untener authorized at St. John's Seminary. Detractors of the workshop claimed it promoted lewdness and promiscuity. In the time leading up to Untener's consecration, he made two trips to the Vatican to defend himself and appeal to Pope John Paul II that he should become bishop. On the second trip, Detroit Cardinal John Dearden came with him and publicly gave his support.
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