After Turmoil in Tennessee, Pope Names New Bishop for Memphis

You may remember the series of bombshells that hit the church in Tennessee last year, when Bishop Martin Holley was removed from office.

Today, word of a new bishop for the diocese, Bishop David Talley, who hails from Louisiana. Among other things, he is a convert — born and raised Southern Baptist — and he worked as a social worker with abused children before discerning his vocation.

Details:

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop of the diocese of Memphis (USA) HE Mons. David Prescott Talley, until now Bishop of Alexandria.

HE Mons. David Prescott Talley was born on 11 September 1950 in Columbus, Georgia, in the diocese of Savannah. After attending Hardaway High School , he earned a Baccalaureate in Philosophy from Auburn University in Auburn (Alabama), and a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia in Athens (Georgia). He worked for several years as a Social Worker. He entered the seminary and carried out his ecclesiastical studies at Saint Meinrad School of Theology at Saint Meinrad in Indiana (1985-1989). Later he obtained the License (1995) and the Doctorate (1997) in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta on June 3, 1989.

After his priestly ordination he held the following positions: Parish Vicar of the Saint Jude the Apostle Parish in Sandy Springs (1989-1993); Director of priestly vocations (1998-2001); Chancellor (1999-2001); Administrator of Saint Matthew Parish in Tyrone (2001); Judicial Vicar (2001-2003); Director of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Alpharetta (2003-2006); Parish Vicar of the Saint Anne Parish in Columbus (2006-2007); Parish priest of Saint John Neumann Parish in Lilburn (2007-2011); Member of the Archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry Board (2008-2011); Parish priest of Saint Brigid Parish in Johns Creek (2011-2013).

In 2000 he was named Prelate of Honor of His Holiness.

Appointed titular Bishop of Lambesi and Auxiliary of Atlanta on January 3, 2013, he received the episcopal consecration on April 2, 2013.

As Auxiliary Bishop he was Vicar General and Vicar for the Clergy.

He was named Bishop Coadjutor of Alexandria (Louisiana) on September 21st, 2016 and, from February 2nd, 2017 he succeeded as Ordinary of the office.

Within the Episcopal Conference he is a member of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs , of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection , of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and of the Special Assembly Planning Committee, and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development .

In addition to English, speak Spanish.