Alexander Sample

Early life Alexander King Sample was born on November 7, 1960, in Kalispell, Montana, to Alexander and Joyce (née Dory) Sample. His father was of Scottish heritage and his mother Polish. The younger Alexander Sample graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1978. He attended Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Michigan, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 and a Master of Science degree in metallurgical engineering in 1984. Interested in becoming a priest since the fourth grade, Sample decided to study for the priesthood after graduating from MTU, saying, "I knew I would never know peace until I explored the vocation to be a priest." He graduated in 1986 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then entered the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. After his ordination, Sample had the following pastoral assignments in Michigan parishes: • Parochial vicar of St. Peter Cathedral from 1990 to 1993 • Pastor of St. George in Bark River • St. Michael in Perronville • Sacred Heart in Schaffer In 1994, Sample entered the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), earning a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1996. He selected as his episcopal motto: "Vultum Christi contemplari", meaning "To contemplate the face of Christ". Archbishop of Portland On January 29, 2013, Sample was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland, succeeding the retiring Archbishop John Vlazny. He was the last American residential bishop appointed during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. Sample was installed on April 2, 2013, at the Chiles Center Arena on the campus of the University of Portland. In May 2018, Sample directed that Catholics attending Mass in the archdiocese must kneel after chanting the Lamb of God until they receive communion. In August 2018, Sample acknowledged the history of sexual abuse crimes committed by clergy in the archdiocese, which he described as an "institutional and spiritual" failure, == Views==

Abortion In April 2009, Sample expressed his "disappointment and dismay" over the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Barack Obama to deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree, given Obama's support of abortion. He added: It saddens me beyond words that the great university named after Our Lady would bestow distinction and honor on a politician who would seek to expand threats to such innocent human life. Immigration In December 2016, at a Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sample condemned racist and bigoted language used against minorities by Donald Trump in the 2016 US Presidential Election Campaign. He stated:It does not matter to me from where you have come, when you came, or whether you have the proper documents or not. You are loved! You are loved by God and precious in his eyes. You are loved by Our Lady of Guadalupe. You are her special children, her little ones, and she will not abandon you. In 2023, Sample released guidelines for the Portland Archdiocese regarding gender and pronouns. He asked teachers not to use preferred pronouns. After a coalition of parents and teachers asked for a meeting to discuss, he closed down the Department of Catholic schools, which Sample claimed was unrelated and due to mismanagement by school officials. Sexual abuse scandal In August 2018, Sample expressed his shock and disappointment over the Pennsylvanian grand jury report on sexual abuse of minors by clergy. He stated:These horrific revelations are particularly painful in light of what victims in our own archdiocese have suffered and the impact that sexual abuse has had on the church here in western Oregon. I am sorry beyond words for the harm that has been done. ==See also==