# Paul D. Etienne

Paul Dennis Étienne (born June 15, 1959) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been serving as the 6th and current Archbishop of Seattle since 2019. Previously, Etienne was Bishop of Cheyenne from 2009 to 2016 and Archbishop of Anchorage from 2016 to 2019.

## Early life and education

Paul Etienne was born June 15, 1959, in Tell City, Indiana, the second son of Paul and Kay Étienne. One of his uncles is a diocesan priest and an aunt is a Benedictine nun. Etienne has a sister (Nicolette) who is a Benedictine nun at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana; two brothers, (Zachary and Bernard) are diocesan priests in the Diocese of Evansville.
In 1983, Paul Etienne entered Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, but transferred in 1984 +to University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Thomas in 1986. After his graduation, Etienne worked for a year for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as an assistant coordinator for papal visits.
In 1988, Etienne travelled to Rome to attend the Pontifical North American College. He obtained at Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1992.

## Ordination and ministry

Etienne was ordained a priest by Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on June 27, 1992. After his ordination, Etienne served as assistant pastor of Saint Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis and assistant vocation director for the archdiocese. He returned to Rome in 1994, obtaining his Licentiate of Spiritual Theology from Gregorian University in 1995.
Upon his return to Indiana in 1995, Etienne was appointed director of vocations for the archdiocese. Beginning in 1996, he provided sacramental ministry at Saint Anne and Saint Joseph parishes in Jennings County, while continuing as archdiocesan vocations director. In 1998, Etienne was named pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany, Indiana. Beginning in 2002, he became pastor at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Starlight, while remaining pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. In 2007, Etienne was named vice-rector of Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis, as well as pastor of Saint Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis. In 2008, he became pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, while remaining vice-rector of the seminary. Etienne was named pastor of Saint Paul Parish in Tell City and Saint Mark Parish in Perry County in 2009.

### Bishop of Cheyenne

On October 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Etienne as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. He succeeded Bishop David L. Ricken. Etienne was consecrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput on December 9, 2009.
In 2010, Etienne requested an investigation by the Vatican into sexual abuse allegations by 11 men against Joseph Hart, a former bishop of Wyoming. Etienne suspended Hart from performing masses in 2015.

### Archbishop of Anchorage

Pope Francis appointed Etienne as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Anchorage on October 4, 2016. He was installed at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage on November 9, 2016. He succeeded Archbishop Roger Schwietz. In October 2018, Etienne said that he would establish an independent commission to examine the personnel files of the archdiocese over the past 50 years for any new credible accusations of sexual abuse by priests against minors.

### Coadjutor Archbishop and Archbishop of Seattle

On April 29, 2019, Pope Francis named Etienne as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The appointment was publicized by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Mass celebrating his "rite of reception" was held on June 7, 2019, at St. James Cathedral.
On September 3, 2019, Pierre informed the archdiocese that Etienne had automatically become Archbishop of Seattle, following the resignation of his predecessor, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. On September 9, 2019, Etienne announced that he would not reside in Connolly House, the mansion for the archbishop of Seattle. He stated:
   "I prefer to live a more simplified life," he explained, adding that he was "exploring options on church properties" and hoped to find an alternative soon. "Meanwhile, a prudent discussion will explore the possibility of selling Connolly House to help fund the great many needs across this archdiocese," he wrote.
On June 21, 2021, Etienne announced his opposition to a proposal on the eucharist by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, stating that it had become politicized.