I think the 2002 is a typo – if you look at the linked article it says 2012 which would of course make it 12 years.

And as the ‘younger sister’ reference clearly comes after the quotation marks then yes, I am assuming it’s the author’s words not the Bishop’s.

As for the ‘weak, ill and vulnerable’ I agree that for many families with a child with DS, this is not how they would see the situation. But on a more general point, and not just in terms of this specific disability, it is good to have a Bishop with a personal experience and understanding of the challenges that are faced by such families.

I have been caregiver for my young d/s sister for 17 years. I can’t picture life without her. She turned 50 in August of this year. God has truly blessed us.

The linked article was originally written in 1990 (says so at the bottom of the page), apparently not long after Georgie moved in with his brother. It was reprinted in 2012, ten years after Georgie’s death.

Sorry but you were reading “Catholic Herald” & being the Archbishop, It’s pretty much a given that he was from a strongly religious family who would instill their beliefs in their children. Unless, you are saying you don’t believe the brother is capable of grasping higher thought? I just don’t see how your comment related to anything in the story, except you felt the need to implant your athiestic beliefs into this story no matter how impertinant they are to the story. No I’m not religious, I just find your comment irrelevant & combative to others who may be on this site. Your beliefs are your own, but this story was about the relationship of a sibling with his brother with Down Syndrome and how so often the “Caretaker” finds themselves in a symbiotic relationship with their sibling…. or something to that effect.

I know (knew) both Abp. Kurtz and Georgie personally. Georgie was Joe’s OLDER brother and never left Joe forget it. After Joe’s mother’s death, Joe brought Georgie to live with him in Catasauqua, PA/USA. Joe was pastor at St. Mary’s and Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Allentown, PA. Geogre was a hit at St. Mary’s. Joe was appointed pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Bethlehem, PA and Georgie accompanied him there. Joe cared for Georgie there as well. Joe tells stories of taking Georgie to Roman where they met Pope John Paul II. Georgie was proudly a Knight of Columbus and proud of his brother. He made both facts clear to the Holy Father. When Joe was elected Bishop of Knoxville, the parish (the diocese!) was delighted. Joe and Georgie went to Knoxville and Georgie Kurtz settled in with his “little brother.” George was one of the best evangelists because he was compassionate, caring and understanding. His witness as a faithful Catholic man left tracks across many lives. His baby brother, now the President of the USCCB and Archbishop of Louisville (one of the oldest Catholic Dioceses in the USA), was nurtured by Georgie’s love as Joe cared for Georgie’s needs. Their mutual devotion says much about the Kurtz family’s Catholic faith and even more about Divine Grace.