Raymond A Lucker

American Roman Catholic priest and bishop who took a stand on a controversial issue when he wrote that it is time for the church to leave celibacy behind. After a preparatory seminary education, earning his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Rome and his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Minnesota, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1952. He was ordained Bishop; Auxiliary to Archbishop Leo Binz in 1971. Serving his pastoral duties from 1952 to 1976, he also authored books on religious education and histories of church practices and issues in 1966, 1969 and 1988. His lifetime devotion has focused on religious education. A popular speaker, he had addressed hundreds of national and diocesan conventions. With foresight and common sense, Bishop Lucker supports the marriage of priests to avoid a future shortage of men giving their lives to the clergy. He notes that the law of celibacy is a church law instituted in the 11th century, not something from the revelation of God or a command of Jesus, and therefore, can be changed. Considered one of the most progressive of American bishops, Lucker retired as Bishop of New Ulm on 17 November 2000 after he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Lucker died from cancer on 19 September 2001 in St. Paul, MN, aged 74.