Bernard R. Bonnot

Bernard R (Bob) Bonnot

BRIEF BIO

Born in 1941 and raised in Canton, Ohio USA, the second of five children, Bonnot was ordained a Catholic priest in 1967 in Rome. Along the way he earned an M.A. degree in philosophy at the Washington D.C. Catholic University of America, a Licentiate in Theology from Rome’s Gregorian University, an M.A. in Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in Administration from the University of Chicago. He has published numerous articles and now three books, two focused on Pope St. John XXIII. Though formally retired, he continues his service as a priest in various ministries.

EXTENDED BIO

I, Bernard Robert (Bob) Bonnot, am a born and raised native of Canton Ohio. After 17 years of Catholic education, ending with theological training in the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, I was ordained a priest in 1967 to serve the people of the Diocese of Youngstown Ohio. Along the way I earned an M.A. in Philosophy, a Licentiate in Theology, a Masters in Religious Studies, and a Ph.D. in Administration at the University of Chicago. I served in many roles in my diocese, including education administration, Adult Spiritual Growth, Communications, and Planning. During that time the Diocese organized and developed a regional cable-TV network in collaboration with ecumenical and Jewish partners. It continues to serve the people of NE Ohio to this day.

After serving as President of the U.S. Catholic Bishops satellite TV network (CTSA) from 1987-90, I joined a national interfaith channel which evolved into today’s Hallmark Channel. I worked for that channel until retiring from it as Senior Vice-President of Programming in August of 2006.

I then picked up on my earlier experience as a parish priest and pastor, became Pastoral Administrator of Mother of Sorrows Parish in Ashtabula OH, and in 2007 Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Struthers OH. In 2011 I became also Administrator of Holy Trinity Parish in Struthers. With the people of those two parishes I managed their merging into today’s Christ Our Savior Parish in Struthers, keeping both churches open. I served also for several years as a member of a Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Commission, Chair of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Consultor, a Board Member of the then National Federation of Priests Councils, and the Chair of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.

In 2012 I became a member of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), in 2013 a member of its Leadership Team, and in 2014 Chair through 2019. Having retired from assigned ministry in 2016, I became the Association’s first Executive Director in 2019.

I continue in active ministry now in 2020 preaching for Unbound, serving as a cruise chaplain, providing parish coverage as needed, and serving as AUSCP’s Executive Director. I have traveled much around the world and have been part of an International Church Reform Network.

I have enjoyed my fifty-plus years as a Catholic priest and share the dismay of many over the abusive behavior of priests – and others -- both in the United States and around the world. I enjoy service as a priest, reading, writing, and exercising. I completed my most recent publication, Jesus as a Priest for Our Time according to the Order of Melchizedek, during two months I spent in McAllen TX volunteering to help Catholic Charities of the Brownsville Diocese provide caring service to the many migrants and seekers of asylum at the Mexico-U.S. border.

Earlier I published two books on Pope St. John XXIII, the focus of my doctoral dissertation at the University of Chicago. Both are available on Amazon. My study analyzed the strategy Pope John pursued, seemingly effortlessly, to initiate enormous change in the Catholic Church through the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council he convened. I am a great admirer of Pope St. John XXIII and am deeply committed to the direction for the Catholic Church set by the Holy Spirit through that 21st Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church.

I pray that my most recent book on Jesus as Priest for Our Time will have a positive effect on helping people, including priests, embrace a clear understanding of Catholic priesthood and respect for the service of priests to humankind by living the pattern of Jesus the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Bonnot can be reached using this e-mail: JesusasPriest@gmail.com.