Springfield-Cape Girardeau bishop headed to Kansas City

By Harrison Keegan
Springfield News-Leader
September 15, 2015

http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2015/09/15/springfield-cape-girardeau-bishop-headed-kansas-city/72298896/

Bishop James V. Johnston

Springfield-Cape Girardeau Bishop James Johnston has been named the new bishop of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese, according to a news release.

Pope Francis named Johnston to the new position on Tuesday. Johnston will replace Bishop Robert Finn who resigned from the Kansas City-St. Joseph position in April amid allegations that he mishandled a priest accused of sexual abuse.

Johnston was consecrated as bishop for the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese in 2008 and he will remain in that position until Nov. 4, according to the release.

A Knoxville, Tennessee native, Johnston left a career in engineering in 1985 to pursue the priesthood, according to the release.

As bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Johnston helped establish Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, according to the release.