GREEN BAY (WI)
Green Bay Press Gazette [Green Bay WI]
January 29, 2026
By Benita Mathew
Key Points
- Former Green Bay Bishop Robert Banks died at the age of 97 after serving as a priest for 73 years.
- Banks served as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay from 1990 until his retirement in 2003.
- Banks later faced criticism for his role in reassigning priests accused of abuse while he was vicar general in Boston.
Former Green Bay Bishop Robert Banks died Jan. 25 at the age of 97. Banks was the bishop of Green Bay for 13 years since 1990.
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay announced that Banks died about 8 a.m. Jan. 25 at St. Paul Elder in Kaukauna, where he lived. He had been a priest for 73 years and served as a bishop for 40 years in Green Bay and the Archdiocese of Boston.
The diocese said Banks was “an outstanding shepherd of the flock entrusted to his care in northeast Wisconsin.”
Banks went to St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He got his licentiate in sacred theology and doctor of canon law at Lateran University in Rome.
He ordained his priesthood Dec. 20, 1952, at Rome’s Lateran Basilica and was ordained as a bishop in in Boston at Holy Cross Cathedral on Sept. 19, 1985.
Before he came to the Diocese of Green Bay, Banks was vicar general in the Archdiocese of Boston from 1984 to 1990. He became the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay on Dec. 5, 1990. He served until Oct. 10, 2003. Bishops were previously required to submit their resignation when they reach 75.
In April 2002, Banks appointed a task force to search the Green Bay diocese’s files for accusations of sexual abuse. In June 2002, the task reported 39 priests accused of sexual abuse since 1859, seven of whom were in active ministry. Charges had been dropped against four and three were under review. The report did not name them.
“The way church leaders and bishops — including myself — handled abusive priests in the past was, as we now know, at best inadequate and at worse scandalous. That has to change,” Banks said in statement to media in June 2002. “I deeply regret that bishops, including myself and others in the church, did not act more decisively in taking out of ministry those who abused our children and young people.”
As he neared retirement, Banks came under fire for his involvement in cases of reassigning priests accused of sexual abuse during his time in Boston. Banks was the second-in-command in the Boston Archdiocese under former Cardinal Bernard Law. As the top administrator in the archdiocese while he was vicar general, Banks arranged for the transfer of the former Rev. Paul R. Shanley, who was accused of a sexual offense, to a California parish in 1990. Shanley was later convicted of child rape and removed from priesthood.
Banks was also connected to former priest John Geoghan’s sex abuse case through lawsuits that accused Banks and other bishops of knowing that Geoghan was sexually abusing children in the Boston area but doing nothing to prevent it. Banks issued statements of regret about his part in reassigning Geoghan to parish work after information came out about his abuse. He testified in a deposition for the case.
During his time in the Green Bay diocese, Banks worked to expand religious education by establishing training scholarships, particularly for lay teachers. After he retired, others touted his relationships he developed with leaders from other denominations.
“He has facilitated understanding between parishes and shown leadership in dealing with the priest shortage and has moved Green Bay forward,” said Patrick Larkin, parish council chairman at Holy Cross Parish, in a 2003 interview.
Banks served St. John Seminary in Massachusetts as a professor of canon law, academic dean, and as rector. He also served on a number of national committees for education:
- Member of the U.C. Catholic Conference Committee on Education 1990-1993
- Consultor to the Holy See’s Permanent Interdicasterial Commission for the Distribution of Priests, 1992
- Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America, 1993-1997
- Chairperson, National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) Committee on Education, 1993-1996
- Member, NCCB Administrative Board. 1993-1996
- Treasurer, NCCB, 1996-1999
- Chairperson, National Catholic Educational Association, 1997-2000
Family, priests, and deacons will celebrate the reception of the body and solemn vespers at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 139 S. Madison St.
His visitation for the public will be held starting 8 a.m. Feb. 6 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Following visitation, Green Bay Bishop David Ricken will lead the Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Allouez Catholic Cemetery.
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay serves Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Florence, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties.
Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@usatodayco.com.