Rafael Morales (bishop)
Rafael Luis Morales Maldonado is the seventh Bishop of Puerto Rico in The Episcopal Church.
The Right Reverend Rafael Morales | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Puerto Rico | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Puerto Rico |
| In office | 2017–present |
| Predecessor | David Álvarez |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | July 22, 2017 by Michael Curry |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Denomination | Anglican |
Biography
He was born in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico into the Roman Catholic Church, then Catholic Deacon Morales was received by Bishop David Andrés Alvarez-Velázquez into the Anglican faith, which would allow him, a married man, to be ordained into the priesthood.
Prior to being consecrated a bishop, Morales' roles included serving as a parish priest in Toa Baja, a suburb of Puerto Rico's capital city of San Juan, and as head of the Episcopal Cathedral School.
He was chosen on December 10, 2016 among four candidates, including a female priest, by the Diocesan Assembly to succeed David Alvarez as the Diocesan Bishop and take over the reins of the church from Bishop Wilfrido Ramos-Orench, who served as provisional diocesan bishop for approximately 3 years after Alvarez' retirement upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72.