Witness: meet a Dutch Cardinal

On Sunday November 27, 2016, beginning at 8pm on Salt+Light Television, the latest Witness interview: with Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht will air.  Cardinal Eijk was born on June 22, 1953 in Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. He was ordained a priest on June 1, 1985. He studied medicine and holds doctorates in medical bioethics research (thesis on euthanasia) and in philosophy. He has taught ethics and moral theology and served on the executive board of the association for pro-life doctors in The Netherlands. He was co-founder and president of an association which organizes conferences and publications on medical ethics. From 1997-2000 he was part of the International Theological Commission.

On July 17, 1999, Willem Eijk was appointed Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden and received episcopal ordination on November 6, 1999. He chose as his episcopal motto Noli recusare laborem (Do not reject the work), taken from the last prayer of Saint Martin. On December 11, 2007, he was appointed Archbishop of Utrecht. In May 2008 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Eijk a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in addition to his duties as Archbishop of Utrecht. After serving in various capacities in the Dutch Bishops’ Conference, he was elected President in 2011. On February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict elevated Archbishop Eijk to the College of Cardinals. He is Cardinal-Priest of the Church of San Callisto. Cardinal Eijk was also appointed a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.