Kevin Carl Rhoades (born November 26, 1957) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana since 2009. Rhoades previously served as the bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania from 2004 to 2009. In 2021, Rhoades led the United States Conference of Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, which, critics argued, targeted President Joe Biden for his stance on abortion rights. Early life Kevin Rhoades was born on November 26, 1957, in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania to Charles and Mary Rhoades. The second of three children, he has an older brother and a younger sister. His father was a cousin of Republican State Senator James J. Rhoades. Raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Rhoades graduated from Lebanon Catholic High School in 1975 and then studied at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for two years. Rhoades applied to the Diocese of Harrisburg for enrollment in the program of priestly formation, and in 1977 entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1979. From 1979 to 1983, Rhoades studied theology at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, obtaining his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree. He also studied Spanish at the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain during the summer of 1982. Then Archbishop Terence Cooke ordained him a deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, in 1982. Priesthood Rhoades was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Harrisburg by then Bishop William Keeler on July 9, 1983. After his ordination, Rhodes served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in York, Pennsylvania, until 1985. During this time, he also ministered in the Spanish-speaking apostolates at Cristo Salvador Parish in York and Cristo Rey Mission in Bendersville, Pennsylvania. In 1985, Rhoades returned to the Gregorian University, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1986 and a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1988. After returning to Harrisburg, Rhoades was named assistant chancellor to Bishop Keeler. He also served as director of the Spanish apostolate in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties. In 1990, Rhoades was appointed pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Harrisburg, serving there for five years. In 1995, he became a professor at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, teaching in systematic theology, canon law, and Hispanic ministry. Rhoades was appointed rector of Mount St.