Joseph Charron

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Joseph Léo Charron, C.PP.S., is an American Roman Catholic bishop. He was born December 30, 1939, in Redfield, South Dakota, and is one of eight children. He joined the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and professed his vows in 1961. He earned theology degrees from the University of Dayton (Bachelor of Theology in 1963, Master of Theology in 1966) and studied in Rome, earning a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1968 and a doctorate from Academia Alfonsiana in 1970. He was ordained a priest on June 3, 1967.

Charron taught theology at St. John’s University in Minnesota and held leadership roles with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 1989 he was named auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and titular bishop of Bencenna; he was consecrated on January 25, 1990. In 1994, he was appointed bishop of Des Moines, a position he held until 2007.

In 2003, he suspended three diocesan priests over sexual abuse allegations, following the recommendations of an internal committee. He resigned as bishop of Des Moines in 2007 due to health reasons, diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. He is a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.