The Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes became the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus in 2022. He holds a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome.
Bishop Fernandes is a member of several USCCB committees and subcommittees, including:
- Chair, Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
- Member, Committee on Catholic Education
- Member, Committee on Doctrine
- Member, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church
- Member, Subcommittee on the Catechism
- Member, Task Force on Instituted Ministry in the Church
He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the following national organizations:
- Cross Catholic Outreach
- Pontifical College Josephinum
- The National Catholic Bioethics Center
- Institute for Catholic Liberal Education
- Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology
- Catholic Pharmacy Association
- Bishop Iruthayaraj Foundation
He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the following local organizations:
- Cristo Rey Columbus High School
- Mother Angeline McCrory Manor
- Museum of Catholic Art and History
- The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Columbus
- Pregnancy Center Plus in Cincinnati
Bishop Fernandes is also on the Episcopal Advisory Boards of the following organizations:
- Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition
- Catholic Pharmacy Association
- Courage International
- Desert Stream Ministries
- Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology
- FOCUS Parish
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Institute for Catholic Liberal Education
Bishop Fernandes holds a doctorate in moral theology. He is a member of several committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), including the Committee on Catholic Education, the Committee on Doctrine, and the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.
He is the chairman of the Subcommittee for Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. He is also a member of the board of trustees of a number of national organizations, including The National Catholic Bioethics Center, the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education.
He serves on the Board of Trustees of two seminaries as well as several local organizations. He is a published author, especially in the fields of moral theology and seminary formation, and has given many retreats and speeches around the country.