Back to the Diocesan Home Page The Most Reverend Lou A. Bordisso, OSJV, EdD Bishop Emeritus Diocese of California American Catholic Church   His Excellency, the Most Revered Lou A. Bordisso currently resides on Mare Island in the Bay Area near San Francisco, California.  Bishop Bordisso is a former Presiding Bishop of the Diocese of California American Catholic Church. He retired in 2010. Like the vast majority of the clergy in the Old Catholic / Autocephalous; (self-governing) / Independent Movement, he is self supporting. He is a vowed religious with the Order of Saint John Vianney (OSJV). As a "spiritual progressive" Bishop Bordisso formerly served on the pastoral team at St. Victor's Old Catholic Church in Vallejo for over four years. Prior to being received into the American Catholic Church Bishop Bordisso was a Roman Catholic vowed religious with the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians). As such, Bishop Bordisso served as the President and Executive Director for San Francisco's Father Francis Homeless Project serving youth and young adults in the Tenderloin and Polk-Gulch area. He is also a former Hospice Chaplain. His clinical pastoral education was completed through the Stanford University Hospital and Medical Center and Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.  Bishop Bordisso currently hosts a community access and online television show entitled, "Political Inquisitions with Father Lou Bordisso" interviewing local political, religious, and community leaders about ethics, morality, spirituality, and politics. Bishop Bordisso has been a licensed marriage and family therapist for twenty years and employed as a Forensic Mental Health Outpatient Supervisor.  He was an Employee Assistance Program Care Manager for a major mental health firm. He is the former Civilian Employee Assistance Program Administrator and Counseling Psychologist for the Department of the Navy's Military Sealift Command, Pacific.  As a part of his ministry, Bishop Bordisso maintains a limited private practice providing psychotherapy, pastoral counseling and spiritual care.Bishop Bordisso holds a number of academic degrees, including: A Doctorate in Education (EdD) from the University of San Francisco, obtained in 1988; Doctoral Dissertation: "The Relationship between Moral Development, Sexual Orientation, and Roman Catholic Priests." His Masters of Divinity is from the Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, California, obtained in 1997. Bishop Bordisso also holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of San Francisco obtained in 1979.  His Bachelor of Arts degree is held in Social Welfare from California State University, Sacramento, having graduated in 1977. Regarding Bishop Bordisso's personal Coat of Arms, as a person who embraces the spirituality of non-violence, the Lamb of God symbolizes the gentle, meek, compassionate, and merciful Christ. The Lilies at the bottom of the Bishop's Coat of Arms are a symbol for Easter, New Life, New Perspectives, and Liberation.     Back to the Diocesan Home Page   Back to Clergy Page

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