Joseph Elmer Ritter was born on July 20, 1892—the dawn of the industrial age—in New Albany, Indiana, a small city on the Ohio River across from Louisville, Kentucky. The son of working-class parents, Ritter’s legacy became not only that of a prominent church leader and able administrator, but also most notably an early, dedicated, and unwavering champion of civil rights reform. His life was marked by his deep concern for the poor and working-class people.

To honor his legacy, Indianapolis attorney and friend of Marian University, Andrew Steffen, created an endowed scholarship fund that includes two scholarships in Cardinal Ritter’s name. One is the Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Memorial Endowed Performing and Visual Arts Scholarship and the other is the Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Memorial Endowed Education Scholarship. His initial gift of $1 million will allow one or more deserving Marian University students who demonstrate activities and future intent that mirror Cardinal Ritter’s philosophies to receive scholarships. Steffen’s intent is to make sure the scholarships help promote diversity in the Marian University student body by enabling qualified, financially disadvantaged students an opportunity to attend the university.

Acts of Courage and Determination
Ritter attended St. Mary’s School in New Albany and, upon graduation with honors, entered St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. On May 30, 1917, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Chartrand of Indianapolis. Thereafter the young priest served the Diocese of Indianapolis at St. Patrick Church and SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, both in Indianapolis. In 1934, Ritter was elevated to Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis.

In 1938 as bishop, he took a brave, bold, and controversial act, ordering the desegregation of all of the Catholic schools in the Indianapolis diocese. This groundbreaking act of Ritter’s, which preceded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the peak of the American civil rights movement by almost 30 years, stemmed from Ritter’s deep belief that all people are created equal in the eyes of God. His vision of integration was for all places—parks, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and churches—to reflect the unity of the human race.

Ritter continued to challenge the boundaries of racial and economic discrimination, actions that threatened to divide the Catholic community. In 1946 Ritter, in recognition of his many talents and leadership qualities, was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. One year later he ordered the St. Louis Catholic schools to integrate. Some Catholics became upset at his order, which was in opposition to existing Missouri state laws on the matter. Ritter, a man who understood well the obligations of leadership, used the office of archbishop to remind Catholics of the equality of all people under God. Writing in a pulpit letter, Ritter threatened to excommunicate any Catholic who took legal action to stop integration. This was another act of courage that once again proved Ritter’s integrity, courage, and unwavering determination. It would be seven more years before the U.S. Supreme Court would order public schools to integrate with its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

During Ritter’s tenure, the St. Louis Archdiocese also benefited significantly from his leadership in economic development arenas, particularly in the inner city, which he helped revitalize with an inner city apostolate. More important than the construction projects was the spiritual revitalization Ritter brought to the inner city’s poor. Ritter believed strongly in making the church’s teachings accessible to all people, and he took innovative steps to draw segmented Christian groups closer together. Ritter attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome during the years between 1962 and 1965; afterward he made important contributions to the church in the areas of ecumenism and liturgical renewal. He was the first bishop to celebrate mass in the vernacular in the United States after the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. In 1961, Ritter was named Cardinal by Pope John XXIII in recognition of his many extraordinary talents and accomplishments.

Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter died on June 10, 1967 having lived a full and devoted life. He is buried in the crypt of the St. Louis Cathedral.