Joseph Edward Kurtz (born August 18, 1946) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville in Kentucky from 2007 to 2022.

[1] One of five children (Rose Marie, Theresa, George, and Patricia), he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia in 1964.

During his priestly ministry, Kurtz served as high school teacher, college lecturer, administrator, and pastor in Catasauqua and Bethlehem, both in Pennsylvania.

[3] In addition to his diocesan duties, Kurtz served as chair of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life.

[6][2] On February 1, 2019, Kurtz released a report that named 22 priests from the archdiocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse.

[7] In July 2019, Kurtz underwent treatment for urothelial cancer, which required a three-month medical leave of absence from the archdiocese.