Harry Flynn

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Archbishop Harry Flynn

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Harry Joseph Flynn (b. May 2, 1933 in Schenectady, New York) is the seventh Roman Catholic Archbishop and ninth Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in the United States. Flynn succeeded his predecessor, Archbishop John Roach, on October 1, 1995. Flynn is especially noted for his devotion to Catholic education and the emphasis in his ministry on social justice, especially within his archdiocese. He is also a strong advocate for Catholic economic justice abroad, and many of the parishes in his Archdiocese have sister parishes in impoverished nations such as Costa Rica. Like his late predecessor, Flynn is an outspoken critic of the occupation of Iraq.

Styles of
Harry Flynn

Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop
Posthumous style	none

In May 2005, Archbishop Flynn took Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty publicly to task in the Star Tribune for what he perceived as being Pawlenty's irresponsible tax policies. In the same month Archbishop Flynn departed from an archdiocesan tradition by ordering his priests to refuse the Eucharist to any person wearing a rainbow sash (a symbol associated with those advocating for changes to the Church's position on sexual orientation) who approaches the altar to receive the sacrament on Pentecost Sunday. This occurred after a visit to Rome during which observers believe he was formally chastised by the Curia for his permissive attitudes.

He is a graduate of Siena College and he is also a member of the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America. His auxiliary bishop is Richard E. Pates, who is the titular Bishop of Suacia. It is believed he may be planning to retire soon (or feels he may die within the next few years); he has requested for Rome to assign him a coadjutor archbishop.