Edward Egan
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| Church positions | |
|---|---|
| See | New York |
| Title | Cardinal, Archbishop of New York |
| Period in office | May 11, 2000 – present |
| Successor | incumbent |
| Previous post | Bishop of Bridgeport |
| Created cardinal | February 21, 2001 |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | April 2, 1932 |
| Place of birth | Oak Park, Illinois |
- For the police officer who, with Sonny Grosso, investigated the so-called French Connection heroin smuggling ring, see Eddie Egan.
Edward Michael Cardinal Egan (born April 2, 1932) is an archbishop and a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. He currently serves as the twelfth bishop and ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.
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[edit] Early life and career
Born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, an ethnically diverse suburb bordering the western edge of Chicago, Egan attended local schools where he received what he described as a calling to Holy Orders. After studies at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he entered the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. His bishop assigned him to continue theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. He was ordained there by Archbishop Martin J. O'Connor on December 15, 1957. Before returning to the United States, Egan obtained a license in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Egan's administrative career began when he was appointed curate of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois. He then became private secretary to Albert Cardinal Meyer, Archbishop of Chicago and attained the office of assistant chancellor of the archdiocese. In 1960, Egan returned to the Pontifical Gregorian University where he became assistant vice-rector and repetitor of moral theology and canon law. It was in that capacity that he attained his doctorate in canon law. Returning to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Egan was appointed private secretary to John Cardinal Cody. He also became Vice-chancellor of the archdiocese. In 1971, Pope Paul VI appointed Egan as prelate auditor (judge) of the Sacred Roman Rota, the appellate tribunal of the Holy See.
[edit] Episcopal career
| Styles of Edward Cardinal Egan |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | New York |
With a great wealth of expertise, Egan was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York on April 1, 1985 by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained to the episcopate on May 22, 1985 becoming titular bishop of [Allegheny]].
When John Cardinal O'Connor, at the time Archbishop of New York, was informed of Egan's nomination by the Pope as Auxiliary Bishop, he wrote a letter to his priests stating that he had not personally chosen Monsignor Egan to be his auxiliary. To this day a number of Vatican-watchers mention their perplexity at the Pope's decision to place Egan in New York, after the fact that Egan was informed, as has come to light, that he would be announced coadjutor to the then-ailing Humberto Sousa Cardinal Medeiros of Boston. Bishop Bernard Law, later a cardinal, was instead named to Boston.
Upon the episcopal vacancy in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Pope John Paul II appointed Egan Bishop of Bridgeport on November 5, 1988, and Egan was officially took up office on December 14, 1988.
Egan was appointed Archbishop of New York on May 11, 2000 and installed in that position on June 19, 2000. He was elevated to Cardinal on February 21, 2001, holding the Titulus (as a cardinal-presbyter) of Sts. John and Paul (Ss. Ioannis et Pauli), the same cardinalatial title held by all of the archbishops of New York since it was first given to Cardinal Francis Spellman in 1946.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America and a member of the Board of Governors at Ave Maria School of Law.
Since becoming archbishop of New York, Egan has made it a priority to encourage vocations to the priesthood. Besides private initiatives, each year on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) he offers a Mass to which high school and college men who are attracted to the priestly vocation are invited. He has appointed two priests as vocation directors to aid him in promoting the vocation to the priesthood.
A main concern of the cardinal has been the archdiocesan seminary in Yonkers, New York. In March of 2001, he announced his decision to restructure the seminary faculty. A Staten Island pastor was chosen as seminary rector. Among others, the Cardinal added Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., and Father John Augustine DiNoia, O.P. (before he was called to Rome to be undersecretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2002) to the faculty. The minor seminary was moved to the campus of the major seminary. To maintain regular contact with the seminarians, one Sunday each month, Egan invites them to serve his 10:15 am Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and afterward meets with them in his residence. Moreover, each year, he himself conducts a day of prayer and reflection for the seminary.
For retired priests, Egan established the John Cardinal O'Connor residence in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
In 2002 the "Institución del Mérito Humanitario" with its seat in Barcelona (Spain) awarded him with the "Gran Cruz al Mérito Humanitario".
On June 6, 2002 Pope John Paul II named Cardinal Egan along with five other cardinals to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, the Church's highest court in matters of Canon Law.
In June 2003, Egan was criticized for concealing the names of priests who have been accused of child molestation and found not guilty by the Church. His spokesman argued that the innocent should be protected, yet, groups such as Voice of the Faithful were critical claiming the entire process was out of the public view. (See Roman Catholic sex abuse cases.)
Since becoming Archbishop of New York, the Cardinal has been interested in social communications. In December of 2006, Cardinal Egan began hosting a weekly program on The Catholic Channel of Sirius Satellite Radio in which he discusses a variety of topics, including events in the Archdiocese and issues in the Church. The station launched by the Cardinal's initiative also broadcasts his Sunday Mass from the Cathedral. At other times scheduled programs include news, human-interest stories and inspirational themes, reflections on Scripture, Catholic education, social ministry, sacred music, interviews, call-in, and spiritual guidance.[1]
Egan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Egan, in keeping with the Code of Canon Law, offered his resignation as archbishop of New York to the Pope in April of 2007 when he reached 75 years of age. To date, Pope Benedict XVI has delayed accepting such a resignation, as was done with Egan's predecessor, Cardinal John O'Connor, who died in office at the age of 80. Cardinal Egan remains a voting member of the College of Cardinals and able to participate in any future conclaves that begin prior to his 80th birthday on April 2, 2012 after which, he will then be able to participate in discussions prior to voting, but will not be able to enter the conclave.
Despite having reached retirement age, the pope appointed Egan as a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches along with Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles on January 26, 2008.
[edit] Church Closings and Openings
Cardinal Egan, after more than a year of careful study and consultation, announced on January 19, 2007 that ten parishes of the Archdiocese would be canonically suppressed and eleven would be merged with other parishes. The announcement also made known that the cardinal had decided not to close or merge nine parishes and six missions originally recommended either for closing or merger. Moreover, five new parishes would be established, three in Orange County, and one each in Staten Island and Dutchess County due to population increases. Building projects were also approved for nine parishes.[2] The closures caused some discontent. [3]
[edit] Retirement Speculation
On 2 April 2007 Cardinal Egan turned 75 as so as per Canon 401 of the Code of Canon law handed his resigation to the Vatican. The pope could at any time accept the resignation and name a new archbishop. In the meantime, Cardinal Egan continues to guide the archdiocese, opening the bicentennial of the Archdiocese of New York on Sunday, April 15 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Moreover, on December 15 of 2007, Egan celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest.
[edit] Quotes
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This article or section contains too many quotations for an encyclopedic entry. Please improve the article or discuss proposed changes on the talk page. You can edit the article to add more encyclopedic text or link the article to a page of quotations, possibly one of the same name, on Wikiquote. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for further suggestions. (April 2008) |
- On retirement: "When I was ordained, I made a promise to myself. .. I would ask for nothing, and I'd refuse nothing. I'd never do anything to have an appointment or an assignment -- whatever came, came. And whenever they wanted me to stop what I was doing, I'd stop. I've lived that way for 49 years [of priesthood], and I intend to continue living that way. Whatever happens, happens, and I am delighted with any decision that's made."
- On the Committee of Concerned Clergy controversy: "My own guess is that this was written by a layman. I know no priest that was involved in anything like this, and the language is such that it doesn't sound like it doesn't come from a priest"
- Biggest accomplishment as Archbishop: "I always think my biggest accomplishment as a bishop and as a priest is to lead the people in prayer. I would never think that anything I could do in any other effort would be equal to that."
- How would Egan like to be remembered: "Well, I hope [New Yorkers] remember me as one of the archbishops of New York, who came here because he was assigned to come here, and worked as hard as he could to proclaim the Gospel, to see to it that the sacramental life of the church was available, and to announce the Gospel of charity and justice"
- A favorite prayer of Egan: "Lord, please take over. Make my every word only what you would say and my every act only what you would do. Do not let me get in your way. My priesthood is yours. Lord, please take over."
[edit] Episcopal succession
| Episcopal Lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Bernardin Cardinal Gantin |
| Date of consecration: | May 25, 1985 |
| Consecrator of | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | Date of consecration |
| Josu Iriondo | December 12, 2001 |
| Timothy Anthony McDonnell | December 12, 2001 |
| Dominick Lagonegro | December 12, 2001 |
| Robert Joseph Cunningham | May 18, 2004 |
| Gerald Walsh | September 21, 2004 |
| Dennis Sullivan | September 21, 2004 |
| Charles Daniel Balvo | June 29, 2005 |
[edit] External links
- Archdiocese of New York
- Egan's monthly column in Catholic New York
- Statements by Egan
- Egan interviewed by David Ushery
- Pastoral Visit
- Dedicates Fordham Church
| Preceded by Walter W Curtis |
Bishop of Bridgeport 1988 – 2000 |
Succeeded by William E. Lori |
| Preceded by John Cardinal O'Connor |
Archbishop of New York 2000 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
