| John J. Myers | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Newark | |
| Enthroned | July 24, 2001 |
| Predecessor | Theodore Edgar McCarrick |
| Successor | current |
| Other posts | Superior of Turks and Caicos (2001-present) Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria (1987-1990) Bishop of Peoria (January 22, 1990-2001) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 17, 1966 |
| Consecration | September 3, 1987 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1941 Earlville, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Gregorian University North American College |
| Styles of John J. Myers |
|
|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
John Joseph Myers (born July 26, 1941 in Earlville, Illinois) is the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark (New Jersey, USA) and the Superior of Turks and Caicos. He was previously Bishop of Peoria.
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The eldest of seven children, Myers has an ancestry that traces its roots to Ireland, England and France. Ancestors settled in northern Illinois in the late 19th century. The Myers family farmed land near Earlville, Illinois. Prayer was an important part of their family routine and John Myers became an altar server in his parish, St. Theresa, from an early age. He attended the Earlville schools and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1963. While he was a student at Loras, Bishop John Baptist Franz offered Myers the opportunity to prepare for the priesthood in Rome.[1]
He was ordained to the priesthood (by Bishop Francis Reh at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome) for the Diocese of Peoria (Illinois) on December 17, 1966. His education for the priesthood and as a priest included study in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University while attending seminary at the North American College, where he received the S.T.L., or licentiate (post-master's certification) in sacred theology, and a doctorate in church law, the J.C.D.[1]
John Myers, at 46, was consecrated Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria in 1987, with Peoria's Bishop Edward William O'Rourke as the principal consecrator, and Louisville's then-Archbishop, Thomas Cajetan Kelly, O.P., and the then-Bishop of Pittsburgh (now the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C.), Donald William Wuerl, serving as the co-consecrators. He served as Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, and became Bishop of Peoria upon O'Rourke's resignation and retirement in 1990.
On July 24, 2001 he was appointed as the fifth Archbishop of Newark and third Superior of the Mission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos. He was installed October 9, 2001 and his Pallium was conferred on June 29, 2002.[1]
Myers is active in the Canon Law Society of America, having worked with committees dealing with the Revised Code of Canon Law, diocesan fiscal officers, lay ministry, and diocesan governance, and served as a member of the CLSA Board of Governors. He helped present workshops on the revised Code of Canon Law for members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.[1]
Archbishop Myers also served as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts at the Holy See. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America; and serves on the board of the North American College and Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.[1]
His hobby is writing and is the co-author with Gary K. Wolf of Space Vulture, a 1950s pulp sci-fi pastiche novel published by Tor Books in 2008.[2]
Myers has been both praised and criticized because of his strong conservative views and management style. Many praise his leadership and say he champions authentic Catholic doctrine at a time when many feel Catholics are drifting from strict observance. But his critics describe a domineering bishop who places undue emphasis on the letter of the law at the expense of compassion. Myers defended his actions stating: "We live our faith in communion with the church in Rome...It's sometimes difficult for us as Catholics to follow a way that appears to be different from what others in our society practice or believe. This can, understandably, cause confusion or frustration in some people."[3] While Bishop of Peoria, Myers:
On April 30, 2010, the Archbishop criticized a planned offering of a course on same-sex marriage by the area's Catholic university, Seton Hall University, saying it "troubles me greatly".[5][6]
On 10 December 2010 Myers received the honour Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus by Prince Victor Emmanuel in recognition of the Archbishop’s exemplary leadership as head of his large Catholic archdiocesan flock and as an important church and religious leader in America.[7]
| Episcopal lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Edward William O'Rourke |
| Consecrator of | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | Date of consecration |
| Edgar Moreira da Cunha | June 27, 2003 |
| Gaetano Aldo Donato | May 21, 2004 |
| John Walter Flesey | May 21, 2004 |
| Manuel Aurelio Cruz | June 9, 2008 |
| Preceded by Edward W. O'Rourke |
Bishop of Peoria 1990–2001 |
Succeeded by Daniel Robert Jenky, C.S.C. |
| Preceded by Theodore Edgar McCarrick |
Archbishop of Newark 2001–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |