Francis J. Haas

Francis J. Haas
Born Francis Joseph Haas
March 18, 1889
Racine, Wisconsin
Died August 29, 1953
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Cause of death heart attack
Resting place Resurrection Cemetery, Wyoming, Michigan
Nationality United States
Citizenship United States
Education St. Francis Seminary, Johns Hopkins, Catholic University
Occupation priest, labor mediator, bishop
Title Bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Term 1943–1953
Predecessor Joseph C. Plagens
Successor Allen James Babcock
Board member of National Labor Relations Board, President's Committee on Civil Rights
Parent(s) Peter Francis Haas, Mary Lucy O'Day

Francis Joseph Haas (March 18, 1889 – August 29, 1953) was an American Roman Catholic bishop and advocate for social justice. He was the sixth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids from 1943 until his death in 1953.

Early life and training

Francis Haas was born in Racine, Wisconsin.[1] He studied at St. Francis Seminary, and was ordained on June 11, 1913, for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was later appointed rector of St. Francis in 1935, and was president of the Catholic Association for International Peace.[2]

Labor relations

As a mediator for the National Labor Board, he helped settle the Minneapolis Teamsters strike in 1934.[3]

Civil rights

He was a member of President Harry Truman's President's Committee on Civil Rights, 1946–1947.

Bishop of Grand Rapids

In 1943, he resigned from his position as chairman of the President's Committee on Fair Employment Practice to become the bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan.[4] Pope Pius XII appointed him bishop on September 26, 1943, and he was consecrated on November 18, 1943. He hosted a National Liturgical Conference at the Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium in 1953, and died eight days later on August 29, 1953, of a heart attack.[5]

References

  1. "Grand Rapids Diocese Has New Bishop". The Ludington Daily News. October 2, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Dr. Francis Haas is new St. Francis Seminary Rector.". Catholic Herald Citizen (Nov. 9). 1935. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  3. "Federal Men Seek Minneapolis Peace". The New York Times (July 19). July 19, 1934. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  4. "Mgr. Haas resigns as job bias arbiter.". The New York Times (October 3). October 3, 1943. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  5. Ancona, Gaspar F. Where the Star Came to Rest page 108, 2001 ISBN 2-7468-0317-8

Further reading

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Joseph C. Plagens
Bishop of Grand Rapids
19431953
Succeeded by
Allen James Babcock
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