John Michael D'Arcy

John Michael D'Arcy (August 18, 1932 – February 3, 2013) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the eighth diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. He was succeeded as diocesan bishop by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who was named to the post by Pope Benedict XVI on November 14, 2009. Until then, Bishop Rhoades had been bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Michael D'Arcy
Bishop emeritus of Fort Wayne-South Bend
ProvinceIndianapolis
DioceseFort Wayne-South Bend
InstalledMay 1, 1985
Term endedNovember 14, 2009
PredecessorWilliam Edward McManus
SuccessorKevin C. Rhoades
Other postsAuxiliary Bishop of Boston (1974-1985)
Titular Bishop of Mediana (1974-1985)
Orders
OrdinationFebruary 2, 1957
ConsecrationDecember 30, 1974
Personal details
Born(1932-08-18)August 18, 1932
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 3, 2013(2013-02-03) (aged 80)
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Nationality American
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Styles of
John D'Arcy
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Early life and ministry

John D'Arcy was born in Brighton, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrants. His parents were Michael and Margaret (Moran) D'Arcy. He had three sisters: Mrs. Mary Caprio, Sister Anne, and Mrs. Joan Sheridan. He entered St. John's Seminary in September 1949, and was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1957. D'arcy is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he studied from 1965 to 1968 earning a doctorate in spiritual theology. He served as spiritual director and professor of spiritual theology at St. John's Seminary from 1968 to 1985, and also as pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Beverly.

Episcopal career

On December 30, 1974, D'Arcy was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and Titular Bishop of Mediana by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on February 11, 1975, from Humberto Sousa Cardinal Medeiros, with Bishops Thomas Riley and Lawrence Riley serving as co-consecrators. He became episcopal vicar for the Lowell Region on July 21, 1981.

When serving as auxiliary bishop in Boston, D'Arcy "warned against the Catholic Church’s transfer of pedophile priest John Geoghan to a new parish, according to the church's own investigators. But Bishop D'Arcy's 1984 letter to Archbishop Bernard Francis Law about Geoghan’s history of abusing young boys did no good." Geoghan was left in his youth-groups job and "D'Arcy was transferred to Indiana".[1]

Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend

D'Arcy was named Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, on February 26, 1985. Replacing William Edward McManus, he was formally installed on the following May 1.

In March 2009, D'Arcy declared he would boycott the May graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame because President Barack Obama would be delivering the commencement speech and receiving an honorary degree.[2] Noting Obama's "unwillingness to hold human life as sacred," he said that "a bishop must teach the Catholic faith 'in season and out of season,' and he teaches not only by his words–but by his actions" and asked Notre Dame if by choosing Obama "it has chosen prestige over truth."[2]

He retired in 2009.

Death and burial

Bishop D'Arcy died on February 3, 2013, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from cancer at 80.[3] Following his death, visitations were held at both St. Matthew's Cathedral in South Bend and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne. The Mass of Christian Burial for Bishop D'Arcy was held on February 8, 2013, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception followed by the Rite of Committal, which was conducted privately with his family in the crypt of the cathedral.[4]

See also
  • List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Province of Indianapolis

Sources

References
  1. Lawrence, J.M., "Bishop John M. D’Arcy, 80; warned against transfer of pedophile to new parish", Boston Globe, February 05, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  2. D'Arcy, John (2009-03-24). "Protesting bishop won't attend Notre Dame graduation". National Catholic Reporter.
  3. Kevin Leininger (contributor) (3 February 2013). "Bishop D'Arcy has died". News-Sentinel. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  4. "Rest in Peace, Bishop D'Arcy". Today's Catholic. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
William Edward McManus		 Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
1985–2009		 Succeeded by
Kevin C. Rhoades
Preceded by
–		 Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
1975–1985		 Succeeded by
–


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