Robert Joseph McManus

Robert Joseph McManus (born July 5, 1951) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, as well as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.[1]

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Robert Joseph McManus
Bishop of Worcester
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseWorcester
AppointedMarch 9, 2004
InstalledMay 14, 2004
PredecessorDaniel Patrick Reilly
Orders
OrdinationMay 27, 1978
by Kenneth Anthony Angell
ConsecrationFebruary 22, 1999
by Kenneth Anthony Angell, Robert Edward Mulvee, and Louis Edward Gelineau
Personal details
Born (1951-07-05) July 5, 1951
Providence, Rhode Island
Previous postAuxiliary Bishop of Providence
MottoCHRISTUS VERITATIS SPLENDOR
Styles of
Robert Joseph McManus
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Early life and education

McManus was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Edward W. & Helen F. (née King) McManus. He grew up in the Providence area, graduating from Blessed Sacrament School and Our Lady of Providence High School. He is an alumnus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and of the Toronto School of Theology.

Ordination and ministry

McManus was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1978 by Bishop Kenneth Anthony Angell of Providence. He served as an associate pastor at several parishes and chaplaincies throughout the diocese for nearly twenty years. He was elevated to the title of Monsignor on February 28, 1997 by Pope John Paul II.

McManus was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Providence on February 22, 1999. On May 14, 2004, Bishop McManus succeeded Bishop Daniel P. Reilly as Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts upon the latter's retirement.[2] He was installed in Worcester on May 14, 2004. Bishop McManus criticized the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester for renting out "sacred space" to the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy for workshops. He expressed the view that the classes taught things which violated the teachings of the Catholic Church. On October 10, 2007, he issued a statement making known his criticisms of the conference.[3]

Disputed property sale

In June 2012, on instructions from McManus, diocesan officials declined to sell a property owned by the diocese, an historic mansion in Northbridge, to a married gay couple. The property had been used as a Church-affiliated nonprofit retreat center.[4][5] In September the couple filed suit against the bishop and other parties to the negotiations, citing an email in which church officials pulled out of the sale "because of the potentiality of gay marriages there."[6]

A lawyer for the diocese said that the Massachusetts anti-discrimination statute provides an exemption for religious institutions. He said: "If a religious entity did not have to permit property to be used for gay weddings, which we all agree, why must religious property be sold to an organization if it is going to be used for a gay wedding?" Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a brief supporting the plaintiffs that said "we believe that this family was unfairly discriminated against by the diocese when it refused to sell them property based on their sexual orientation.... And no reasonable person would think that a wedding that took place on a property no longer owned by a church was endorsed by that church." Oral arguments in the case were scheduled in Worcester Superior Court on April 22, 2014.[7]

Arrest

On May 4, 2013, McManus was arrested for drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical test in Narragansett, Rhode Island. After the alleged accident, the other person involved in the collision followed him and phoned the police. McManus was reportedly arrested about 20 minutes after the accident. He later stated: "I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner. There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action. More importantly, I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence."[8]

See also

References
  1. "Bishop McManus named Apostolic Administrator of Springfield Diocese". The Catholic Free Press, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  2. Robert Joseph McManus profile, catholic-hierarchy.org; accessed July 12, 2020.
  3. Hudson, Deal W. (October 15, 2007). "High Noon at College of the Holy Cross". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  4. Williamson, Dianne (July 26, 2012). "'Plans' don't include sale to gay couple". Worcester Telegram. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  5. Anderson, Karen. "Gay Couple Says Church Is Blocking Sale Of Historic Home". CBS Boston. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  6. Wangsness, Lisa (September 10, 2012). "Gay couple says church denied Northbridge mansion sale to stop same-sex weddings". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  7. Wangsness, Lisa (March 14, 2014). "Worcester Diocese is guilty of antigay bias, Coakley says". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  8. Andersen, Travis; Feathers, Todd (May 6, 2013). "Bishop McManus of Worcester arrested for drunken driving; admits 'terrible error in judgment'". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Daniel Patrick Reilly		 Bishop of Worcester
2004–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
–		 Auxiliary Bishop of Providence
1999–2004		 Succeeded by
–
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