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| {{short description|20th-century American Catholic bishop}} | {{short description|20th-century American Catholic bishop}} | ||
| {{other people|John Roach}} | {{other people|John Roach}} | ||
| {{ |
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} | ||
| {{Infobox Christian leader | {{Infobox Christian leader | ||
| | honorific-prefix = ] ] | | honorific-prefix = ] ] | ||
| | name = John Roach | | name = John Roach | ||
| | title = ] | | title = ] | ||
| | image =John Roach and Ronald Reagan 1982.jpg | | image = John Roach and Ronald Reagan 1982.jpg | ||
| | caption = Roach and President ] in the ] in 1982 | |||
| |caption= | |||
| | church = ] | | church = ] | ||
| | appointed = May 21, 1975 | | appointed = May 21, 1975 | ||
| Line 15: | Line 14: | ||
| | successor = ] | | successor = ] | ||
| | ordination = June 18, 1946 | | ordination = June 18, 1946 | ||
| | ordained_by = ] | |||
| | consecration = September 8, 1971 | | consecration = September 8, 1971 | ||
| | consecrated_by= ], ], ] | |||
| | other_post = | | other_post = | ||
| | birth_date = July 31, 1921 | | birth_date = July 31, 1921 | ||
| | birth_place = ] | | birth_place = ] | ||
| | nationality = American | | nationality = American | ||
| | religion |
| religion = ] | ||
| | previous_post |
| previous_post = ] ] (1971–1975)<br>] of ] (1971–1975) | ||
| | alma_mater = ] | | alma_mater = ] | ||
| | death_date = July 11, 2003 | | death_date = July 11, 2003 | ||
| | death_place = | | death_place = ] | ||
| | buried = ], ] | |||
| | residence = | |||
| | footnotes = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{infobox bishop styles | |||
| | name = John Robert Roach | |||
| | dipstyle = ] | |||
| | offstyle = ] | |||
| | relstyle = ] | |||
| | deathstyle | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Ordination | {{Ordination | ||
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| | date of diaconal ordination = | | date of diaconal ordination = | ||
| | place of diaconal ordination = | | place of diaconal ordination = | ||
| | ordained priest by = | | ordained priest by = ] | ||
| | date of priestly ordination = June 9, 1946 | | date of priestly ordination = June 9, 1946 | ||
| | place of priestly ordination = | | place of priestly ordination = | ||
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| }} | }} | ||
| '''John Robert Roach''' (July 31, 1921 – July 11, 2003) was an |
'''John Robert Roach''' (July 31, 1921 – July 11, 2003) was an ]<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor=""> prelate who served as</span> ] from 1975 to 1995. The first St. Paul archbishop to have been born in Minnesota, Roach had national prominence as deliverer of benediction at ]'s inauguration in 1977 and head of the ] from 1980 to 1983. His tenure was also touched by scandal, with a ] arrest and failure to properly handle sexual abuse cases by clergy. His impact on the ] in St. Paul, Minnesota, is commemorated by a building renamed after him. | ||
| == |
==Early life== | ||
| John Roach was born in ], |
John Robert Roach was born on July 31, 1921, in ], Minnesota, to Simon and Mary Roach. The eldest of three children, he had two younger sisters—Virginia and Mona. Growing up, he worked at the general store in Prior Lake owned by his father.<ref name="work">{{cite book |last1=Athens |first1=Mary Christine |title=To Work for the Whole People: John Ireland's Seminary in St. Paul |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=9780809105458 |location=New York}}</ref>{{rp|270}} He attended ] for two years before transferring in his junior year to ]. In 1941, he began at ]. Because of ], he was placed on an accelerated path to ordination and was ] a priest on June 18, 1946, while only 24 years old, by Archbishop ].<ref name="work"/>{{rp|271}} He also received a master's degree in education from the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Filteau |first1=Jerry |title=Minnesota's Archbishop Roach dies |url=https://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2003c/080103/080103p.htm |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=National Catholic Reporter |agency=Catholic News Service |date=August 1, 2003}}</ref><ref name=ch/> | ||
| == Priesthood == | |||
| Roach served as a priest in a number of different assignments over the course of the next 25 years. On July 12, 1971, at the age of 49 he was appointed titular Bishop of Cenae and an auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; he was consecrated on September 8, 1971. Roach's archiepiscopate began on May 21, 1975, when he succeeded Archbishop ] and ended with the acceptance of his retirement on September 8, 1995. He was succeeded by coadjutor Archbishop ], and became the archbishop ]. | |||
| Roach was first assigned to the ] in Minneapolis. Only there for the summer, when the fall arrived he was assigned to ] where he served as an instructor of Latin and religion.<ref name="work"/>{{rp|271}} From 1951 to 1968, he was the headmaster of the school.<ref name=newsroom/> As headmaster, he oversaw the 1965 move of the academy from sharing a campus with the ] to its own location in ].<ref name=concludes>{{cite news |last1=Meier |first1=Peg |title=Archbishop concludes archdiocese is strong |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishop-concludes-archdi/161889668/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Minneapolis Tribune |date=September 22, 1975 |pages=, |via=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Quarters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-new-quarters/161890258/ |work=The Minneapolis Star |date=August 31, 1965 |pages=74}}</ref> He was named a ] in 1965.<ref name="work"/>{{rp|271}} From 1968 to 1971, he served as the founding rector of ] in St. Paul.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://sjvseminary.org/history/ |website=Saint John Vianney College Seminary |access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| == Episcopacy == | |||
| In 1977, Roach delivered the ] at the inauguration of President ]. He served as the president of the ] from 1980-83. | |||
| ===Auxiliary bishop=== | |||
| On July 12, 1971, at the age of 49, Roach was appointed titular bishop of ] and an auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; he was consecrated on September 8, 1971. Archbishop ] was the primary consecrator, with ] and ] serving as principal co-consecrators.<ref name=ch/> From 1971 to 1973, Roach served as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in ]; from 1973 to 1975, he served as pastor of St. Cecilia in ].<ref name=tcsOverview>{{cite news |title=Archbishop John Roach 1921-2003 |url=https://news.arcasearchdev.com/csvirth/pdfs/spm-2003-07-24-a-003.pdf |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=] |date=July 24, 2003}}</ref> | |||
| == |
=== Archbishop === | ||
| Roach was appointed to succeed ] as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 21, 1975, and was installed on July 16, 1975.<ref name=ch/><ref>{{cite news |title=State's new archbishop anxious to get to work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-states-new-archbi/161890833/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Winona Daily News |agency=] |date=June 13, 1975 |pages=9}}</ref> He was the first priest born in the archdiocese to be named the archbishop.<ref name=rest/> | |||
| Roach made national news when he was arrested for drunk driving on February 21, 1985. He was discovered to have a blood alcohol count of 0.19, after driving his car into the wall of a convenience store.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-03-03/news/mn-32764_1_temporary-license|title=Archbishop Loses License for 90 Days for Drunk Driving|first=United Press|last=International|date=3 March 1985|access-date=28 November 2017|via=LA Times}}</ref> | |||
| ]|left]] | |||
| In 1977, Roach delivered a ] at ] of President ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Inauguration day opens with prayer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/progress-bulletin-inauguration-day-opens/161891174/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=] |agency=] |date=January 20, 1977 |pages=3}}</ref> Roach served as the president of the ] from 1980 to 1983. During his tenure, the NCCB strongly advocated for nuclear disarmament and economic justice.<ref name=dies/> During his last months as president, the NCCB issued the controversial pastoral letter on war and peace, "]".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Surlis |first1=Paul |title=The Challenge of Peace: The U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter on War and Peace |journal=The Furrow |date=1983 |volume=34 |issue=8 |pages=485–491 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27701099 |issn=0016-3120}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Kay |title=Bishops begin pastoral letters on women's issues, capitalism |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-bishops-begin-pastoral-lett/161905857/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=19 November 1983 |pages=5}}</ref> During the drafting process, President ] involved himself, appealing to ] for a letter that would distance itself from the ]. Roach publicly complained about the interference.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=McBrady |first1=Jared |title=The Challenge of Peace: Ronald Reagan, John Paul II, and the American Bishops |journal=Journal of Cold War Studies |date=2015 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=129–152 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26926186 |access-date=December 30, 2024 |issn=1520-3972}}</ref> In addition to his time as NCCB president, Roach would also served as chairman of the National Catholic Educational Association from 1986 to 1989, and president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.<ref name=after/> | |||
| Roach oversaw the implementation of a permanent diaconate program in the Archdiocese in the wake of ], ordaining the first group of 12 permanent ]s on April 25, 1976.<ref>{{cite news |title=Most Reverend John R Roach - Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |url=https://archspm.org/leadership/past-bishops/most-reverend-john-r-roach/ |work=Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |date=January 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Catholic church to ordain married men |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-catholic-church-to/161898404/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Minneapolis Star |date=April 24, 1976 |pages=4A}}</ref> | |||
| At a Jewish-Christian interfaith event on May 13, 1977, Roach was giving an acceptance speech for an award when a man ] a ] at Roach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gendler |first1=Neal |title=Archbishop Roach hit in face with pie as protest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishop-roach-hit-in-fac/161895354/ |work=Minneapolis Tribune |date=May 13, 1977 |pages=1}}</ref> The man, 22-year-old Patrick Schwartz, did so as a protest against the Catholic Church's views on homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Tom |title=Pie attack on archbishop believed planned by priest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-pie-attack-on-archbishop-be/161895210/ |work=Minneapolis Tribune |date=May 14, 1977 |pages=, }}</ref>{{efn|Schwartz later pled guilty to disorderly conduct and would later attempt to pie ] as well.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pie tosser gets work sentence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-pie-tosser-gets-work-s/161909907/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Journal Times |date=June 17, 1977 |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Simbro |first1=William |title=Pie shoved in Anita Bryant's face by homosexual here -- she cries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-pie-shoved-in-an/138239311/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Des Moines Register |date=October 15, 1977 |pages=3}}</ref>}} George Casey, a Jesuit priest and former chaplain to a group for gay Catholics, had offered $20 to anyone who would hit Roach with a pie.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thorkelson |first1=Wilmar |title=Jesuit confesses paying for pie throw |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-jesuit-confesses-pa/161895803/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Minneapolis Star |date=June 2, 1977 |pages=2}}</ref> In 1985, Roach founded a diocesan AIDS ministry, providing support to those with AIDS and their family members and providing anointing of the sick to those with the disease. The archdiocese also started a support group for gay and lesbian persons wishing to remain celibate.<ref name=tcsOverview/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bentley |first1=Rosalind |title=AIDS seminary shows more than one face |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-aids-seminary-shows-more-th/161897700/ |work=Star Tribune |date=October 15, 1988 |pages=3B}}</ref> | |||
| Roach was also aware of numerous priests molesting children. | |||
| Roach made national news when he was arrested for drunk driving on February 21, 1985, after driving his car into the wall of a Tom Thumb convenience store in ]. He was discovered to have a blood alcohol count of 0.19. His license was suspended for 90 days; during that time, he was limited to driving only for official clerical business between Tuesday and Sunday, as well as the court-required alcohol education program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-03-mn-32764-story.html|title=Archbishop Loses License for 90 Days for Drunk Driving|first=United Press|last=International|date=March 3, 1985|access-date=November 28, 2017|via=LA Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Archbishop has license lifted for 90 days |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishop-has-license-lift/161896627/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=March 2, 1985 |pages=, }}</ref> During a homily at a Mass before youth at ] in Denver, he admitted that he was an alcoholic. He received a standing ovation at the end of Mass.<ref name=decorum/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sawyer Allen |first1=Martha |title=Roach says he's an alcoholic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-roach-says-hes-an-alcoholi/161896071/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=August 13, 1993 |pages=, }}</ref> | |||
| ==Death== | |||
| Roach died on July 11, 2003.<ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|broach|Archbishop John Robert Roach|21 January 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Roach left a major impact on the operations of the ]. He oversaw the 1987–1989 renovation of Saint Mary's Chapel, and the demolition of the old administration building and construction of a new one, as well as construction of new dormitories.<ref name=work/>{{rp|341–343}} Roach oversaw the 1987 merger and affiliation agreement between the ] and seminary, which until that point had been separate intuitions with adjacent campuses. As part of the affiliation, much of the land of the campus of the seminary was sold to the college to create the current south campus, and the college became the degree-issued institution for the seminary.<ref name=work/>{{rp|326}} | |||
| His tenure as archbishop was also marred by his poor handling of the ], which was seen as too lenient.<ref name=decorum>{{cite news |last1=Sawyer Allen |first1=Martha |title=He led with decorum and acumen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-he-led-with-decorum-and-acu/161893134/ |work=Star Tribune |date=July 12, 2003 |pages=, }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Scheck |first1=Tom |title=MPR: Former Archbishop John Roach dies |url=https://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/07/11_scheckt_roach/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=MPR News |date=July 11, 2003}}</ref> In one case, Roach was alleged to have protected and reassigned a priest accused of raping girls.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baran |first1=Madeleine |title=Inside the documents: How archbishops protected accused priest |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/08/11/documents-lavan |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=MPR News |date=August 11, 2014 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| On February 22, 1994, Bishop ], the Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana, was appointed ] and became the presumptive successor of Roach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Tatsha |title=Archbishop's probable successor is selected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishops-probable-succe/161899398/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=February 23, 1994 |pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bflynn|Archbishop Harry Joseph Flynn|December 30, 2024}}</ref> On September 5, 1995, Roach's retirement was accepted. While Roach was only 74, a year younger than the normal retirement age, he said considered Flynn ready to take over.<ref name=after>{{cite news |last1=Kimball |first1=Joe |title=Archbishop John Roach retires after 20 years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishop-john-roach-retir/161893548/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=September 9, 1995 |pages=, }}</ref> | |||
| ==Retirement and death == | |||
| ] | |||
| When he retired, Roach stated that he intended to do mission work in local parishes and work on a project with the ] to evaluate Catholic social teaching in Catholic schools. He moved into the same apartment at ] where he had lived when he taught there.<ref name=after/> | |||
| In 2000, the ] changed the name of Albertus Magnus Hall to the John R. Roach Center for Liberal Arts in recognition of his 20 years of service as chairman of the St. Thomas board of trustees, after a $9.8 million {{USDCY|9800000|2000}} renovation to the 1947 ] building.<ref name=newsroom>{{cite web |date=July 14, 2003 |title=Archbishop John Roach Dies Friday |url=https://news.stthomas.edu/archbishop-john-roach-dies-friday/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819103946/https://news.stthomas.edu/archbishop-john-roach-dies-friday/ |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=St. Thomas Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Winterer |first1=Jim |title=Albertus Magnus Hall now John R. Roach Center for the Liberal Arts |url=https://news.stthomas.edu/publication-article/albertus-magnus-hall-now-john-r-roach-center-for-the-liberal-arts/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=University of St. Thomas Newsroom |date=2000}}</ref> | |||
| Roach died of heart failure on July 11, 2003, at the ] home in St. Paul.<ref name=ch>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|broach|Archbishop John Robert Roach|January 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name=dies>{{cite news |title=Former Archbishop John Roach dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-former-archbishop/161890581/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Winona Daily News |agency=] |date=July 12, 2003 |pages=4}}</ref> Over 2,500 attended his funeral at the ], including 300 priests and 15 bishops.<ref name=rest/> Bishop ] gave the sermon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Faithful bid farewell to Twin Cities' Archbishop Roach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albert-lea-tribune-faithful-bid-fare/161892958/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Albert Lea Tribune |agency=] |date=July 17, 2003 |pages=6}}</ref> Minnesota Governor ] and former vice-president ] were also in attendance.<ref name=rest>{{cite news |last1=Sawyer Allen |first1=Martha |last2=Maria Elena |first2=Baca |title=Archbishop Roach laid to rest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-archbishop-roach-laid-to-re/161892298/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=July 17, 2003 |pages=B3}}</ref> Roach was buried at ] in ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hrbacek |first1=Dave |title=Archbishop laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery |url=https://news.arcasearchdev.com/csvirth/pdfs/spm-2019-10-10-a-008.pdf |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=] |date=October 10, 2019 |page=8A}}</ref> | |||
| ==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| {{notelist}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Portal|Biography}} | {{Portal|Biography}} | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 21:07, 3 January 2025
20th-century American Catholic bishop For other people named John Roach, see John Roach (disambiguation).
| His Excellency The Most Reverend John Roach | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis | |
 Roach and President Reagan in the Oval Office in 1982 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Appointed | May 21, 1975 |
| Term ended | September 8, 1995 |
| Predecessor | Leo Binz |
| Successor | Harry Flynn |
| Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis (1971–1975) Titular Bishop of Cenae (1971–1975) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 18, 1946 by John Gregory Murray |
| Consecration | September 8, 1971 by Luigi Raimondi, Leo Binz, Leo Christopher Byrne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1921 Prior Lake, Minnesota |
| Died | July 11, 2003 Saint Paul |
| Buried | Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | Saint Paul Seminary |
|
Ordination history of John Roach | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
John Robert Roach (July 31, 1921 – July 11, 2003) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis from 1975 to 1995. The first St. Paul archbishop to have been born in Minnesota, Roach had national prominence as deliverer of benediction at Jimmy Carter's inauguration in 1977 and head of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1980 to 1983. His tenure was also touched by scandal, with a drunk driving arrest and failure to properly handle sexual abuse cases by clergy. His impact on the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, is commemorated by a building renamed after him.
Early life
John Robert Roach was born on July 31, 1921, in Prior Lake, Minnesota, to Simon and Mary Roach. The eldest of three children, he had two younger sisters—Virginia and Mona. Growing up, he worked at the general store in Prior Lake owned by his father. He attended Shakopee High School for two years before transferring in his junior year to Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary. In 1941, he began at Saint Paul Seminary. Because of World War II, he was placed on an accelerated path to ordination and was ordained a priest on June 18, 1946, while only 24 years old, by Archbishop John Gregory Murray. He also received a master's degree in education from the University of Minnesota.
Priesthood
Roach was first assigned to the Church of Saint Stephen in Minneapolis. Only there for the summer, when the fall arrived he was assigned to Saint Thomas Academy where he served as an instructor of Latin and religion. From 1951 to 1968, he was the headmaster of the school. As headmaster, he oversaw the 1965 move of the academy from sharing a campus with the College of Saint Thomas to its own location in Mendota Heights. He was named a monsignor in 1965. From 1968 to 1971, he served as the founding rector of Saint John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul.
Episcopacy
Auxiliary bishop
On July 12, 1971, at the age of 49, Roach was appointed titular bishop of Cenae and an auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; he was consecrated on September 8, 1971. Archbishop Luigi Raimondi was the primary consecrator, with Leo Binz and Leo Christopher Byrne serving as principal co-consecrators. From 1971 to 1973, Roach served as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in St. Anthony; from 1973 to 1975, he served as pastor of St. Cecilia in St. Paul.
Archbishop
Roach was appointed to succeed Leo Binz as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 21, 1975, and was installed on July 16, 1975. He was the first priest born in the archdiocese to be named the archbishop.
In 1977, Roach delivered a benediction at the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. Roach served as the president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1980 to 1983. During his tenure, the NCCB strongly advocated for nuclear disarmament and economic justice. During his last months as president, the NCCB issued the controversial pastoral letter on war and peace, "The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response". During the drafting process, President Ronald Reagan involved himself, appealing to Holy See for a letter that would distance itself from the Nuclear Freeze campaign. Roach publicly complained about the interference. In addition to his time as NCCB president, Roach would also served as chairman of the National Catholic Educational Association from 1986 to 1989, and president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.
Roach oversaw the implementation of a permanent diaconate program in the Archdiocese in the wake of Vatican II, ordaining the first group of 12 permanent deacons on April 25, 1976.
At a Jewish-Christian interfaith event on May 13, 1977, Roach was giving an acceptance speech for an award when a man threw a chocolate-cream pie at Roach. The man, 22-year-old Patrick Schwartz, did so as a protest against the Catholic Church's views on homosexuality. George Casey, a Jesuit priest and former chaplain to a group for gay Catholics, had offered $20 to anyone who would hit Roach with a pie. In 1985, Roach founded a diocesan AIDS ministry, providing support to those with AIDS and their family members and providing anointing of the sick to those with the disease. The archdiocese also started a support group for gay and lesbian persons wishing to remain celibate.
Roach made national news when he was arrested for drunk driving on February 21, 1985, after driving his car into the wall of a Tom Thumb convenience store in Lindstrom, Minnesota. He was discovered to have a blood alcohol count of 0.19. His license was suspended for 90 days; during that time, he was limited to driving only for official clerical business between Tuesday and Sunday, as well as the court-required alcohol education program. During a homily at a Mass before youth at World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, he admitted that he was an alcoholic. He received a standing ovation at the end of Mass.
Roach left a major impact on the operations of the Saint Paul Seminary. He oversaw the 1987–1989 renovation of Saint Mary's Chapel, and the demolition of the old administration building and construction of a new one, as well as construction of new dormitories. Roach oversaw the 1987 merger and affiliation agreement between the College of Saint Thomas and seminary, which until that point had been separate intuitions with adjacent campuses. As part of the affiliation, much of the land of the campus of the seminary was sold to the college to create the current south campus, and the college became the degree-issued institution for the seminary.
His tenure as archbishop was also marred by his poor handling of the cases of sexual abuse by clergy, which was seen as too lenient. In one case, Roach was alleged to have protected and reassigned a priest accused of raping girls.
On February 22, 1994, Bishop Harry Flynn, the Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana, was appointed coadjutor bishop and became the presumptive successor of Roach. On September 5, 1995, Roach's retirement was accepted. While Roach was only 74, a year younger than the normal retirement age, he said considered Flynn ready to take over.
Retirement and death
When he retired, Roach stated that he intended to do mission work in local parishes and work on a project with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to evaluate Catholic social teaching in Catholic schools. He moved into the same apartment at Saint Thomas Academy where he had lived when he taught there.
In 2000, the University of St. Thomas changed the name of Albertus Magnus Hall to the John R. Roach Center for Liberal Arts in recognition of his 20 years of service as chairman of the St. Thomas board of trustees, after a $9.8 million ($17.3 million in 2023) renovation to the 1947 Collegiate Gothic building.
Roach died of heart failure on July 11, 2003, at the Little Sisters of the Poor home in St. Paul. Over 2,500 attended his funeral at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, including 300 priests and 15 bishops. Bishop John Kinney gave the sermon. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former vice-president Walter Mondale were also in attendance. Roach was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.
Notes
- Schwartz later pled guilty to disorderly conduct and would later attempt to pie Anita Bryant as well.
References
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- Filteau, Jerry (August 1, 2003). "Minnesota's Archbishop Roach dies". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ "Archbishop John Robert Roach". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
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- ^ Sawyer Allen, Martha; Maria Elena, Baca (July 17, 2003). "Archbishop Roach laid to rest". Star Tribune. pp. B3. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- "Inauguration day opens with prayer". Progress Bulletin. Associated Press. January 20, 1977. p. 3. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ "Former Archbishop John Roach dies". The Winona Daily News. Associated Press. July 12, 2003. p. 4. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- Surlis, Paul (1983). "The Challenge of Peace: The U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter on War and Peace". The Furrow. 34 (8): 485–491. ISSN 0016-3120.
- Miller, Kay (November 19, 1983). "Bishops begin pastoral letters on women's issues, capitalism". Star Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- McBrady, Jared (2015). "The Challenge of Peace: Ronald Reagan, John Paul II, and the American Bishops". Journal of Cold War Studies. 17 (1): 129–152. ISSN 1520-3972. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Kimball, Joe (September 9, 1995). "Archbishop John Roach retires after 20 years". Star Tribune. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
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- "Pie tosser gets work sentence". The Journal Times. June 17, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- Simbro, William (October 15, 1977). "Pie shoved in Anita Bryant's face by homosexual here -- she cries". The Des Moines Register. p. 3. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
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- Bentley, Rosalind (October 15, 1988). "AIDS seminary shows more than one face". Star Tribune. pp. 3B.
- International, United Press (March 3, 1985). "Archbishop Loses License for 90 Days for Drunk Driving". Retrieved November 28, 2017 – via LA Times.
- "Archbishop has license lifted for 90 days". Star Tribune. March 2, 1985. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Sawyer Allen, Martha (July 12, 2003). "He led with decorum and acumen". Star Tribune. pp. A1, A16.
- Sawyer Allen, Martha (August 13, 1993). "Roach says he's an alcoholic". Star Tribune. pp. 1A, 14A. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
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| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byLeo Binz | Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis 1975–1995 |
Succeeded byHarry Flynn |
| Preceded byJohn R. Quinn | President of the NCCB/USCC 1980–1983 |
Succeeded byJames W. Malone |
- 1921 births
- 2003 deaths
- Saint Paul Seminary alumni
- People from Scott County, Minnesota
- 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the United States
- Roman Catholic archbishops of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Presidents of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- University of Minnesota alumni
- Burials at Resurrection Cemetery