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Cardinal Edward M. Egan Dead at 82
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| 1932-2015 |
I am sad to report that Archbishop emeritus of New York, Cardinal Edward Michael Egan has passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. He served the people of New York from 2000 – 2009 after the passing of John Cardinal O’ Connor and was succeeded by Cardinal Dolan.
***I will update this post as I learn more and will share my personal stories regarding him.
UPDATE 10:00 PM**
According to Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Egan was having lunch today at around 2:00 PM and after the lunch, he groaned and collapsed dead. He was pronounced dead at NYU Langone Medical Center.
“Thank God he had a peaceful death, passing away right after lunch today, with the prayers and sacraments of his loyal priest secretary, Father Douglas Crawford, in his residence at the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.” – Cardinal Dolan
Edward Egan was born on April 2, in 1932 at Oak Park, Illinois. He was the third of four children born to Thomas and Genevieve Costello-Egan. Both parents worked. His dad worked as a sales manager and his mom as a teacher. Egan was of Irish descent but spoke Spanish, French, Italian and Latin. During the 1940s, Egan along with his brother contracted the disease polio which was rampant at the time. Despite this, he graduated in 1951 from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and was the student body president as well as the editor of the school’s newspaper and its yearbook. Egan would then begin his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. There, he would earn a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and then was sent to the Pontifical North American College and Gregorian University in Rome to study Theology. After his studies, he was ordained by Archbishop Martin John O’ Connor on December 15 in the year 1957. Afterward, he continued his studies and earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology. As a priest, he worked at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and was an assistant at the chancery of the Archdiocese as well as the personal secretary of Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer in the late 1950s.
Egan also worked as a chaplain at Wesley Memorial Hospital. In the 1960s, Egan pursued a doctoral degree in canon law and graduated summa cum laude in 1964. Afterward, he became the secretary of John Cardinal Cody. As a canon lawyer, he was instrumental in the revision of the Code of Canon Law in 1983 ordered by Saint John Paul II. In 1985, on April 1st, he was appointed auxiliary Bishop of New York and titular Bishop of Allegheny by Saint John Paul II and was ordained by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin along with Archbishop John Joseph O’Connor and Bishop John Richard Keating on May 22. As his episcopal motto, he chose the words from Ephesians 4:25 which reads, “In the Holiness of Truth.” As auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of New York, he assisted with Confirmations and was the Vicar for Education until 1988. He would then be named as Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut in November of that year.
While in Bridgeport, he raised over $50 million for Catholic schools and brought in Hispanic priests
from South America to serve the Hispanic community in Bridgeport. While Bishop, the diocesan Catholic Charities was the most active and largest social service agency in the area. After the death of Cardinal O’ Connor of New York, Saint John Paul II named Egan Archbishop to New York on May 11, 2000. He was installed in June of that year on the 19th. A year later, he was named Cardinal by Saint John Paul II.
As Archbishop of New York, the Cardinal worked hard to bring more vocations. The number of Catholics grew over 200,000 while he was the Archbishop and there was an increase in ordinations. He made it a priority to have seminarians serve Mass with him at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and invited them to meet at the residence for lunch and discussions. He also founded the John Cardinal O’Connor residence for retired priests in the Bronx. In 2002, Saint John Paul II named Cardinal Egan to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
Cardinal Egan helped New York get through the September 11 attacks. He was at the World Trade Center site with a group of priests administering the last rites and was caught in the commotion when the Towers fell. He was seen on television looking disoriented and in shock saying “God help us;” his clerical suit, face and hair full of the ashes of the towers. Egan would then coin the phrase, “Ground Hero” when describing what others called “Ground Zero.” In 2005, he would be in Rome to participate in the Conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the papacy as Benedict XVI.
Unfortunately, not everything went smoothly with Cardinal Egan. After the media frenzy regarding the sexual abuse of minors by some priests, the Cardinal was accused of shifting priests around in order to avoid prosecution. However, he was found innocent of the charge. Despite this, he enforced a zero tolerance policy in the Archdiocese of New York before the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered and decided on such policy. The Cardinal also became unpopular with priests in the Archdiocese and some parishioners after he closed and merged parishes. In one meeting that I was present in, a priest (deceased now) Fr. Grange squared up to Cardinal Egan; visibly upset over claims that his parish (St. Jerome in Mott Haven, Bronx) was ignored.
In 2006, some priests held secret meetings and sent an anonymous letter to other priests and the Cardinal voicing their concerns at how he was running the Church of New York. Egan responded with a strongly worded letter criticizing the priests involved. This showed the internal conflict between the Archbishop and his priests. Cardinal Egan also made some controversial statements on celibacy which were interpreted as if he was suggesting that it should be optional. He later clarified what he meant by his comments and praise the discipline of celibacy. Rumors began to circulate that John Cardinal O’ Connor did not like Egan and even made a trip to Rome prior to his death to ask Saint John Paul II not to install him as Archbishop of New York. Egan had a reputation for being stern and business minded. This is why he was installed as Archbishop of New York. At the time, Cardinal O’ Connor spent too much money running programs in the Archdiocese, according to Cardinal Dolan. Egan was put in to balance the books and make the hard decisions (schools/parish closings). Naturally, this would have caused friction as people often do not like change. In 2009, the Cardinal had his first public health scare and was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital for stomach pains. He was then given a pacemaker a few days later.
Cardinal Egan was a stern, orthodox but kind man. He will be missed. I remember when I first saw him and heard him via the PA system at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and recall joking with other seminarians and servers that he sounded like Darth Vadar. He had a booming baritone voice that spoke firmly but with compassion. I met him personally on several occasions and served Mass with him prior to leaving New York City. He was always joking and on one occasion told my mother that she looks like my sister; complimenting her. Cardinal Dolan said today in an interview that while in the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Egan pointed to a tomb covered by a square piece of marble and said, “this one is for me,” he then told Cardinal Dolan, “and these two are for you” joking about Dolan’s corpulent body and how it would need two tombs.
Here are two old personal photos I found:
Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/cardinal-edward-egan-former-york-archbishop-dies-201411763.html
http://news.yahoo.com/cardinal-egan–retired-ny-archbishop–dies-at-age-82-204104464.html
http://longisland.news12.com/news/cardinal-egan-retired-ny-archbishop-dies-at-age-82-1.10019918
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/05/391042769/cardinal-egan-ex-archbishop-of-new-york-diesregion®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Edward-Cardinal-Egan-New-York-Archbishop-Death–295223021.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/05/cardinal-egan-new-york-dead/24450071/ ∞
John Cardinal O’ Connor
Today was born one of the greatest priests of the Catholic Church who died a Prince of the Church.
John Joseph O’Connor was born on January 15, 1920 to Mary Gomble O’ Connor and Thomas O’ Connor. He was the fourth of five children in a working class family. John O’Connor was educated by the Christian brothers and felt called to religious life. At the tender age of 16, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. It took nine years of study and he was ordained on December 15, 1945 at the age of 25. He would later work as a diocesan priest.
O’ Connor was then called to minister to our armed service men. Cardinal Spellman, the Archbishop of New York at the time needed chaplains for the Armed Forces and Father O’Connor did not hesitate to answer the need and would work in the Navy as chaplain. He remained there for 27 years and was even made a Rear Admiral and Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. In 1979, he was ordained an auxiliary Bishop and worked under Cardinal Cooke in the Military Vicariate.
As bishop, he would take the helm as Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1983. However, God had other plans and only a year later he would be named Archbishop of New York; a position that some people call the equivalent of being the “pope” of the United States of America. In 1985, Blessed Pope John Paul II would name Archbishop a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He would
remain Archbishop of New York until the year 2000 when he passed on to meet His Lord.
Cardinal O’Connor was the embodiment of what Pope Francis is asking priests, religious and laity to be today.
He worked for the poor, the sick – especially the disabled who he was fond on. His mother became blind when he was young and this left an impact on him. He made it a priority to be there for the disabled and always celebrated their Confirmation. Cardinal O’ Connor ministered to the poor and was close friends with Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The Cardinal approved the first specialized AIDS unit to provide care to AIDS patients which was the first of its kind. There he would care for AIDS patients by cleaning their bedpans and even their sores, many who were gay.
GAYS
The LGBT community did not like him at all despite his care of gay AIDS patients. They would mock him during “Pride parade” events and even disrupted Mass at St. Patrick’s cathedral when a group of gays from ACT UP entered the historic building, some chained themselves to pews, others took Holy Communion, smashed it in their hands, threw the remains, spat and stomped on the sacred species while saying, “this is what I think of your God.” Despite this, Cardinal O’ Connor forgave them and made it clear by staying, “I must preach what the church preaches, teach what the church teaches.”
The Cardinal was very outspoken against homosexuality and this earned him many enemies in the LGBT, Pro-Abortion and liberal factions including radio personality Don Imus. Nevertheless, he did not shy away from the teachings of the Church on this issue or on other issues such as abortion, contraception and euthanasia.
To date, the NYPD places barricades to protect Catholics from the gay community during their “Pride” events. Even after his death, the LGBT community still held a grudge. A gay publication published a satire image celebrating his death by “dancing on his grave.”
Time Out New York published an article expressing joy and relief after his death and wrote: “The press eulogized him as a saint, when in fact, the pious creep was a stuck-in-the-1950s anti-gay menace. Good riddance!” Carmen Vazques of the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center stated that the Cardinal made the lives of the LGBT people miserable with his comments and opposition to their way of life.
ABORTION and other ISSUES
There probably has not been a prelate so aggressive in the Pro-Life movement than His Eminence, John Cardinal O’ Connor. O’ Connor was firm on his adherence to the Church’s teachings on life and abortion.
He was so dedicated to this that he founded the Sisters for Life who exist to help pregnant women and to discourage abortion. The Cardinal even offered to take care of expenses for any woman seeking an abortion, even providing a car to help them. It was he who ordained the well known Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life and allowed him to work at Priests for Life as director.
Aside from wearing his clerical collar and suit, he would wear a rose lapel pin with the words “LIFE.” He fought for those who were targets for euthanasia and emphasized the Church’s teachings without compromise. Cardinal O’ Connor coined the phrase “Cafeteria Catholic” when he said, “The Church is not a salad bar, from which to pick and choose what pleases you.”
He did not waiver in his role as shepherd and evangelist. When President Clinton was pushing his pro-abortion agenda which threatened Catholic hospitals with legal action as well as free speech, the Cardinal responded with, “Jail Me.” He also made it clear that he will close hospitals if necessary to prevent them from becoming havens for abortion, euthanasia and contraception.
END OF AN EARTHY JOURNEY
As required by Canon Law, Cardinal O’ Connor submitted his resignation at age 75 to the Vatican. Blessed John Paul II did not accept it and asked him to stay on longer which Cardinal O’ Connor did. In 1999 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor which was inoperable. Like Blessed John Paul II, he did not hide from the public.
He celebrated Mass, and continued his schedule despite health visibly deteriorating. The Cardinal who was known to be agile and have a “New York” swag-walk in his step, was having difficulty standing and even fell at the Cathedral during Mass. He swelled up due to the cancer treatment and even joked about it by referring himself as “fat head.”
The Cardinal met his Lord on May 3, 2000. His funeral Mass was packed to capacity with dignitaries such as President Clinton. When his work against abortion was mentioned, the people stood up in an ovation that lasted over five minutes which left President Clinton and other pro-abortion politicians dumbfounded and embarrassed. He was laid to rest in the crypt under the high altar.
AWARDS
He received the Jackie Robinson Empire State MEdal of Freedom by Governor Pataki and the Congressional Gold Medal by the US Congress and President Clinton by unanimous vote. A campus in the Bronx of the College of New Rochelle on 149 street was named after him.
Cardinal John Joseph O’ Connor is a model prelate that should be imitated. He was stern when he needed to be and gentle at all times. Like Pope Francis and previous recent Popes, he only wished to be known as a simple priest who worked humbly in the Lord’s vineyard. The Cardinal courageously defended the unborn, the poor, the disabled, AIDS patients and the Catholic Church’s teachings without compromise. He was a true shepherd and faithful priest who did not water down the doctrines and dogmas of the 2000 + year old Catholic Church of Christ in order to conform to the times.
May he rest in peace and pray for the Militant Church still in the war on Earth against evil, the culture of death and immorality.
More Information:
http://www.ewtn.com/Memoriam/oconnor/life/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Joseph_O’Connor
Ed Koch – The “Jewish-Catholic”
New York City has lost probably the greatest mayor ever to hold office. Mayor Ed Koch passed away of congested heart failure Friday morning 2/1/13 in the city he served and loved greatly.
Koch was born on December 12, 1924 in my hometown the Bronx. He was of Polish-Jewish descent, but was not very strict in following Judaism. He served in the army and later became a lawyer, councilman, mayor, movie and restaurant critic. Koch was a longtime Democrat and labeled himself as being a “liberal with sanity.”
He is probably most known for his time as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. During these years, New York City was imploding. Unemployment and poverty were high. Crime was high and the quality of life was at its all time low. Many areas, the Bronx in particular, looked like war zones with crumbling burning buildings. New York City was not the bright red apple, but was a rotten apple that many wanted to leave from. From the “Son of Sam” killing spree, to the riots and blackout; New York City was just dangerous to be in and there seemed to be no hope in sight. Subway cars were often tainted with graffiti as well as buildings and other properties. The movie “The Bronx Warriors” shows some glimpses of how life was.
As mayor, Koch rode the subways, something which the current mayor has imitated. Koch would also stand on corners and ask New Yorkers “How’m I doin’?” He was a people’s mayor. There was speculation that Koch was homosexual because he had no known relationships or children. He later stated that he was heterosexual. Nevertheless, New Yorkers know him for the work he did in rebuilding the city and appreciate him for that.Koch worked hard to replace burned down tenements with affordable housing. He helped fix schools and made the NYPD work hard to clean up crime in the city. These acts would eventually earn him the three terms he held in office. In 1997 to 1999 he took on the role of the judge in the “People’s Court.”
Mayor Koch and the late John Cardinal O’ Connor were very close. Despite differences in religion and philosophies, both worked together in order to better the life of New Yorkers. Mayor Koch was a regular at the Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cardinal O’ Connor would often remark at the beginning of the Mass,
“Now that I see Mayor Koch is seated, let the midnight Mass begin,”
this would cause a roar of laughter and Mayor Koch would be shown on camera blushing.
Koch attributes a healing from spinal stenosis to Cardinal O’ Connor. He writes in a letter:
“I loved Cardinal O’Connor as a brother. Since his death, I have kept his funeral memorial card on my desk. When I’m depressed, which occasionally I am, I hold the card and become reinvigorated. Indeed, I believe holding his photo when I was in the hospital for six weeks in June of 2009 cured my spinal stenosis. I’ve been free of pain ever since. I told this story to President Obama’s former Chief of Staff, Bill Daley, brother of former Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago. He asked me if he could borrow the photo.” –http://blog.archny.org/index.php/reflections-on-mayor-koch/
They both even co-authored the book “His Eminence and Hizzoner – A Candid exchange.” Mayor Koch even gave testimony regarding Cardinal Terence Cooke’s cause for sainthood.
At his funeral, speakers spoke of his frank but down-to-Earth personality. They spoke of how he worked hard to fix the city of New York. Mayor Michael Bloomberg credited him for setting the path for himself and his predecessors to continue building up New York City.
The living Cardinals in New York, Cardinals Egan and Dolan call him a friend of the Catholic Church. Koch as a liberal naturally did not agree with some things the Church teaches; however, he stated: “I believe the Roman Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, not evil.”
At the conclusion of Koch’s funeral, Frank Sinatra’s “New York” was played at Emanu-el Temple via organ as the casket bearing Koch’s remains were taken in procession outside. Mayor Koch requested that journalist Daniel Pearl’s words “My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I am Jewish.” Pearl was beheaded by Muslim terrorists in 2002. Coincidentally, Koch died on the 11th anniversary of Pearl’s murder.
Mayor Koch chose to be buried at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington Heights. Mayor Bloomberg stated during the funeral, “Just think about it: a Polish Jew in an Episcopal graveyard in a largely Dominican neighborhood. What could be more New York — or even more Ed Koch?”
I have great memories of Mr. Koch from my childhood. As a Bronxite, I saw how bad the Bronx and New York in general was. From burnt tenements to burnt cars on the street, to now thriving communities; all of this could not have been possible without Ed Koch. During my high school paralegal program days, our class was assigned the homework of watching the “People’s Court.” I remember watching reruns of Judge Koch and writing down the cases and how they were decided.
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/nyregion/celebrating-ed-koch-a-civic-savior-of-new-york.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/04/ed-koch-funeral/1889937/
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/former_mayor_koch_laid_to_rest_bloePmxB5FikfiLMjNqtYM
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/ny-cardinals-remember-mayor-koch-as-friend-to-catholics/
Sacerdotus 