Edward Cardinal Egan
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His Eminence Edward Michael Cardinal Egan (born April 2, 1932 in Oak Park, Illinois) is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. He currently serves as the twelfth bishop and ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland region, Egan attended local schools where he received what he described as a calling to Holy Orders. Egan entered the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy. He left the United States to continue religious studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. He was ordained there on December 15, 1957. Before returning to the United States, Egan obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Egan's administrative expertise began when he was appointed curate of Holy Name Cathedral. He then became private secretary to Albert Cardinal Meyer, Archbishop of Chicago and attained the office of assistant chancellor of the archdiocese. In 1960, Egan returned to the Pontifical Gregorian University where he became assistant vice-rector and repetitor of moral theology and canon law. It was in that capacity that he attained his doctorate in canon law. Returning the the Archdiocese of Chicago, Egan was appointed private secretary to John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago. He also became co-chancellor of the archdiocese. In 1971, Pope Paul VI appointed Egan to become a judge of the Tribunal of the Sacred Roman Rota. The Roman Rota is a judicial body of the Holy See and the Vatican City.
With a great wealth of expertise, Egan was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York on April 1, 1985 by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained to the episcopate on May 22, 1985 becoming titular bishop of the titular see of Allegheny. Upon the sedevacante episcopal vacancy in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Pope John Paul II appointed Egan to become full bishop on November 5, [[1988]. Egan was officially installed as bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport on December 14, 1988.
Egan was appointed Archbishop of New York on May 11, 2000 and installed in that position on June 19, 2000. He was elevated to Cardinal on February 21, 2001.
Egan was criticized in June 2003 for concealing the names of priests who have been accused of child molestation and cleared by the church. His spokesman argued that the innocent should be protected; groups including Voice of the Faithful were critical because the entire process was out of the public view. (See Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal.)
Egan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.
External link
- Archdiocese of New York (http://ny-archdiocese.org/abouttheArchBishop.cfm) - official site
| Preceded by: John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor | Archbishop of New York 2000-Present | Succeeded by: Incumbent Template:End boxde:Edward Michael Egan no:Edward Michael Egan pl:Edward Michael Egan |