Cardinal John J. O'Connor: A Priest Forever

February 07, 2012 by Pat McNamara

Continued from Page 1

Perhaps the area that raised the most controversy was his relationship with the gay community. At a time when AIDS patients were treated as pariahs or lepers, O'Connor quietly visited hospitals and clinics to wash and pray with them. While O'Connor condemned hate crimes, he refused to stop expressing the Church's position, even when activists stormed St. Patrick's Cathedral in late 1989.

Policemen and firefighters, mayors and presidents, rabbis and ministers, union leaders and teachers, to name a few: John J. O'Connor had something to say to everyone. One gay rights activist who disagreed with him greatly still considered him "A very human person." The New York Times, at his death, hailed him as a

. . .a familiar and towering presence, a leader whose views and personality were forcefully injected into the great civic debates of his time, a man who considered himself a conciliator, but who never hesitated to be a combatant.

But O'Connor didn't see himself as either conciliator or combatant. Terry Golway writes: "The role he lived for . . . was that of priest and pastor." Until illness set in, he celebrated Mass every morning at St. Patrick's, heard confessions, counseled couples, and celebrated weddings. John O'Connor was always more comfortable with the average pew-sitter than with movers and shakers. In short, he never forgot his roots.

Page: 2 of 2

2/7/2012 5:00:00 AM

Catholic

In Ages Past

Christianity

Roman Catholicism

more at patheos

Refuge, Confession, and the End of Shame

Brad Vaughn

Tech Should Be a Doorway to the Church, Not the Destination

William Hemsworth

Trying To Make Heads of Tales in Kendrick Lamar's "Prayer"

Alan Lechusza Aquallo

Maybe We’re Asking the Wrong Questions

Jordan Hathcock

About Pat McNamara

Dr. Pat McNamara is a published historian. He blogs about American Catholic History at McNamara's Blog.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos