Joseph Anthony Galante

Infobox bishopbiog
name = Joseph Anthony Galante


caption =
religion = Roman Catholic
See = USCity|Camden|New Jersey
Title = Bishop of Camden
Period = 2004 – present
Predecessor = Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio
Successor = incumbent
ordination = May 16, 1964
bishops = Bishop of Beaumont Coadjutor Bishop of Dallas
post = Bishop
date of birth = July 2, 1938
place of birth = USCity|Philadelphia|Pennsylvania
date of death =
place of death = infobox bishopstyles
name = Joseph Anthony Galante
dipstyle = The Most Reverend
offstyle = Your Excellency
relstyle = Bishop
deathstyle = not applicable |

Joseph Anthony Galante (born July 2, 1938) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the Bishop of Camden, having previously served as Bishop of Beaumont from 1994 to 1999 and Coadjutor Bishop of Dallas from 1999 to 2004.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Galante attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood (where he received his BA in 1960), and the Pontifical Lateran University (where he received his doctorate in canon law in 1968) in Rome. Galante was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1964.

Prior to his installation as Bishop of Camden, he announced that if then-Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreevey, attended the installation Mass, he would deny him communion due to his remarriage without having had his first marriage annulled by the Church.Fact|date=April 2008

On April 2, 2008, Galante announced large scale mergers and closings of half of the parishes in the Camden diocese. Thus far, the closures have proved to be very controversial. One of the parishes that will be closed recently completed the building of a handicap accessible rectory for its pastor who suffers from multiple sclerosis. [ [http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804060370 "Decision a shocker for parish, pastor"] , "Courier-Post", April 6 2008] The massive number of proposed closings has even prompted protests and letter writing campaigns to Archbishop John J. Myers, the Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey and Archbishop Pietro Sambi the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Washington, D.C.

Shortly after the announcement, the Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey was formed to fight the closings (link below).

Involvement in the Vati-Con Scandal

On July 18, 2008 the New York Post reported Galante's involvement in the so-called Vati-Con Scandal involving Italian real estate developer Raffaello Follieri, billionaire investor Ronald Burkle, former President Bill Clinton and Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway. [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/news/regionalnews/a_deal_with_the_devil_119940.htm "A Deal with the Devil"] , "New York Post", July 18 2008] The Post reports that Bishop Galante sold Follieri a private beach house for $400,000 in 2007 and that one of Galante's priests misrepresented himself to potential investors. Critics of the bishop have detailed more connections between the two. [ [http://www.savestmarys.net/2008/07/bishop-galante-and-follieri.html "A look at Bishop Galante's relationship with Follieri"] , "Save St Mary's", July 18 2008]

References

External links

* [http://savestmarys.net The Fight to Save Parishes in the Diocese of Camden]
* [http://pr.camdendiocese.org/Bishop/Bishop.htm Biographical information for Bishop Galante]
* [http://www.gatheringgodsgifts.org Church and school closure plans for Diocese of Camden]
* [http://www.councilofparishes.net Diocese-wide resistance to closure plan]