Edward A. McCarthy

infobox bishopbiog
name = Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy


religion = Catholic Church
See = Miami
Title = Archbishop of Miami
Period = July 26, 1977 thru
November 3, 1994
consecration = June 15, 1965
Predecessor = Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
Successor = Archbishop John C. Favalora
ordination = May 29, 1943
bishops = Titular Bishop of Tamascani,
Bishop of Phoenix
date of birth = April 10, 1918
place of birth = Cincinnati, Ohio
date of death= June 7, 2005

Edward Anthony McCarthy (April 10, 1918 - June 7, 2005), was the second Archbishop of Miami, Florida. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Miami on September 17, 1976 and succeeded Coleman Francis Carroll as Archbishop of Miami on July 26, 1977. Archbishop McCarthy retired as Archbishop on November 3, 1994. He died on June 7, 2005 at the age of 87.

Background

Archbishop McCarthy was ordained a priest in 1943 within the Diocese of Cincinnati, graduating from Saint Gregory Seminary and Mt. Saint Mary Seminary in Northwood, Ohio. His education included a Master's degree in Philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio. He earned a Doctor of Canon Law degree, or J.C.D. in 1947 and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree, or S.T.D. in 1948 while in Rome, Italy. During his service within the Diocese of Cincinnati he served as the secretary to two Archbishops, judge in the marriage tribunal and chairman of numerous diocesan committees [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A153000&lg=El |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - First Successor |accessdate=2007-04-19] .

Episcopacy

Father McCarthy was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI on April 21, 1965. He was consecrated two months later on June 15, 1965 [cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmccarthy.html |title=Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy|accessdate=2007-04-19] with Cincinnati Archbishop Karl J. Alter serving as Principal ConsecratorFact|date=April 2007.

After four years as an Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, Bishop McCarthy was appointed the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Phoenix on August 25, 1969. He was installed as Bishop of Phoenix on December 2nd of that year [cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmccarthy.html |title=Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy|accessdate=2007-04-19] [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A153000&lg=El |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - First Successor |accessdate=2007-04-19] .

On September 17, 1976, Bishop McCarthy was appointed the Coadjutor Archbishop of Miami due to the failing health of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll. Upon Archbishop Carroll's death on July 26, 1977, McCarthy succeeded him as the second Archbishop of Miami. [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A153000&lg=El |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - First Successor |accessdate=2007-05-26] [cite web |url=http://www.mccarthyhigh.org/about.html |title=Archbishop McCarthy High School - About Us |accessdate=2007-05-26]

Archbishop McCarthy would transform and affect almost every aspect of life within the Archdiocese of Miami. Soon after arriving, he would oversee the construction of a Pastoral Center for the diocese and restructure most senior operational divisions [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A153500&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - Pastoral Center |accessdate=2007-04-19] . He would establish the Office of Lay Ministry, the Office of Evangelization and the Permanent Diaconate program. In 1980, he was a key figure in offering support and assistance during the Mariel Boat Lift. A year later, he would stand up for the rights of Haitian immigrants who were detained under what would become known as the Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy. In response to these incidents, that same year he oversaw the opening of the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center in Miami [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A154500&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - More Exiles |accessdate=2007-04-19] [cite web |url=http://www.mccarthyhigh.org/about.html |title=Archbishop McCarthy High School - About Us |accessdate=2007-04-19] .

In 1984, he assisted with the transition of the Archdiocese when the Diocese of Venice and Diocese of Palm Beach were established from annexed counties [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A155000&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - Auxiliary Bishops |accessdate=2007-04-19] . A year later, he would call for the first ever Archdiocesan Synod. Lasting until 1988, it was seen as a method to revitalize the faithful within the Archdiocese [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A154000&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - Archdiocesan Synod|accessdate=2007-04-19] [cite web |url=http://www.mccarthyhigh.org/about.html |title=Archbishop McCarthy High School - About Us |accessdate=2007-04-19] .

Pope John Paul II would visit Miami in 1987. In a first, the Holy Father was forced to halt his public Mass midway due to a massive thunderstorm. Severe lightening caused the liturgy to be suspended due to safety concerns--an event that had never occurred elsewhere during the Pope's travels. The Pontiff completed the offering of the Mass inside a trailer, as the crowds relcutantly dispersed, but only after McCarthy pleaded with them to tend to their own safety.

In 1993, Archbishop McCarthy submitted his resignation at the mandatory retirement age of 75 [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A155500&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - The Pope in The U.S.|accessdate=2007-04-19] . He became officially retired on November 3, 1994. During his tenure, South Florida underwent a population boom. The Archbishop oversaw the development and foundation of many new churches. In his final year, he started the planning on a new parish and high school in western Broward County. The church, authorized in 1994 and founded two months after his retirement in 1995, bore his namesake...Saint Edward [cite web |url=http://www.stedward.net/clergy.htm |title=Saint Edward Catholic Church: Clergy's Corner|accessdate=2007-04-19] . The school would be completed in 1997, with current Archbishop John C. Favalora having the facility named in honor of the man that had made it possible, therefore it was named Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A155500&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - The Pope in The U.S.|accessdate=2007-04-19] [cite web |url=http://www.mccarthyhigh.org/about.html |title=Archbishop McCarthy High School - About Us |accessdate=2007-04-19] .

Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy died in his sleep on June 7, 2005 at the age of 87 [cite web |url=http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=A155500&lg=E |title=Archdiocese of Miami: History - The Pope in The U.S.|accessdate=2007-04-19] .

External links

* [http://www.miamiarch.org/ipxHome.asp?op=XXHome Archdiocese of Miami]
* [http://www.stedard.net Saint Edward Catholic Church]
* [http://www.mccarthyhigh.org Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School]

References