Bernard Griffin

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Bernard Cardinal Griffin
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
relstyle=Cardinal
deathstyle=none
See=Westminster |

Bernard William Cardinal Griffin (February 21, 1899—August 19, 1956) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1943 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.

Biography

Bernard and his twin brother Basil, were born in Birmingham to William and Helen (née Swadkins) Griffin. His father was a carpenter turned city councillor and justice of the peace [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,885292,00.html Surprise] January 3, 1944] .

They were a devoted family and were under the watchful eye of their parish priest. One day, both twins went to confession. When they came out the brothers found that Father O’Hagan had asked them both the same question; ‘What are you going to be?’. They had both answered, ‘I want to be a priest’. Both boys were clever and won scholarships to the local grammar school but Bernard’s desire to be a priest led him to transfer to Cotton College in Staffordshire.

When the First World War broke out in 1914 both Bernard and Basil joined the Royal Navy Air Service and served as an air-raid warden in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,885292,00.html Surprise] January 3, 1944] . During this time he suffered a heart attack but concealed it from doctors in order to avoid a discharge which he feared would prevent his acceptance for the priesthood [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,809140,00.html New Archbishop] February 18, 1957] .

After the war Bernard went to Oscott College in Birmingham to train to be a priest. Ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1924, he finished his stuides at the Venerable English College in Rome in 1927. Griffin then worked as private secretary to Archbishop John McIntyre of Birmingham until 1937. From 1929 to 1938, he served as diocesan chancellor of Birmingham, director of studies of the Catholic Evidence Guild, Catholic representative on the BBC's religious advisory committee, and administrator of diocesan charitable homes.

On May 26, 1938, Griffin was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Titular Bishop of "Appia". He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 30 from Archbishop Thomas Williams, with Bishops John Barrett and William Lee serving as co-consecrators, in St. Chad Cathedral. Pope Pius XII raised Griffin to Archbishop of Westminster, and thus ranking prelate in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, on December 18, 1943. At his installation Mass in Westminster Cathedral, he defended the sanctity of marriage [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,803176,00.html Pretty Pass] February 18, 1946] .

Griffin was created Cardinal Priest of "Ss. Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio" by Pius XII in the consistory of February 18, 1946. At age 46, he was the youngest cardinal to be appointed at the ceremony, to which he wore the tailored "cappa magna" of his predecessor in Westminster, the late Arthur Cardinal Hinsley [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792623,00.html On the Roads to Rome] January 31, 1944] . He acted as papal legate to the centennial celebration of the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England in 1950.

As Cardinal, Griffin took a keen interest in the rebuilding of post-war Britain arguing especially for the provision of Catholic schools. He was seen by some as liberal in areas of social principles. He also supported Sir William Beveridge [Ibid.] .

Griffin upheld the perpetual virginity of Mary [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,891232-1,00.html Jesus & His Brethren] May 23, 1955] , and was once a president on The Council of Christians and Jews [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,861105,00.html The Catholics Leave] January 10, 1955]

Griffin died from a heart attack in New Polzeath, at age 57 [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,824381,00.html Milestones] September 3, 1956] . He is buried at Westminster Cathedral.

On the 22nd October, 1960, Bernard's twin brother Basil, laid the foundation stone of Cardinal Griffin Catholic High School in Cannock, Staffordshire.

References

External links

* [http://www.rcdow.org.uk/cardinal/default.asp?library_ref=1&content_ref=12 Cardinal Bernard William Griffin]
* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-g.htm#Griffin Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgriffinb.html Catholic-Hierarchy]