Benjamin Joseph Keiley

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA
EducationSt. Charles College
North American College

Benjamin Joseph Keiley (October 13, 1847 – June 17, 1925) was an American

bishop of the Diocese of Savannah
in Georgia from 1900 to 1922.

Biography

Early life and education

Benjamin Keiley was born on October 13, 1847, in

Cork County, Ireland.[1] His older brother, Anthony Michael Keiley, served as chief justice of the International Court of Appeals in Cairo, Egypt.[2] An educator, John Keiley converted to Methodism when the children were young. As a result, Margaret moved out of the house with the children so as to raise them as Catholics.[3]

After receiving his early education in Petersburg, Benjamin Keiley entered the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in 1864 at age 17 during the American Civil War.[4] He served in an artillery unit during the last year of the war.[5]

When the war ended, Keiley was a law clerk before attending the minor seminary,

St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland. He then travelled to Rome to attend the Pontifical North American College in 1869.[4]

Ordination and ministry

Upon his return to the United States, Keiley was

James Gibbons for the Diocese of Wilmington on December 31, 1873. Keiley then served as pastor of St. Peter's Parish in New Castle, Delaware, until 1880, when he became rector of the pro-cathedral at Wilmington.[4]

When Bishop

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah from 1896 to 1900.[4]

Bishop of Savannah

On April 2, 1900, Keiley was appointed by

Henry Northrop and John J. Monaghan serving as co-consecrators, at St. Peter's Cathedral in Richmond, Virginia. "One of the greatest challenges he faced during his tenure was a rabid anti-Catholicism."[5]

During his tenure, Keiley completely restored the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which had been destroyed by fire in 1898; he dedicated the new edifice in October 1900.

canon law...so blacks can be declared irregular because they are held in such contempt by whites."[9]

Keiley was active in Confederate veteran organizations, and a frequent speaker at memorial services. In 1904, Keiley, who had served under Confederate General James Longstreet, said his funeral mass. Longstreet had converted to Catholicism in 1877.[5]

In 1903, after a pronouncement by

Society of Missionaries of Africa to enter the diocese and build churches and schools for African-Americans.[10]

Death

Keiley's resignation as Bishop of the Savannah due to poor health was accepted by

titular bishop of Scilium on the same date.[11] Benjamin Keiley died in Atlanta on June 17, 1925, at age 77. At his funeral Mass, his bier was draped with a Confederate flag with a laurel wreath sent by the United Daughters of the Confederacy
.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Candler, Allen D.; Clement A. Evans (1906). Georgia. State Historical Association.
  2. ^ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). "Keily, Anthony M.". Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. III. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
  3. JSTOR 25018299
    .
  4. ^ a b c d "Savannah". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  5. ^ a b c McNamara, Pat. "Benjamin J. Keiley (1847-1925): Confederate Soldier, Catholic Bishop", McNamara's blog, November 2, 2010
  6. ^ "Diocese of Savannah". The Catholic Church in the United States of America. New York: The Catholic Editing Company. 1914.
  7. ISBN 978-0-87049-811-4
    .
  8. ^
    JSTOR 25154875
    .
  9. ^ Unsworth, Tim (1997). "Racism and Religion: Partners in Crime?". Claretian Publications.
  10. JSTOR 25154014
    .
  11. ^ "Bishop Benjamin Joseph Keiley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.

External links

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Savannah
1900–1922 		Succeeded by
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