Bernard Joseph Topel

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Grand Seminary of Montreal
Catholic University of America
Harvard University
University of Notre Dame

Bernard Joseph Topel (March 31, 1903 – October 22, 1986) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Spokane in Washington State from 1955 to 1978.

Biography

Early life

Topel was born on March 31, 1903, in

Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec. Topel then went to Washington, D.C., to enter the Catholic University of America.[1] He earned a Master of Education there in 1927.[1]

Priesthood

Topel was

Diocese of Helena on June 7, 1927.[4] After his ordination, he went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to earn a master's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. Topel then went to the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a doctorate.[3]

Returning to Helena in 1934, he served at the

missions in Toston, Montana, and Wolf Creek, Montana.[1] In 1937, Topel served as a faculty member teaching mathematics at the University of Notre Dame.[1] He came back to Montana in 1939, becoming a faculty member of Mount St. Charles College, teaching mathematics and physics.[1] He also served as vocations director for the diocese.[3]

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Spokane

On August 9, 1955, Topel was appointed

consecration on September 21, 1955, from Bishop Joseph Gilmore, with Bishops Joseph Dougherty and Joseph Willging serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Helena.[4] Upon the death of Bishop Charles White four days later, Topel succeeded him as the third Bishop of Spokane on September 25, 1955.[4] He was installed on October 12, 1955, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.[3]

On being selected as a bishop, Topel remarked:

"I became a bishop without ever having been a pastor or working in the chancery, the common way to become a bishop. I thought I was the least prepared man to become bishop ever. But then I decided afterward I wasn't".[2]

In 1958, Topel led a pilgrimage of Spokane Catholics to the shrines of Europe, including the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes.[3] He began a mission program in Guatemala with the Maryknoll Fathers in 1960.[3] Topel attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965.

During his 22-year tenure, Topel established several parishes and schools, the Mater Cleri Seminary in Colbert, Washington, the Bishop White Seminary on the Gonzaga University campus in Spokane, the Immaculate Heart Retreat House, homes for unwed mothers, and housing for the elderly.[5][2]

Austerity of life

Topel received national media coverage for his austere lifestyle.

crosier and pectoral cross to charity, and admitted that wearing an episcopal ring made him feel "a bit out of kilter".[2] He once declared,

"I have come to the realization that the most important thing I can do in the church, and that applies to Christians in general, is to live simply in order to give money to the poor."[2]

Retirement and legacy

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Topel retired as Bishop of Spokane on April 11, 1978.

Lawrence Harold Welsh. He died at St. Joseph Care Center, aged 83.[3]

In 2004, the diocese was sued by several plaintiffs over its handling of sexual abuse allegations against Patrick G. O'Donnell, a diocese priest. Before his ordination, clergy had voiced concerns about O'Donnell's sexual attraction to boys, yet he was accepted into the diocese. In 1974, Walter Abel was O'Donnell's supervising priest. Abel believed that O'Donnell was a pedophile and told the Diocesan Personnel Board it was essential that O'Donnell be moved quickly.[6] At that time, Topel sent O'Donnell away for therapy.[7] Upon his return, Topel reassigned him to a new parish where he abused more boys. Topel did not notify authorities or parishioners about O'Donnell. O'Donnell would not be exposed and suspended from the priesthood until 1986, by which time he had been assigned to several parishes.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Estes, Jane (November 13, 1978). "In Spokane: A Pauperish Yet Princely Churchman". Time. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bishop Topel dies". Spokane Chronicle. October 23, 1986.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Bernard Joseph Topel". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ a b "A Short History of the Diocese". Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Jonathan Martin; Ken Armstrong (October 27, 2004). "The past shadows a bishop's future". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 9, 2005.
  7. ^ a b Inlander, January 22, 2004
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Spokane
1955–1978 		Succeeded by
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