Gerald O'Hara
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Church | Catholic Church |
Appointed | June 7, 1954 |
Term ended | July 16, 1963 |
Predecessor | William Godfrey |
Successor | Igino Eugenio Cardinale |
Other post(s) |
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Orders | |
Ordination | April 3, 1920 by Basilio Pompili |
Consecration | May 21, 1929 by Dennis Joseph Dougherty |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | July 16, 1963 London, England | (aged 68)
Previous post(s) |
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Education |
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Styles of Gerald O'Hara | |
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Your Excellency | |
Religious style | Monsignor |
Posthumous style | The Late |
Gerald Patrick Aloysius O'Hara (May 4, 1895 – July 16, 1963) was an American
Biography
Early life and education
Gerald O'Hara was born on May 4, 1895, in the Green Ridge section of
Ordination and ministry
O'Hara was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Cardinal Basilio Pompili in Rome on April 3, 1920.[3] He earned a doctorate in canon and civil law from the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare in 1924.[1] He spent several years studying abroad, traveling through Europe and the Middle East.[4] Following his return to Pennsylvania in 1926, O'Hara became private secretary to Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, the archbishop of Philadelphia.[5] O'Hara also served as a judge on the archdiocesan matrimonial court.[5]
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
On April 26, 1929, O'Hara was appointed as an
Bishop of Savannah
On November 26, 1935, O'Hara was appointed the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Savannah by Pius XI, succeeding Bishop
During his tenure, O'Hara erected the
Papal Representative to Romania
In addition to his role as diocesan bishop, O'Hara was named regent of the apostolic nunciature to the Socialist Republic of Romania in Bucharest, on February 19, 1947.[3] His vicar general and chancellor assumed the active administration of the Diocese of Savannah.[6]
During his three years in Romania, O'Hara repeatedly denounced the Communist government for its persecution of
On returning to New York City, O'Hara denied the Romanian allegations, calling them "lies from first to last". O'Hara accused the Romanian Government of terrorism, insisting, "Our interest was solely the welfare of 3,000,000 Catholic people in Romania."[2][12]
Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland
On July 12, 1950, O'Hara was granted the personal title of
In 1953, Paul Blanshard, author and critic of the Catholic Church, petitioned the U.S. Department of State to revoke O'Hara's American citizenship. Blanshard claimed that O'Hara was violating the 1950 McCarran Internal Security Act by serving as an agent of a foreign power (the Vatican). The State Department dismissed Blanshard's petition[13]
Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain
On June 8, 1954, O'Hara was named
Death
Gerald O'Hara died on July 16, 1963, from a heart attack at his residence in the
References
- ^ a b c d e f Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- ^ a b DeLorme, Rita H. (July 2, 2009). "Gerald P. O'Hara, Bishop of Savannah, papal diplomat" (PDF). The Southern Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Archbishop Gerald Patrick Aloysius O'Hara". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. February 25, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.[self-published source]
- ^ DeLorme, Rita H. (July 17, 2003). "Perusing the witty and wonderful sketches of a future bishop, Father Gerald P. O'Hara" (PDF). The Southern Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Sherry, Gerard E. (July 18, 1963). "Death Claims Archbishop Gerald P. O'Hara". The Georgia Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ a b DeLorme, Rita H. (May 11, 2006). "Comparing two 1939 'premieres' of note" (PDF). The Southern Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010.
- ^ "People". Time. January 30, 1939. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008.
- ^ "More Bishops". Time. May 4, 1936. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "Milestones". Time. July 26, 1963. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
- ^ a b "Archbishop O'Hara Dead at 68; Papal Representative in Britain". The New York Times. July 17, 1963.
- ^ DeLorme, Rita H. (August 15, 2002). ""No task too great, no errand too dangerous" for Bishop O'Hara's couriers in Romania" (PDF). The Southern Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "Are Catholics Different?". Time. March 2, 1953. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "The Crypt". Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009.