John George Vlazny
Martin John O’Connor | |
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| Consecration | December 13, 1983 by Joseph Bernardin, Alfred Leo Abramowicz, and Nevin William Hayes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 22, 1937 |
| Died | May 23, 2025 (aged 88) Beaverton, Oregon, U.S. |
| Education | Pontifical Gregorian University University of Michigan |
| Motto | Go and make disciples |
| Styles of John George Vlazny | |
|---|---|
Your Excellency | |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
| Posthumous style | not applicable |
Ordination history of John George Vlazny | |||||||||
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John George Vlazny (February 22, 1937 – May 23, 2025) was an American
Biography
Early life
John Vlazny was born on February 22, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Marie (née Brezina) Vlazny, who were of Czech ancestry.[1] His father was originally married to the sister of Vlazny's mother, Hattie Brezina, who died when their daughter, Marcella, was 13.[2] In addition to his half-sister, John Vlazny had a younger sister, Marion.[3] His father, who died from cancer when Vlazny was 18, owned a pharmacy in a three-story building at the corner of 18th and Throop Streets.[2]
Vlazny received his early education at the parochial school of St. Gall Church in Chicago[4] After attending Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, he studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958.[4]
Vlazny continued his studies in Rome, where he attended the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University.[5] He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1960 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1962.[6]
Priesthood
On December 20, 1961, Vlazny was
Following his return to Chicago, Vlazny served on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory North in Chicago from 1963 to 1979.[5] He was also dean of studies at Quigley North from 1969 to 1979.[6]
In addition to his academic duties, Vlazny served as an associate pastor at St. Paul of the Cross Parish in
From 1976 to 1977, Vlazny was president of the Presbyteral Senate for the archdiocese.
Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
On October 18, 1983,
As an auxiliary bishop, Vlazny served as episcopal vicar for Lake County, Illinois and the northwestern part of Cook County, Illinois.[6] He also worked closely with the Office of the Hispanic Apostolate.[4]
Bishop of Winona
On May 19, 1987, John Paul II appointed Vlazny as the sixth bishop of Winona.[7] He was installed and consecrated on July 29, 1987.[9] During his tenure, Vlazny increased the involvement of the laity, decentralized the diocesan staff, and created the Offices of Youth and Family Life.[3] He also started the tradition of the "Harvest Mass," an annual outdoor liturgy celebrated on a farm in the diocese.
As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Vlazny was elected chair of the Committee on Evangelization in 1993.[6] In 1994, he asked Catholics to consider ending gambling as a source of revenue for parishes and schools.[3]
Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
On October 28, 1997, John Paul II appointed Vlazny as the tenth archbishop of Portland in Oregon.[9] He was installed and consecrated on December 19, 1997, succeeding Archbishop Francis George.[5][7]
On October 10, 2000, the archdiocese settled a lawsuit by 22 men who had been sexually abused as altar servers by Reverend Maurice Grammond. The victims lived in Portland, Seaside, Oregon and in Oakridge, Oregon. Vlazny issued a statement of apology that was delivered in masses throughout the archdiocese.[10]
In July 2004, the archdiocese became the first American diocese to file
In January 2010, Vlazny defended his loan of money to Reverend Angel Armando Perez to cover his legal expenses, Perez had been indicted in Marion County, Oregon, on first-degree sexual abuse and abuse of a child in the display of sexually explicit conduct. While condemning Perez's alleged criminal actions. Vlazny expressed a need to help a fellow priest.[14]
In April 2010, Vlazny called for parishioners to cancel their subscriptions to
On January 29, 2013,
Death
Vlazny died at his home in Beaverton, Oregon, on May 23, 2025, at the age of 88.[19]
Viewpoints
Euthanasia
An opponent of
Many have expressed a dread about what will happen when the power over life and death may be put into the hands of a society that is driven by economics, expedience and efficiency, a society that flees from suffering, weakness or limitations of any kind.[3]
In 1998, when the first legal assisted suicide occurred in Oregon, Vlazny declared that the death "can only bring anguish to those who have resisted the public policy initiatives that changed the law in Oregon."[20]
Abortion
During the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Vlazny said Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights, such as Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry, should refrain from receiving communion.[3]
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- ^ a b c Whitman, Hazel (October 31, 1997). "Our new archbishop hopes to emphasize evangelization". Catholic Sentinel.
- ^ a b Hannum, Kristen (December 12, 1997). "Close ties characterize Archbishop Vlazny's family". Catholic Sentinel.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Archbishop Vlazny celebrates 25 years as a bishop". Catholic Sentinel. December 3, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Britt, Bill (December 12, 1997). "John Vlazny grew up on Chicago's south side". Catholic Sentinel.
- ^ a b c d "Archbishop John G. Vlazny". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Ruark, Jeremy C. (July 19, 2011). "One-on-One with the Archbishop". Seaside Signal.
- ^ a b c d "Archbishop John George Vlazny [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "The Coat of Arms of His Excellency, the Most Reverend John George Vlazny, D.D." Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011.
- ^ a b "Archbishop John George Vlazny". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.[self-published source]
- ^ "Oregon Catholic Church Admits Molestation". ABC News. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Stammer, Larry B. (July 7, 2004). "Oregon Diocese 1st to File Bankruptcy". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (July 7, 2004). "Oregon Archdiocese Files for Bankruptcy Protection". The New York Times.
- ^ Haught, Nancy (August 24, 2012). "Archbishop Vlazny defends loan to Woodburn priest in alleged abuse case". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "Archbsp. Calls Boycott: 'Cancel subscriptions to Oregonian…'". Villa Maria. April 2, 2010.
- ^ Haught, Nancy (April 2, 2010). "Archbishop John G. Vlazny asks Catholic ministers to cancel Oregonian subscriptions". The Oregonian.
- ^ "Pope Accepts Resignation of Archbishop John Vlazny; Names Bishop Alexander Sample to Succeed Him | USCCB".
- ^ "Appointments: Bishop Sample to Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon". Vatican Radio. January 29, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ Fuentes, Carlos (May 25, 2025). "Former Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny dies at 88". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Egan, Timothy (March 26, 1998). "First Death Under an Assisted-Suicide Law". The New York Times.
External links
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland Official Site
- Archbishop John G. Vlazny was a member the Catholic United Investment Trust
- Biography of Archbishop John G. Vlazny
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