Leo Thomas Maher

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park
Ordination history of
Leo Thomas Maher
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byEgidio Vagnozzi
DateApril 5, 1962
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Leo Thomas Maher as principal consecrator
Gilbert Espinosa ChávezJune 21, 1974

Leo Thomas Maher (July 1, 1915 – February 23, 1991) was an American

Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California (1962–1969) and as bishop of the Diocese of San Diego
in California (1969–1990).

Biography

Early life

Leo Maher was born on July 1, 1915, in Mount Union, Iowa, the fifth of nine children of Thomas Joseph Maher (1862–1941) and Mary Agnes Teberg (1886–1946).[1] His father was a native of Shankill, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[2]

As a child, he moved to

Saint Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California.[1]

Priesthood

Maher was

ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco by Archbishop John Mitty on December 18, 1943, at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco.[4]

His first assignment was as a

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco (1944–1947).[1] He organized the prayer service for the 1945 meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco.[2] From 1947 to 1961, Maher served as secretary to Archbishop Mitty.[1] He was named a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XII on November 4, 1954. He served as chancellor of the archdiocese from 1956 to 1962.[3]

Bishop of Santa Rosa

On January 27, 1962, Maher was appointed the first

Merlin Guilfoyle serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.[4]

During his seven-year tenure, Maher led a program to build new

rectories and convents.[5] He also elevated three missions to parish status and oversaw major renovations of four existing parish churches. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965.[5]

Bishop of San Diego

Following the promotion of Bishop

Pastoral Council.[6] He ended the official relationship between the diocese and the University of San Diego, establishing the school as a separate corporation.[2]

Maher was a strong supporter of the

César Chávez, for wearing a serape with the black eagle of the United Farm Workers instead of proper vestments and for using corn tortillas instead of sacramental bread during his Masses.[7]

In 1975, Maher prohibited Catholics who are members of

AIDS patients at St. Joseph's Cathedral.[2]

In November 1989, during a special election for the State Senate in a San Diego-based district, Maher received national attention after prohibiting State Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, a Catholic Democrat, from receiving communion because of her support for abortion rights for women.[9][10] According to Maher, her position placed her in "complete contradiction to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church."[9] Killea, who refused to change her position, was the first political candidate to receive this censure.[10] She eventually won the election, acknowledging (along with her opponent) that Maher's action helped her win by creating voter sympathy and publicizing her candidacy.[11]

Retirement and legacy

Pope John Paul II accepted Maher's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of San Diego on July 10, 1990.

Mission Hills, San Diego, on February 23, 1991, at age 75.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 Gillmon, Rita (1991-02-24). "Death takes Bishop Leo T. Maher, 75 Led diocese from 1969 to 1990 during a time of rapid change". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  3. ^ a b c Weber, Francis J. (1982). California: The Catholic Experience.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Leo Thomas Maher". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ a b "Most Reverend Leo T. Maher, First Bishop of Santa Rosa (1962-1969)". Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09.
  6. ^ a b "A Brief History of the Diocese of San Diego". Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  7. ^ a b "Tortilla Fiat". TIME Magazine. 1971-07-26. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008.
  8. ^ "Saying No to NOW". TIME Magazine. 1975-04-28. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Goldman, Ari L. (1989-11-17). "Legislator Barred From Communion". The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b "A Bishop Says No". TIME Magazine. 1989-11-27. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Bishop Leo Maher, 75; Led San Diego Diocese". The New York Times. 1991-02-25.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
None
 Bishop of Santa Rosa in California
1962–1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of San Diego
1969–1990 		Succeeded by
Robert Henry Brom
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leo_Thomas_Maher&oldid=1184716034"