Robert Joseph McManus
Robert Joseph McManus | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Worcester | |
| Archdiocese | Boston |
| Diocese | Worcester |
| Appointed | March 9, 2004 |
| Installed | May 14, 2004 |
| Predecessor | Daniel Patrick Reilly |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 27, 1978 by Kenneth Anthony Angell |
| Consecration | February 22, 1999 by Kenneth Anthony Angell, Robert Edward Mulvee, and Louis Edward Gelineau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1951 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Providence |
| Motto | CHRISTUS VERITATIS SPLENDOR |
| Styles of Robert Joseph McManus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Robert Joseph McManus (born July 5, 1951) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, as well as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.[1]
Early life and education[]
McManus was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Edward W. & Helen F. (née King) McManus. He grew up in the Providence area, graduating from Blessed Sacrament School and Our Lady of Providence High School. He is an alumnus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and received a master of divinity degree from the Toronto School of Theology.
Ordination and ministry[]
After a year’s diaconal service at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in East Greenwich, R.I., McManus was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1978 by Bishop Kenneth Anthony Angell of Providence. He served as an associate pastor at several parishes and chaplaincies throughout the diocese for nearly twenty years, including a brief stint as assistant chaplain at Saint Joseph's Hospital.[2]
He also earned licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from The Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.[3] Upon his return, in November 1987, McManus was named diocesan vicar for education. He was elevated to the title of Monsignor on February 28, 1997 by Pope John Paul II. In June 1998, he was named rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary. McManus was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Providence on February 22, 1999.
Diocese of Worcester[]
On May 14, 2004, Bishop McManus succeeded Bishop Daniel P. Reilly as Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts upon the latter's retirement.[3] Bishop McManus criticized the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester for renting out "sacred space" to the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy for workshops. He expressed the view that the classes taught things which violated the teachings of the Catholic Church. On October 10, 2007, he issued a statement making known his criticisms of the conference.[4]
Disputed property sale[]
In June 2012, on instructions from McManus, diocesan officials declined to sell a property owned by the diocese, an historic mansion in Northbridge, to a married gay couple. The property had been used as a Church-affiliated nonprofit retreat center.[5][6] In September the couple filed suit against the bishop and other parties to the negotiations, citing an email in which church officials pulled out of the sale "because of the potentiality of gay marriages there."[7]
A lawyer for the diocese said that the Massachusetts anti-discrimination statute provides an exemption for religious institutions. He said: "If a religious entity did not have to permit property to be used for gay weddings, which we all agree, why must religious property be sold to an organization if it is going to be used for a gay wedding?" Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a brief supporting the plaintiffs that said "we believe that this family was unfairly discriminated against by the diocese when it refused to sell them property based on their sexual orientation.... And no reasonable person would think that a wedding that took place on a property no longer owned by a church was endorsed by that church." Oral arguments in the case were scheduled in Worcester Superior Court on April 22, 2014.[8]
On May 4, 2013, McManus was arrested for drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical test in Narragansett, Rhode Island. McManus was reportedly arrested about 20 minutes after the accident. He later stated: "I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner. There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action. More importantly, I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence."[9]
In August 2020, Pope Francis appointed McManus apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Springfield in addition to continuing as the bishop of Worcester. The Springfield see became "vacant" with the appointment of Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski as archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri.[2]
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[]
- ^ "Bishop McManus named Apostolic Administrator of Springfield Diocese". The Catholic Free Press, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bishop Robert J. McManus appointed apostolic administrator for Diocese of Springfield", iObserve.org, August 25, 2020
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kelly, Ray. "Worcester Bishop Robert McManus to oversee Springfield Diocese until new bishop named", MassLive, August 25, 2020
- ^ Hudson, Deal W. (October 15, 2007). "High Noon at College of the Holy Cross". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Williamson, Dianne (July 26, 2012). "'Plans' don't include sale to gay couple". Worcester Telegram. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Anderson, Karen. "Gay Couple Says Church Is Blocking Sale Of Historic Home". CBS Boston. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Wangsness, Lisa (September 10, 2012). "Gay couple says church denied Northbridge mansion sale to stop same-sex weddings". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ Wangsness, Lisa (March 14, 2014). "Worcester Diocese is guilty of antigay bias, Coakley says". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
- ^ Andersen, Travis; Feathers, Todd (May 6, 2013). "Bishop McManus of Worcester arrested for drunken driving; admits 'terrible error in judgment'". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
External links[]
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- 1951 births
- Living people
- Clergy from Providence, Rhode Island
- Roman Catholic bishops of Worcester, Massachusetts
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
- Religion in Worcester County, Massachusetts
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Catholic University of America alumni
- Religious leaders from Rhode Island