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The Nine Bishops of Scranton

The Nine Bishops of Scranton - Monday, August 31, 2009 at 4:49PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 @ 04:49pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- The bishop of a diocese is the top man. He's the representative of local Catholics to the Vatican and the Pope. The bishop is responsible for administering to the needs of his people.

The Scranton Diocese covers 11 counties and has more than 300,000 Catholics. The resignation of Bishop Martino ends the second shortest term in the history of the Scranton Diocese. Eyewitness News looks back on the nine men who've led the diocese for nearly a century and a half.

Many will remember Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino's 6-year tenure for closing and consolidating catholic schools -- including several named after his predecessors.

Martino replaced Scranton native James Timlin who headed the diocese from 1984 until 2003. He initiated several fundraisers, including the bishop's annual appeal.

Timlin's long-term stability followed Bishop John O'Connor -- who served less than 9-months before becoming Cardinal Archbishop of New York.

Joseph McCormick oversaw the addition of numerous institutions to the diocese as Scranton's 6th bishop from 1966 to 1983.

Canon Lawyer Jerome Hannan became bishop in 1954. Before him Bishop William Hafey oversaw the diocese for 16-years.

Diocesan historian, The Reverend Charles Connor, spoke about Hafey's accomplishments during a 2003 interview. "Many of our parish churches today were erected on property that Bishop Hafey not only bought but he saw the foresight of knowing that this was an area that had tremendous potential for the future," he said.

Before him was Thomas O'Reilly -- appointed Scranton's 3rd bishop in 1927 -- a diocese caretaker through the depression era.

Michael Hoban served as Scranton bishop from 1899 to 1926. "Very well remembered for his role, his very active role in the negotiations which ended the Anthracite Coal Strike in 1902. Bishop Hoban was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt. He was a close friend of John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers,” recalled Connor.

The first bishop of Scranton held the position longer than any of his successors. Installed in 1868, Bishop William O'Hara's 31-years are the most of any bishop in the Diocese of Scranton's 141-year history.

Five Scranton bishops died while holding the position. Two others retired and one was transferred.

Bishop Martino is the first in Scranton Diocese history to step down for health reasons.
 


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