John Cardinal Krol

John Joseph Cardinal Krol (October 26, 1910 - March 3, 1996) was a Roman Catholic clergyman. He was born to Polish parents in Cleveland, Ohio in 1910. He was ordained a priest at age 26 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. He quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Cleveland at age 41. Krol served in Cleveland as a priest for 24 years and as a bishop for eight before moving to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Related Topics:
October 26 - 1910 - March 3 - 1996 - Roman Catholic - Clergy - Cleveland, Ohio - Priest - Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland - Auxiliary bishop - Bishop - Archdiocese - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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In Philadelphia, the conservative cleric became a beloved figure. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1967 during the same consistory as Archbishop Karol Wojty?a of Kraków, Poland. Wojty?a would become Pope John Paul II and Krol one of his closest advisors. He was a cardinal elector for both Popes John Paul I and John Paul II in the two conclaves in 1978.

Related Topics:
Conservative - Cardinal - 1967 - Consistory - Archbishop Karol Wojty?a - Kraków - Poland - Cardinal elector - John Paul I - Conclaves - 1978

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During the 1960s and 1970s, Krol shepherded the Archdiocese of Philadelphia through an era where the population shifted to the suburbs. Krol also championed for the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel, and was present at the canonization of Bavarian-born Bishop St. John Neumann.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - Suburb - Canonization - St. Katharine Drexel - St. John Neumann

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In ill health, Krol resigned his position as Archbishop of Philadelphia on February 11, 1988, exactly 27 years after he was appointed to the post. He was the longest serving prelate in the history of the archdiocese. He was succeeded by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua.

Related Topics:
Archbishop - February 11 - 1988 - Prelate - Archdiocese - Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua

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Krol is buried in the crypt beneath the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

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On September 21, 2005, nearly 10 years after his death, a grand jury in Philadelphia announced that Cardinal Krol, as well as Cardinal Bevilacqua, were involved with the cover-up of a sex scandal against accused priests throughout the archdiocese. Like the sex scandals in the Archdiocese of Boston, Krol and Bevilacqua transferred accused priests to other parishes throughout the archdiocese, a practice under the current prelate, Justin Cardinal Rigali banned in favor of defrocking those who are accused and confirmed by investigations. Cardinal Rigali, in cooperation with Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham and other DAs throughout the jurisdiction of the archdiocese, has now started practicing of both internal archdiocsian investigations, as well as external criminal investigations.

Related Topics:
Archdiocese of Boston - Justin Cardinal Rigali - Lynne Abraham

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