John Cardinal O'Connor

His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor, (January 15, 1920 – May 3, 2000) was the eleventh bishop (eighth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New York, serving from 1984 until his death in 2000.

Illness and Death

In 1999 O'Connor was diagnosed as having a brain tumour. On March 7, 2000 O'Connor was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by unanimous support in the United States Senate and only one vote against the resolution in the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas, opposed on the grounds that awarding the medal was not among the powers of Congress listed in the Constitution. Cardinal O'Connor died of a brain tumour in the Archbishop's residence, and is interred in the crypt under the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Related Topics:
1999 - Brain tumour - March 7 - 2000 - Congressional Gold Medal - United States Senate - United States House of Representatives - Ron Paul - Republican - Texas - Constitution - St. Patrick's Cathedral

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Cardinal O'Connor was posthumously awarded the Jackie Robinson Empire State Medal of Freedom by the Governor of New York, George Pataki on December 21, 2000.

Related Topics:
Jackie Robinson - George Pataki - December 21 - 2000

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The strong feelings that Cardinal O'Connor's campaigning against gay civil rights inspired were evoked at his passing, when Time Out New York, a weekly city entertainment guide, described his death as one of the best things to happen to the gay community in 2000, saying "The press eulogized him as a saint, when in fact, the pious creep was a stuck-in-the-1950s anti-gay menace. Good riddance!". The resulting cries of outrage forced the magazine to apologize.

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Brendan Fay, of the Catholic gay group DignityUSA, summarized that "O'Connor will certainly not be remembered as a friend or advocate at our time of greatest need." This, even though beginning in 1995, O'Connor held a dialogue with the group twice a year. Jeff Stone, a spokesman for Dignity, did note, "We are saddened by his death."

Related Topics:
DignityUSA - 1995 - Dignity

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With O'Connor's death the controversy surrounding his high-profile and vocal advocacy of the traditional and orthodox views of the Vatican has left, at best, a mixed legacy. Lauded by some traditionalists, demonized by many in the gay community, he was without a doubt one of the most controversial American clerics of the late 20th century.

Related Topics:
Vatican - 20th century

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