Edwin Byrne
| Edwin Byrne | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Santa Fe | |
| In office | 1943-1963 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
May 22, 1915 by Archbishop Edmond Francis Prendergast |
| Consecration |
November 30, 1926 by Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 9, 1891 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | July 26, 1963 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Francis Charles and Anna (née Carroll) Byrne |
| Education | Roman Catholic High School for Boys |
| Alma mater | St. Charles Borromeo Seminary |
Edwin Vincent Byrne (August 9, 1891 – July 26, 1963) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served in Puerto Rico, as Bishop of Ponce (1925-1929) and Bishop of San Juan (1929-1943), before returning to the United States as Archbishop of Santa Fe (1943-1963).
Biography
Edwin Byrne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Francis Charles and Anna (née Carroll) Byrne.[1] After graduating from Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia in 1908, he studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Edmond Francis Prendergast on May 22, 1915.[2] He then served as a curate at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Philadelphia until 1917, when he became a chaplain in the United States Navy during World War I.[1] From 1920 to 1923, he was secretary to Bishop James Paul McCloskey, of the Diocese of Jaro in the Philippines.[1] He was named vicar general of Jaro in 1923.[1]
On June 23, 1925, Byrne was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ponce in Puerto Rico by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following November 30 from Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, with Bishop John Joseph Swint and Bishop Andrew James Louis Brennan serving as co-consecrators.[2] After Archbishop Jorge José Caruana was made Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, Byrne was named Bishop of San Juan on March 8, 1929.[2] He became an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne in 1940.[1]
Byrne was appointed the eighth Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on June 12, 1943.[2] During his 20-year-long tenure, he was instrumental in the construction of many churches and schools, and built up the diocesan clergy.[3] In 1958, his decree that no Catholic girl should appear in a bathing suit in the Miss New Mexico pageant received national attention and stirred controversy; he never rescinded the ban.[4][5] He condemned a "right to work" bill being considered in the state legislature.[3] He also prohibited Catholic students from dating while attending high school, describing "going steady, keeping steady company, necking and kissing" as "pagan" practices.[6] He attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council in 1962.[3]
Byrne suffered a gallbladder attack on July 21, 1963, and was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital two days later.[3] He underwent surgery for removal of the gallbladder on July 26, dying later that day.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Archbishop Edwin Vincent Byrne". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Archbishop Edwin V. Byrne, 71, Of Santa Fe Diocese Is Dead". The New York Times. 1963-07-27.
- ↑ "Archbishop v. Redhead". TIME Magazine. 1959-07-20.
- ↑ "The Bathing-Suit Issue". TIME Magazine. 1959-07-27.
- ↑ "The Way to Dishonor". TIME Magazine. 1957-10-21.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none |
Bishop of Ponce 1925—1929 |
Succeeded by Aloysius Joseph Willinger |
| Preceded by Jorge José Caruana |
Bishop of San Juan 1929—1943 |
Succeeded by James Peter Davis |
| Preceded by Rudolph Gerken |
Archbishop of Santa Fe 1943—1963 |
Succeeded by James Peter Davis |
