Harry Joseph Flynn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Harry Joseph Flynn
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Archbishop Flynn in 2009
Archdiocese	Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Appointed	February 22, 1994 (Coadjutor)
Enthroned	September 8, 1995
Reign ended	May 2, 2008
Predecessor	John Roach
Successor	John Nienstedt
Orders
Ordination	May 28, 1960
Consecration	June 24, 1986 by Howard James Hubbard, Philip Matthew Hannan, Gerard Louis Frey
Personal details
Born	(1933-05-02)May 2, 1933 Schenectady, New York, U.S.
Died	September 22, 2019(2019-09-22) (aged 86) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Previous post	Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana 1989 to 1994
Alma mater	Siena College
Motto	Come Lord Jesus

Styles of Harry Joseph Flynn
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Harry Joseph Flynn (May 2, 1933 – September 22, 2019) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis from 1995 to 2008. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette from 1989 to 1994.

Biography

Early life

Harry Flynn was born in Schenectady, New York, on May 3, 1933 to William and Margaret Mahoney Flynn. Orphaned when he was age 12, he was primarily raised primarily by two aunts. Flynn attended from Siena College in Loudenville, New York, earning bachelor and master degrees in English. He then attended Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland,

Priesthood

Flynn was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William Scully on May 18, 1960 for the Diocese of Albany. After his ordination, Flynn taught English at Catholic Central High School in Troy, New York and held pastoral positions in several parishes. In 1965, Flynn went to Maryland to become a faculty member and dean at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary. Flynn was promoted to vice-rector in 1968 and rector in 1970. After returned to Albany in 1979, he was appointed director of clergy continuing education and as pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Latham, New York.

One day in 1986, Flynn's secretary in Albany, New York, received a phone call from the papal nuncio for the United States. When she told Flynn to call him back, he realized that the pope was going to appoint him as a bishop. In an attempt to dodge the conversation with the nuncio, Flynn drove to a family cabin on Shroon Lake in New York. Cardinal John O’Connor sent a New York state trooper to bring Flynn back to Albany to call the papal nuncio. Flynn later remarked "If I had 100 lives, I’d live every one of them as a priest - and none as a bishop!"

Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana

Pope John Paul II appointed Flynn as coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana on April 19, 1986. Flynn was consecrated by Bishop Howard Hubbard on June 24, 1986. Flynn succeed Bishop Gerard Frey when he resigned on May 12, 1989.

Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

On February 22, 1994, Flynn was appointed by John Paul II as the coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He became archbishop on September 8, 1995, with the resignation of Archbishop John Robert Roach.

..... On trial, Kapoun admitted to abusing three boys and records showed that the archdiocese had made secret settlements to other victims of Kapoun. When questioned in court, Flynn could not recall any detail on the case. Scheffler won the case, but it was overturned on appeal. Flynn only removed Kapoun from ministry when the court case started. The archdiocese sent Scheffler a bill for its legal costs.

.....

In May 2005, Flynn publicly criticized Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty in the Star Tribune for what he perceived as irresponsible tax policies. Flynn was an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq.

After serving as archbishop for 12 years, Flynn requested that the pope assign him a coadjutor archbishop. On April 24, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop John Nienstedt as Flynn's coadjutor.

In January 2008, Flynn, citing a Vatican instruction from 2004, ordered an end to the practice of lay preaching at Mass.

Retirement

On May 5, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Flynn's resignation and Nienstedt succeeded him as archbishop. Flynn continued to assist in the archdiocese after his retirement, administering confirmations, leading retreats, and other liturgies.

In November 2010, the Little Sisters of the Poor honored Flynn with their St. Jeanne Jugan Award on the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He resigned from the board of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul on October 14, 2013. Harry Flynn died on September 22, 2019, from bone cancer in Saint Paul, Minnesota at the age of 86.

Appointments

• Board member at The Catholic University of America
• Chair of the board at Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
• Chair of the board at the University of St. Thomas
• Board president of Saint John Vianney Seminary
• Board member of the College of Saint Catherine
• Member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee for Black Catholics
• Member of the USCCB Committee on the Charismatic Renewal Movement.

Viewpoints

LBGT rights

In 2005, Flynn sent a letter to the Rainbow Sash Alliance telling them that anyone wearing a rainbow sash to church in the archdiocese would be denied communion. He said:

Legacy

In 2009, the University of St. Thomas renamed Selby Hall to Flynn Hall to recognize Flynn.

See also