Cardinal John O'Connor dies

O'Connor was considered the spiritual leader of New York's Catholic community

May 3, 2000
Web posted at: 10:56 p.m. EDT (0256 GMT)

In this story: 'Kill me instead' Chaplain during Korean, Vietnam Wars Bridge builder in New York Health history RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Cardinal John O'Connor, the spiritual leader of more than 2 million Roman Catholics in the New York Archdiocese, has died. He was 80 years old.

He had been in poor health since an operation to remove a brain tumor in August 1999. But a spokesman said the cardinal's health took a "sudden and dramatic turn for the worse" Wednesday morning.

"His Eminence Cardinal John O'Connor has completed his earthly journey and has gone home to God," Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday night.

O'Connor died at 8:05 p.m. at his Manhattan residence with his sister, Mary Ward, other family members, clergy and colleagues by his side. His funeral is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

VIDEO CNN's Deborah Feyerick looks back on the cardinal's life. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Remembering Cardinal O'Connor     Milestones in O'Connor's life Born in Philadelphia January 15, 1920 1936 Entered seminary 1945 Ordained 27 years as military chaplain 1979 retired with rank of rear admiral 1983 Became bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania 1984 Made archbishop of New York 1985 Made a cardinal

The cardinal had received the sacrament of the sick last Saturday. He had been experiencing a growing weakness during the past month and a half.

Zwilling said that the moment he would most remember about the cardinal was when he returned to St. Patrick's after his operation.

"The look on his face said how much he loved being there with the people. It really crystallized what I knew, how much he loved being a priest, being with the people. He was truly at home."

O'Connor was a national figure, sought out by U.S. presidential candidates and world leaders and considered Pope John Paul II's most important American ally.

A man of strong convictions and deep faith, O'Connor held tightly to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

He marched against abortion and criticized Catholic politicians such as Geraldine Ferraro, who supported abortion rights.

'Kill me instead'

Although he drew fire from abortion rights advocates and others who disagreed with his positions, he defended his convictions in a spirit of peace. And he vigorously denounced violence.

He went on the Internet in 1995 to field questions about clinic bombings and said, "If anyone has an urge to kill anybody at an abortion clinic, he should kill me instead."

O'Connor, who opposed homosexuality, objected to gay Catholics marching in New York's annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

But in his homily one Sunday when a Gay Pride Parade was to pass in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, he warned the congregation, "Please do not believe for a moment that you would be defending the Church or advancing Church teachings by expressions of hatred."

O'Connor told those who disagreed with him about gay rights, "To those who may not agree with the teachings of the Church, you are still in our hearts, you are still in our love."

Chaplain during Korean, Vietnam Wars

O'Connor celebrates Mass at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City

As a child, O'Connor said, he dreamed of being a garbage man, doctor or journalist.

Instead, he entered the seminary while still a teen-ager and was ordained a priest in 1945. Later, he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for 27 years, service that included both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He retired from military service in 1979 with the rank of rear admiral.

He rose quickly through the church hierarchy -- from bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1983, to archibishop of New York in 1984, and then cardinal a year later.

Bridge builder in New York

O'Connor became as much a part of New York City as the Yankees and Mets. He frequently went to bat or lent a hand with city issues.

In the early 1990s, he met with labor leaders to end newspaper strikes. "I've been worrying and praying a great deal about the potential loss of two newspapers in this city," O'Connor said.

He also used his pulpit at St. Patrick's Cathedral to preach on issues from rent control to health care. And he provided comfort to the families of the victims of TWA 800, after the plane crashed off the New York coast.

The motto on his personal coat of arms reads, "There can be no love without justice."

O'Connor also worked to build bridges in his city. When police officers opened fire and killed an unarmed West African immigrant this year, the cardinal held an interfaith service to ease race relations.

And in a moving letter during the Jewish holidays he expressed his "abject sorrow" for any harm done to Jews by Catholics.

As O'Connor followed his conscience, controversy and the media often followed him.

He traveled to war-torn Beirut in 1989, ignoring a U.S. State Department warning that Americans were being targeted as hostages. The cardinal, with a smile in his eye and his ever-present humor, never was at a loss for words.

"I don't think I'd be worth much as a captive," he replied to questions of whether he was worried.

Health history

When he turned 75, O'Connor submitted his resignation -- as required by church law. The pope reportedly wrote back, "Keep doing what you're doing. We'll call you."

Last year, O'Connor had a growth surgically removed from his nose. In August, suffering from persistent nausea, he was admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering in Manhattan, where he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Reflecting on his life from his hospital bed just before the diagnostic tests, the cardinal wrote, "I find myself in unutterable peace, a peace born of the grace of God and the goodness of God's people."

He underwent surgery in September, followed by five weeks of radiation therapy. The cardinal returned to the hospital in October and received treatment for dehydration and a blood clot in his leg.

Cardinal O'Connor said to be 'at hour of his death'
May 3, 2000
Cardinal misses Sunday Mass due to health problems
February 28, 2000

Archdiocese of New York
  •  Cardinal O'Connor

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.