Aug. 31—ROCHESTER — Leader for 10 years of the Catholic diocese covering southern Minnesota, the retired Bishop Bernard J. Harrington has died, the diocese announced.
The announcement was made in a social media post. According to the website GoCatholic.org, Harrington died in Livonia, Michigan. He was 91 years old.
Harrington was installed as the bishop of the Diocese of Winona, as it was then known, on Jan. 6, 1999, and served as bishop until May 7, 2009. He was followed in his tenure by Bishop John M. Quinn, then Bishop Robert Barron, who serves in the role today.
According to the diocese, during his tenure Harrington oversaw initiatives including calling forth the first cohort of deacons ordained within the diocese, creating the Seeds of Faith endowment for faith formation and Catholic school scholarships, and the expansion of services offered by Catholic Charities.
Harrington also led the local diocese during the Boston clergy abuse scandals. He oversaw the implementation of Safe Environment practices within the diocese, according to the announcement.
Harrington was the seventh bishop of the diocese, today known as the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. He was born on Sept. 6, 1933, to John and Norah Harrington. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 6, 1959, and served in many capacities, including pastor, superintendent of Catholic schools, and rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. On Nov. 23, 1993, he was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
1999: The auxiliary bishop from the Archdiocese of Detroit is ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Winona.
2000: Announces a parish realignment plan that furthers church “clustering” in response to an ongoing priest shortage.
2002: The sex-abuse crisis hits the U.S. Catholic Church. “I am concerned for those whose faith is shaken,” says Harrington, who calls for a day of fasting and prayer “for the sins of sexual abuse.”
2003: Reveals the diocese’s insurance companies have paid $3.7 million in the past 15 years resulting from abuse claims, with most of the money paid before 1993 in a case against “one accused perpetrator.” He also says the diocese paid $1.7 million in legal costs and settlements in the past 15 years, most of that resulting from claims against the same perpetrator.
2004: Amid a heated presidential election, Harrington says Catholics who support abortion rights should not step forward for communion. He stops short of repeating threats made by other bishops, however, to publicly deny the sacrament to politicians who support abortion rights.
2005: Joins the last group of U.S. bishops who visit Pope John Paul II before the pontiff dies.
2006: Joins Minnesota bishops in supporting a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
2007: Preparing for retirement, he sets goals that include recruiting priests and reaching out to teens and Hispanics.
— Post Bulletin archives