John Anthony Dooher
Encyclopedia
John Anthony Dooher is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He currently serves as an auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Boston
.
, to Irish
immigrants
John and Brigid (née Patsy) Dooher. One of four children, he has two brothers, Francis and Terence, and one sister, Kathleen. He studied at St. John's Seminary
in Brighton, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1965 and a Master's in Divinity
in 1969.
to the priesthood
on May 21, 1969, and then served as associate pastor
at St. Francis Xavier Church in Weymouth
and chaplain
at South Shore Hospital and South Weymouth Naval Air Station
until 1974. From 1974 to 1991, he served at St. Augustine Church in South Boston. During this period, he was also President of the Priests' Senate (1978-1982) and Director of the Office of Spiritual Development (1982-1991).
From 1991 to 1996, Dooher served at St. Vincent de Paul Church and Ss. Peter and Paul Church, which were later merged together. He was then named pastor
of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Dedham
in 1996. At St. Mary's, Dooher also founded the Life Teen
program.
of Boston
and Titular Bishop
of Theveste by Pope Benedict XVI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following December 12 from Seán Cardinal O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
, with Bishops Francis Irwin
and Walter Edyvean
serving as co-consecrators
. As an auxiliary, Dooher serves as regional bishop
for the South Pastoral Region
.
His appointment was met with some criticism from advocates of sexual abuse victims' rights, who claimed that Dooher "abetted a harmful and immoral coverup for the Boston archdiocese" as a priest. He had been mentioned in a 2003 report by Attorney General
Thomas Reilly
as one of two priests who in the mid-1990s met with pastors in parishes
affected by abuse cases, and in a 2002 deposition by Bishop John McCormack
as having participated in conversations in the Archdiocese in 1994 about where to house abusive priests.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He currently serves as an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
.
Early life
John Dooher was born in Dorchester, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, to Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrants
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
John and Brigid (née Patsy) Dooher. One of four children, he has two brothers, Francis and Terence, and one sister, Kathleen. He studied at St. John's Seminary
St. John's Seminary (Massachusetts)
Saint John's Seminary, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, is a Catholic major seminary sponsored by the Archdiocese of Boston....
in Brighton, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1965 and a Master's in Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
in 1969.
Priesthood
Dooher was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 21, 1969, and then served as associate pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Francis Xavier Church in Weymouth
Weymouth, Massachusetts
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
and chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at South Shore Hospital and South Weymouth Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station South Weymouth
Naval Air Station South Weymouth, or SOWEY as it is sometimes known, was an operational United States Navy airfield from 1942 to 1997. It was first established as a regular Navy blimp base during World War II...
until 1974. From 1974 to 1991, he served at St. Augustine Church in South Boston. During this period, he was also President of the Priests' Senate (1978-1982) and Director of the Office of Spiritual Development (1982-1991).
From 1991 to 1996, Dooher served at St. Vincent de Paul Church and Ss. Peter and Paul Church, which were later merged together. He was then named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
in 1996. At St. Mary's, Dooher also founded the Life Teen
LIFE TEEN
Life Teen, Inc. is a Catholic youth ministry organization and movement originating in the United States. It was established in 1985 at St. Timothy's Parish in Mesa, Arizona to "lead teens closer to Christ." Life Teen believes that "Eucharist-based ministry has the power to transform teens,...
program.
Episcopal career
On October 12, 2006, Dooher was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Theveste by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following December 12 from Seán Cardinal O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, with Bishops Francis Irwin
Francis Xavier Irwin
Francis Xavier Irwin is Titular Bishop of Ubaza and is a retired Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston....
and Walter Edyvean
Walter James Edyvean
Walter James Edyvean is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston....
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. As an auxiliary, Dooher serves as regional bishop
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
for the South Pastoral Region
South Pastoral Region
The South Pastoral Region is one of the five pastoral regions of the Archdiocese of Boston in the Roman Catholic Church. It covers Plymouth County and most of Norfolk County in the state of Massachusetts, USA. The current regional auxiliary bishop is John Anthony Dooher. The region has 59...
.
His appointment was met with some criticism from advocates of sexual abuse victims' rights, who claimed that Dooher "abetted a harmful and immoral coverup for the Boston archdiocese" as a priest. He had been mentioned in a 2003 report by Attorney General
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
Thomas Reilly
Thomas Reilly
Thomas F. Reilly is an American attorney and politician who served as the 45th Massachusetts Attorney General. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Irish immigrant parents....
as one of two priests who in the mid-1990s met with pastors in parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
affected by abuse cases, and in a 2002 deposition by Bishop John McCormack
John Brendan McCormack
- External links :*****...
as having participated in conversations in the Archdiocese in 1994 about where to house abusive priests.