Bishop O’Connell, successful Catholic University president, criticized by dissenters

July 07, 2010

Coadjutor Bishop David O’Connell of Trenton transformed the Catholic University of America from a school with “a lot of theology but no faith” to one with a resurgent Catholic identity, according to a July 7 Washington Post profile. During his 12 years in office, Father O’Connell raised $180 million, and the student body grew by 25%.

Father O’Connell received criticism in the article from gay students and from dissenters. “He was a very conservative Catholic educator at CUA and will be a very conservative bishop in Trenton,” said Father Richard McBrien of the University of Notre Dame.

Bishop O’Connell’s successor is John Garvey, the dean of Boston College Law School, who supported Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign and lauded abortion proponent Rep. Edward Markey upon naming him commencement speaker.

 

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Further information:

• Departing Catholic University president turned school around but sowed divisions, some say (Washington Post)
• Catholic U’s new president: Law school dean who named abortion proponent a commencement speaker (CWN, 6/15)