Description
Book SynopsisCardinal Humberto Medeiros served the Church as priest and bishop in Texas and Massachusetts. An immigrant from the Azores he utilized his superior intelligence, administrative ability, and language skills to move up rapidly in Church ranks. His work with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, both nationally and internationally, especially with migrant workers, was notable. Medeiros faced a perfect storm of social, political and religious issues in Boston. The author argues that despite the challenges he faced in Boston, Medeiros was true to the Church and his personal moral code, seeking always to serve others rather than be served by them in imitation of Christ.
Trade ReviewRichard Gribble has produced a meticulous portrait of Humberto Medeiros, one of the most notable, yet most frequently overlooked U.S. Catholic leaders of the post-1945 era. Gribble carefully weighs the sources and helpfully explores the various contexts in which Medeiros' life and ministry unfolded. We meet in these pages a priest and bishop whose immigrant experience paved the way for pioneering ministry to migrants and advocacy for racial justice. We meet a church official whose controversial outspokenness on sexual morality and consequential actions when facing clerical sexual abuse help explain some of the most significant developments in recent U.S. Catholic history. We meet a person of deep faith grappling with challenges of living in an ever more complex nation and world, a man prone to introspection and self-effacement, yet repeatedly enveloped in the public spotlight.
-- James P. McCartin, Fordham University
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part I: Early Life and Ministry in Fall River, 1915-1966
Chapter 1: The Early Years: Azores and Fall River
Chapter 2: A Priest in Fall River
Part II: Advocate for the Poor: Bishop of Brownsville, Texas, 1966-1970
Chapter 3: Brownsville 1966-1970: Building the Diocese
Chapter 4: Advocate for the Poor in Brownsville
Chapter 5: Working with the NCCB in Brownsville
Part III: Turbulent Years as Archbishop of Boston, 1970-1983
Chapter 6: The New Adventure of Boston
Chapter 7: Diocesan Affairs in Boston
Chapter 8: Ministry and Disputes with the Clergy
Chapter 9: Catholic Schools in the Busing Crisis
Chapter 10: Vatican II in Action
Chapter 11: Serving Those on the Margins
Chapter 12: Issues of Church and State in Boston
Chapter 13: Ministry beyond Boston
Chapter 14: Final Years, Death and Legacy
Epilogue: Humberto Medeiros: A Life of Service and Fidelity
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