Archbishop John R. Quinn, who died on June 22 at the age of 88, began writing for America in 1968. Over the years his articles have covered issues as diverse as the priesthood, the legalization of abortion and ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics. The retired archbishop of San Francisco, Quinn served as the president of the U.S. bishops conference from 1977-80. In 1999 he published the book The Reform of the Papacy in response to Pope John Paul II's encyclical “Ut Unum Sint” calling for Christian unity. A selection of his writings for America appears below.
"Do Not Despair: Christ is present even in the darkness," May 3, 2010
"It is a time for us, like the Apostles in Acts, to give thanks that we are counted worthy to suffer something for Christ. It is not a time for us to be the martyr-victim but the martyr-witness."
"A Critical Moment: Barack Obama, Notre Dame and the Future of the U.S. Church," March 30, 2009
“The bishops and the president serve the same citizens of the same country. It is in the interests of both the church and the nation if both work together in civility, honesty and friendship for the common good, even where there are grave divisions, as there are on abortion.”
"Considerations for a Church in Crisis," May 27, 2002
“A narrow perspective cannot respond to the grave [sexual abuse] crisis we now experience. It would be a march of folly if the deeper questions were not dealt with comprehensively.”
"Synod 2001 and the Role of the Bishop," July 20, 2001
"Bishops around the world are dissatisfied with the treatment by Roman congregations of episcopal conferences."
"The Strength of Priests Today," July 1, 2002
“The current clergy abuse scandals are a cause of intense suffering to priests today.”
