Edward A. McCarthy

McCarthy was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by Pope Paul VI on April 21, 1965. He was consecrated on June 15, 1965[2] with Archbishop Karl Alter serving as principal consecrator.

McCarthy was appointed the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Phoenix by Paul VI on August 25, 1969. McCarthy was installed on December 2, 1969.[1][2]

On September 17, 1976, Paul VI appointed McCarthy as the coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami due to the failing health of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll. Upon Archbishop Carroll's death on July 26, 1977, McCarthy automatically succeeded him.[3] Soon after arriving, he oversaw the construction of a Pastoral Center for the diocese and restructured most senior operational divisions.[3] He established the Office of Lay Ministry, the Office of Evangelization and the Permanent Diaconate program.[3]

In 1980, McCarthy was a key figure in offering support and assistance during the Mariel Boat Lift. A year later, he stood up for the rights of Haitian immigrants who were detained under what would become known as the Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy. In response to these incidents, that same year he oversaw the opening of the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center in Miami.[4][5] However, he was also picketed by Haitian-born Roman Catholic priest Gérard Jean-Juste, who criticized him for not doing more for Haitian refugees and attributed McCarthy's alleged indifference to racism.[6] As punishment, Jean-Juste was forbidden by his church superiors from performing mass in the area.[7]

In 1984, McCarthy assisted with the transition of the new Diocese of Venice and Diocese of Palm Beach.[8] A year later, he would call for the first ever Archdiocesan Synod. Lasting until 1988, it was seen as a method to revitalize the faithful within the archdiocese.[5][9]

Pope John Paul II visited Miami in 1987. For the first time, he was forced to halt his public Mass midway due to a massive thunderstorm. Severe lightning caused the liturgy to be suspended due to safety concerns—an event that had never occurred elsewhere during the Pope's travels. John Paul II completed the offering of the mass inside a trailer, as the crowds dispersed, but only after McCarthy pleaded with them to tend to their own safety.

In 1993, McCarthy submitted his resignation at the mandatory retirement age of 75.[10] He became officially retired on November 3, 1994. In his final year, he started the planning of a new parish and high school in western Broward County. The church, founded after his retirement, bore his namesake...Saint Edward.[11] current Archbishop John C. Favalora named it the Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School.[5][10]

Edward A. McCarthy died in his sleep on June 7, 2005, at the age of 87.[10]