John Francis Dearden

John Francis Dearden (October 15, 1907 – August 1, 1988) was an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1958 to 1980, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.
==Biography==
===Early life and ordination===
John Francis Dearden was born in Valley Falls, Rhode Island to John Sidney Dearden and his wife Agnes Gregory. He attended elementary school at Holy Trinity School and later at St. Philomena School in Cleveland, Ohio, where his family moved in 1918. 
Dearden also studied at Cathedral Latin School and the archdiocesan St. Mary's Seminary. Dearden did graduate work in Rome at the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University. On December 8, 1932, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti-Selvaggiani, and then finished his studies in 1934. 
===Priest and bishop===
Dearden served in parish assignments in Ohio until 1937, when he was named a professor of philosophy at St. Mary Seminary, of which he was rector from 1944 to 1948. He was raised to the rank of Monsignor on July 19, 1945.
On March 13, 1948, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop of Sarepta. Dearden received his episcopal consecration on the following May 18 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Edward Hoban and Floyd Begin serving as co-consecrators.
Dearden's stern manner of administration during this time even earned him the nickname of "Iron John"TIME Magazine. A New Model from Detroit April 11, 1969. He succeeded the late Hugh Charles Boyle as Bishop of Pittsburgh on December 22, 1950, and was later named Archbishop of Detroit on December 18, 1958.
===Second Vatican Council===
He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. At the Council, Dearden became exceedingly more liberal in his viewsCatholic New Times. Cardinal 'Iron John' Dearden: The 'Prince' Who Became a Servant February 2004, and soon became a leading progressive voice in the Church.TIME Magazine. Princely Promotions April 4, 1969TIME Magazine. A Healer for Catholics December 2, 1974 He was dedicated to implementing the Council's reforms; particularly, he gave priests and the laity a greater participation in dealing with such matters as liturgy, education, and finances.Ibid.. 
From 1966 to 1971, Dearden served as the first President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.Democracy for Bishops November 25, 1966 He was also seen as one of the likely candidates to succeed Francis Spellman as Archbishop of New York.TIME Magazine. Choosing a Successor December 15, 1967TIME Magazine. Succession to Spellman March 15, 1968
===Cardinal===
Pope Paul VI created him Cardinal Priest of S. Pio X alla Balduina in the consistory of April 28, 1969. During the 1971 Synod of Bishops in Vatican City, Dearden suggested that the sociological and psychological aspects of the priesthood be investigated.TIME Magazine. Strengthening Paul's Hand October 18, 1971 
He was also one of the cardinal electors who participated in the conclaves of August and October 1978, which selected Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II respectively. On July 15, 1980, he resigned as Detroit's archbishop, after twenty-one years of service.
===Later life and death===
Following the Watergate scandal, the Cardinal asked Catholics to observe the first three Fridays of November 1973 with prayer, penance, and fasting.TIME Magazine. Keep the Faith November 19, 1973
Dearden died from pancreatic cancer in Southfield, Michigan, at age 80.The New York Times. John Cardinal Dearden, 80, Dies; Leading Liberal Voice in Church August 2, 1988 He is buried in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in the same city. Dearden once survived a heart attack.TIME Magazine. The September Pope October 9, 1978
==References==
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==External links==
* Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
* Catholic-Hierarchy
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh History of Bishops Official Webpage
Category:1907 births
Category:1988 deaths
Category:Religious leaders from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Category:American cardinals
Category:Roman Catholic Archbishops of Detroit
Category:Roman Catholic Bishops of Pittsburgh
Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops
Category:Burials in Michigan
Category:Cardinals created by Pope Paul VI
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