Former V.I. Bishop – Global Advocate for Victims of Abuse – Retires from Ministry

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley officially retired from the Catholic Church

After a long life of devotion to the poor, the downtrodden and to his faith, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley officially retired from the Catholic Church at the end of June. O’Malley came to St. Thomas from Washington, D.C. as a priest and was ordained a bishop at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on Aug. 2, 1984.

But O’Malley’s greatest legacy comes from the 32 years he spent addressing child sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy members. A few weeks after the cardinal’s last day of service, his childhood friend sat among the pews in the St. Thomas cathedral, recalling O’Malley’s beginnings as a priest.

Fr. Simeon Gallagher said that from the time he was in Catholic seminary, O’Malley was well known for his proficiency in several languages and was sent on missions to Latin America. Because of that familiarity, the young priest was invited to speak at a celebration service at the St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where members of the Argentinian military were present, Gallagher said.