Humberto Sousa Medeiros (October 6, 1915 – September 17, 1983) was a Portuguese-born American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Boston from 1970 until his death in 1983, and was created a cardinal in 1973. Medeiros previously serve as Bishop of Brownsville from 1966 to 1970.

An ecclesiastical conservative, Medeiros was considered a champion of the immigrant worker, the poor and minorities. Medeiros was an outspoken opponent of capitalism, denouncing an economic system that "considers profit the key motive for economic progress, competition the maximum law of economics, and private ownership of the means of production an absolute right that carries no corresponding social obligations." The protests against the new archbishop included vandalism against the local Catholic institutions and a burning cross on the lawn of the diocese's chancery. He strongly supported integration in the United States, but did not support desegregation busing; nevertheless, he refused to let parents enroll their children in parochial schools as a means of avoiding it. His policies on the topic of sexual abuse were controversial. Medeiros transferred John Geoghan from parish to parish, despite multiple credible accusations of sexual abuse by Geoghan. He personally knew of dozens of sexual abuse accusations against Paul Shanley.

Early life

Humberto Sousa Medeiros was born on October 6, 1915, in the civil parish of Arrifes, on the island of São Miguel, Azores, a part of Portugal, to Antonio Medeiros and Maria de Jesus Sousa Massa Flor. He was baptized in the parish of Nossa Senhora da Saúde on November 1, 1915. His father raised vegetables and ran a small variety store. In 1931, the Medeiros family emigrated to the United States, settling in Fall River, Massachusetts. The family attended St. Michael's Parish in Fall River, a national parish for the Portuguese. He became a naturalized American citizen After his ordination, the diocese assigned Medeiros as an assistant pastor at St. John of God Parish in Somerset, Massachusetts. In 1949, he returned to Catholic University to pursue his doctoral studies. He earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1952.

Archbishop of Boston

Medeiros was appointed archbishop of Boston on September 8, 1970. He was installed on October 7th, 1970. In the days leading up to and following Medeiros' arrival, local Catholic institutions were targeted by vandals. In one instance a cross was burned on the lawn of the diocese's chancery.

Medeiros served as a special papal envoy to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal in May 1977.He participated in the conclaves of August and October 1978, that selected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II, respectively.

Medeiros transferred Reverend John Geoghan from parish to parish despite multiple credible accusations of sexual abuse. He knew of dozens of sexual abuse accusations against Paul Shanley.

Death

Medeiros died on September 17, 1983, from heart failure during open heart surgery in Boston, at age 67. He was interred by request with his parents in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Fall River. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis described Medeiros as a "gentle, compassionate man".

Legacy

  • The Cardinal Medeiros Towers is a federal housing development for the elderly and disabled in Fall River.
  • The Cardinal Medeiros Residence for retired priests is located in Fall River.
  • The Cardinal Medeiros Trust fund was created in 1981 by the Texas Knights of Columbus State Council Charities to provide educational grants to families of Knights.
  • Boston College named the freshman honors dormitory "Medeiros" in his honor.
  • Cardinal Medeiros Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is named after him.
  • The main auditorium of the Catholic University of Portugal's campus in Lisbon is named in his honor.
  • A statue on his honor was inaugurated in his home parish of Arrifes on 10 June 2000, at the Portugal Day.

Viewpoints

Abortion

In 1971, Medeiros described abortion as "the new barbarism". In 1974, Medeiros refused to allow the baptism in the archdiocese of the child of a Marlboro, Massachusetts, woman who supported the establishment of an abortion-information clinic.

Before the primaries for the 1980 US congressional elections, Medeiros issued a pastoral letter that stated, "Those who make abortion possible by law cannot separate themselves from the guilt which accompanies this horrendous crime and deadly sin." His words were considered to be directed at pro-choice candidates for congress James Michael Shannon and Barney Frank. Medeiros was criticized by some as violating the separation of church and state.

Capitalism

Medeiros' pastoral letter "Man's Cities, God's Poor" for Boston in 1972 reflected his passion for the poor.

Medeiros was an advocate of workers, supporting their demands for a minimum wage at $1.25 an hour. He also became known as an outspoken opponent of capitalism, denouncing an economic system that "considers profit the key motive for economic progress, competition the maximum law of economics, and private ownership of the means of production an absolute right that carries no corresponding social obligations."

War

An opponent of American involvement in the 1965 to 1975 Vietnam War, Medeiros condemned the 1972 bombing of Hanoi in what was then North Vietnam in a 1972 Christmas homily.

References

  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
  • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston