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Lawrence Shehan
Lawrence Joseph Shehan (March 18, 1898 – August 26, 1984) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Baltimore from 1961 to 1974. He was made a cardinal in 1965. Shehan previously served as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore from 1945 to 1953 as Bishop of Bridgeport from 1953 to 1961.
As bishop of Bridgeport, Shehan established new parishes and other facilities to meet the needs of the expanding Catholic population, working to create new ministries for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Catholics. As Archbishop of Baltimore, he condemned racial discrimination in the archdiocese and participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Shehan was one of the first Catholic prelates to condemn American involvement in the Vietnam War. He was also a strong advocate for building ties with the Protestant and Jewish communities.
Shehan's reputation was tarnished by revelations in 2019 and 2023 that he mishandled sexual abuse allegations against clergy in both Bridgeport and Baltimore.
Lawrence Shehan was born on March 18, 1898, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas Patrick and Anastasia Dames (née Schofield) Shehan. Lawrence was one of five children. His father operated a tailors' supply business. Lawrence Shehan received his early education at St. Ann's parochial schools in Baltimore. By the eighth grade, he had decided to become a priest.
In 1911, Shehan began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College, a college seminary in Ellicott City. After graduating from St. Charles, Shehan enrolled at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore in 1917, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919 and a Master of Arts degree in 1920.In 1920, the Archdiocese of Baltimore sent Shehan to Rome to continue his studies at the Pontifical Urban University, where he received a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1923.
On December 23, 1922, Shehan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Following his return to Maryland, the archdiocese assigned Shehan as a curate at St. Patrick's Parish in Washington, D.C., a post he held until 1941. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as assistant director (1929 to 1936) and director (1936 to 1945) of Catholic Charities in Washington. The Vatican named Shehan as a papal chamberlain in 1939.
In 1941, the archdiocese appointed Shehan as pastor of St. Patrick's Parish. He ended racial segregation at the St. Patrick's school in 1942 and regularly hosted meetings of the Washington branch of the Catholic Interracial Council. The Vatican raised Shehan to the rank of domestic prelate in 1945.
On November 17, 1945, Shehan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and titular bishop of Lydda by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on December 12, 1945, at Saint Patrick's Church in Washington from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Peter Leo Ireton and John Michael McNamara serving as co-consecrators.
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Lawrence Shehan
Lawrence Joseph Shehan (March 18, 1898 – August 26, 1984) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Baltimore from 1961 to 1974. He was made a cardinal in 1965. Shehan previously served as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore from 1945 to 1953 as Bishop of Bridgeport from 1953 to 1961.
As bishop of Bridgeport, Shehan established new parishes and other facilities to meet the needs of the expanding Catholic population, working to create new ministries for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Catholics. As Archbishop of Baltimore, he condemned racial discrimination in the archdiocese and participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Shehan was one of the first Catholic prelates to condemn American involvement in the Vietnam War. He was also a strong advocate for building ties with the Protestant and Jewish communities.
Shehan's reputation was tarnished by revelations in 2019 and 2023 that he mishandled sexual abuse allegations against clergy in both Bridgeport and Baltimore.
Lawrence Shehan was born on March 18, 1898, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas Patrick and Anastasia Dames (née Schofield) Shehan. Lawrence was one of five children. His father operated a tailors' supply business. Lawrence Shehan received his early education at St. Ann's parochial schools in Baltimore. By the eighth grade, he had decided to become a priest.
In 1911, Shehan began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College, a college seminary in Ellicott City. After graduating from St. Charles, Shehan enrolled at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore in 1917, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919 and a Master of Arts degree in 1920.In 1920, the Archdiocese of Baltimore sent Shehan to Rome to continue his studies at the Pontifical Urban University, where he received a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1923.
On December 23, 1922, Shehan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Following his return to Maryland, the archdiocese assigned Shehan as a curate at St. Patrick's Parish in Washington, D.C., a post he held until 1941. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as assistant director (1929 to 1936) and director (1936 to 1945) of Catholic Charities in Washington. The Vatican named Shehan as a papal chamberlain in 1939.
In 1941, the archdiocese appointed Shehan as pastor of St. Patrick's Parish. He ended racial segregation at the St. Patrick's school in 1942 and regularly hosted meetings of the Washington branch of the Catholic Interracial Council. The Vatican raised Shehan to the rank of domestic prelate in 1945.
On November 17, 1945, Shehan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and titular bishop of Lydda by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on December 12, 1945, at Saint Patrick's Church in Washington from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Peter Leo Ireton and John Michael McNamara serving as co-consecrators.
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