Outspoken Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Gumbleton dies at 94

[Michie]

DETROIT (OSV News) — Whether it was speaking out against injustice, ministering to those on society’s margins or accompanying communities afflicted by geo-political catastrophes, retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton traveled great lengths to express his solidarity with people on the periphery of society.

An outspoken champion of social justice causes who traveled far and wide in support of peace efforts, Bishop Gumbleton died April 4 at the age of 94.

“Bishop Gumbleton was a faithful son of the Archdiocese of Detroit, loved and respected by his brother priests and the laity for his integrity and devotion to the people he served,” Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron said April 4. “We in the Archdiocese join his family and friends in praying for the repose of his soul and asking God to grant him the reward of his labors.”

Continued below.

Outspoken Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Gumbleton dies at 94

Whether it was speaking out against injustice, ministering to those on society's margins or accompanying communities afflicted by geo-political catastrophes, retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton traveled great lengths to express his solidarity with people on the periphery of society.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[DJWhalen]

Prays to his family.

 

[RileyG]

May he rest in the peace of Christ

 

[AlexB23]

DETROIT (OSV News) — Whether it was speaking out against injustice, ministering to those on society’s margins or accompanying communities afflicted by geo-political catastrophes, retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton traveled great lengths to express his solidarity with people on the periphery of society.

An outspoken champion of social justice causes who traveled far and wide in support of peace efforts, Bishop Gumbleton died April 4 at the age of 94.

“Bishop Gumbleton was a faithful son of the Archdiocese of Detroit, loved and respected by his brother priests and the laity for his integrity and devotion to the people he served,” Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron said April 4. “We in the Archdiocese join his family and friends in praying for the repose of his soul and asking God to grant him the reward of his labors.”

Continued below.

Outspoken Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Gumbleton dies at 94

Whether it was speaking out against injustice, ministering to those on society's margins or accompanying communities afflicted by geo-political catastrophes, retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton traveled great lengths to express his solidarity with people on the periphery of society.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

My prayers for this Bishop and his family. It seems that he helped serve the underserved community, just as Proverbs 19:17 said about serving the poor.


Here is a summary of the OSV News article on Bp. Thomas J. Gumbleton:

The article by OSV News is about the life and ministry of retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, who passed away on April 4, 2024, at the age of 94. Bishop Gumbleton was known for his advocacy for social justice causes and his controversial stances on issues such as homosexuality and women's ordination.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Gumbleton grew up in a Catholic family with several religious vocations. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary and later at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, where he received a doctorate in canon law. Gumbleton was ordained a priest in 1956 and served as an associate pastor at St. Alphonsus Parish in Dearborn before being appointed assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1960.

In 1968, Pope Paul VI appointed Gumbleton as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Throughout his episcopate, he played an active role in the governance of the archdiocese and advocated for change both within the church and the world. He was a prominent Catholic leader who spoke out against the Vietnam War and became the founding president of Pax Christi USA, an American Catholic peace movement.

Bishop Gumbleton also traveled extensively to nations suffering from economic fallout and wars. He was arrested multiple times while participating in anti-war protests, including during the NATO bombing campaign in Serbia and the Iraq War. For his lifelong effort promoting peace and harmony, Bishop Gumbleton received several honors from universities and nonprofits, including the Detroit Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

However, Bishop Gumbleton was also controversial for his dissenting views on mainstream Catholic thought. He publicly contradicted the church's teaching on same-sex marriage, the ordination of women to the priesthood, and the reception of Communion by those in same-sex relationships. In 2006, he revealed that he had been sexually abused as a teenage seminarian decades earlier but did not file a complaint with local law enforcement or the archdiocese.

After surpassing the age of 75, Gumbleton retired from active episcopal duties in 2006 but continued to reside at St. Leo Parish in Detroit for a time. The article notes that funeral arrangements are pending, and the archdiocese expressed condolences to his family and friends.