Background
Moynihan, James Michael was born on July 16, 1932 in Rochester, New York, United States. Son of Michael Joseph and Carolyn Elizabeth Horigan Moynihan.
Moynihan, James Michael was born on July 16, 1932 in Rochester, New York, United States. Son of Michael Joseph and Carolyn Elizabeth Horigan Moynihan.
He graduated Nazareth Hall School for Boys in 1946, and then attended Saint Andrew"s Seminary High School until 1950, and Saint Andrew and Saint Bernard Seminary College, graduating in 1954 with his Bachelor of Arts degree. Moynihan then traveled to Rome, where he studied at the Pontifical North American College, from where he obtained his licentiate in theology, and the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a doctorate in canon law summa cum laude.
He is the ninth Bishop of Syracuse. He was the private secretary of Bishop James Kearney from 1963 to 1966, and was later made Vice-Chancellor (1965) and Chancellor (1967) of Rochester. In the capacity of Catholic chaplain, Moynihan served the Monroe County jail, Rochester police department (1962–1973), and Highland Hospital (1974–1976).
In addition to his other duties, he was director of the Bishop"s Annual Catholic Thanksgiving Appeal from 1985 to 1989.
He was raised to the rank of Chaplian to His Holiness in 1993. On April 4, 1995, Moynihan was appointed the ninth Bishop of Syracuse by Pope John Paul World War II He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 29 from John Cardinal O’Connor, with Bishops Joseph O"Keefe and Matthew Clark serving as co-consecrators.
In 1998, Moynihan removed French Richard McBrien as a columnist for the diocesan newspaper, replacing him with the more theologically conservative writer George Weigel, much to the clergy"s dismay.
In November 2001 he released a pastoral letter to the people of Syracuse entitled Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry.
He retired on 26 May 2009. He was succeeded by Bishop Robert J. Cunningham.
The Bishop is a founding member of the Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, named after the Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen, as well.