Background
He grew up in Bessemer, Alabama, during the height of anti-Catholic violence in that state.
He grew up in Bessemer, Alabama, during the height of anti-Catholic violence in that state.
After deciding not to pursue a music career, Durick began studies for the priesthood. He studied at Saint Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama, as a seminarian for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile and graduated in 1933. Three years later he completed course work in Philosophy at in Baltimore, and later received a Theological degree at Pontifical Urbaniana University, also known as Collegio Urbano di Propaganda Fide sul Gianicolo, the Pontifical Seminary for Missionary Priests in Rome, where he was later ordained.
He publicly opposed the Vietnam War and the death penalty, which led to criticism from conservative circles. He had the image of an amiable country vicar, so much so that the newspapers called him "the happy priest." Born in Dayton, Tennessee, he was the seventh of twelve children. Ordained on March 23, 1940, Durick became the assistant director of Catholic missions in North Alabama.
By 1943 he was the director
On December 30, 1954, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama, and titular bishop of Cerbali. His Episcopal Motto was "The love of Christ impels us" (Caritas Christi urget nos).
At age 40 he was one of the youngest bishops in the United States. On December 11, 1963, he was promoted to coadjutor bishop of Nashville, Tennessee by Pope Paul VI with right of succession to Bishop William Adrian. King responded with his Letter from Birmingham Jail, voicing disappointment in the white clergy, who should be "among our strongest allies".
This, and the message he got from Vatican II, led Durick to become a strong voice for civil rights in the segregated South, for which he was called a heretic and a communist by his tradition-bound congregation.
In 1968-1969 especially, he faced serious opposition in the form of boycotts of his public appearances. He succeeded as bishop of Nashville on September 10, 1969, and resigned April 2, 1975, devoting himself fully to prison ministry. After six years of ministering to prisoners in various locations he was forced to semi-retire due to a severe heart problem and had to go through surgery.
Joseph Durick died at the age of 79 at his home in Bessemer, Alabama, on a Sunday.
According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville, Durick, died of cancer.