Stephen Kelleher

August 31, 1915 (age 84)

New York City, New York, United States

In 1943, after receiving a doctorate degree from the Catholic University of America, Stephen became an assistant chancellor to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and a member of its marriage tribunal. From 1959 to 1960, he served as assistant director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. It was also in 1959, that Kelleher was made an assistant to the president of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine in Beirut. Some time later, in 1962, Kelleher was appointed a presiding judge of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Then, Stephen was also appointed by Pope Paul VI and Francis Cardinal Spellman to coordinate the drafting of the new code of canon law in accordance with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council. It was in 1968, that Stephen gained wide attention, when, as the presiding judge of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York's marriage tribunal, he urged the church to abolish such courts and allow Catholics greater freedom to remarry. The same year, in 1968, when his article, regarding the issue, appeared, Cardinal Terence J. Cooke, New York's archbishop, removed him from the court and appointed him administrator of a parish in Scarsdale, New York, where he served till 1972. Then, Kelleher was appointed to parishes in Manhattan, retiring in 1990. It's worth noting, that, in 1973, Kelleher presented his ideas on Catholicism and divorce in "Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics?". Also, beginning in 1977, he lectured at several New York institutions, including Marymount Manhattan College and Mercy College.

Stephen Joseph Kelleher

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priest author

Background

Stephen Joseph Kelleher was born on August 31, 1915, in New York City, New York, United States. He was a son of Stephen Kelleher and Margaret (Morrissey) Kelleher.

Education

In his early years, Stephen studied at St. Joseph's Seminary in the Bronx and at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Ordained in 1940, Kelleher received a doctorate in Canon Law in 1943 from the Catholic University of America.

Career

In 1943, after receiving a doctorate degree from the Catholic University of America, Stephen became an assistant chancellor to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and a member of its marriage tribunal. From 1959 to 1960, he served as assistant director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. It was also in 1959, that Kelleher was made an assistant to the president of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine in Beirut. Some time later, in 1962, Kelleher was appointed a presiding judge of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Then, Stephen was also appointed by Pope Paul VI and Francis Cardinal Spellman to coordinate the drafting of the new code of canon law in accordance with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council.

It was in 1968, that Stephen gained wide attention, when, as the presiding judge of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York's marriage tribunal, he urged the church to abolish such courts and allow Catholics greater freedom to remarry. The same year, in 1968, when his article, regarding the issue, appeared, Cardinal Terence J. Cooke, New York's archbishop, removed him from the court and appointed him administrator of a parish in Scarsdale, New York, where he served till 1972. Then, Kelleher was appointed to parishes in Manhattan, retiring in 1990.

It's worth noting, that, in 1973, Kelleher presented his ideas on Catholicism and divorce in "Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics?". Also, beginning in 1977, he lectured at several New York institutions, including Marymount Manhattan College and Mercy College.

Achievements

Stephen Kelleher was a Roman Catholic priest, who gained widespread attention in 1968 for his article, in which he argued, that divorced Catholics should be free to remarry within the church. In addition, Monsignor Kelleher was honored by King Hussein of Jordan for his service in Palestine.

Moreover, Kelleher was the author of the book, entitled "Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics?", published in 1973.

Works

Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics? Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics?

book
- Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics? 1973

Views

Stephen claimed, that the Catholic church's procedures for dealing with failed marriages were outdated and marred by a ''lack of Christian love and compassion''. He also stated, that, in considering whether a marriage had been consummated, the church placed too much emphasis on the physical dimension of that question, while ignoring the psychological issue of whether ''a substantial, fully personal relationship'' had developed between husband and wife. Kelleher recommended scrapping the tribunals and allowing Catholics in ''intolerable'' marriages to judge by their own consciences whether they were free before God to remarry. He also proposed that the church set up commissions, led by laypeople, to guide Catholics in such decisions.

Connections

Father:: Stephen Kelleher
Mother:: Margaret (Morrissey) Kelleher

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Divorce and Remarriage for Catholics?

Stephen Joseph Kelleher

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

Works

book

Views

Connections

Born

Died

Nationality

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Education

1943

Career

1990

1943

1943

1959 - 1960

1959

1962 - 1968

1968 - 1972

1977

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