Bernard Joseph Harrington

Bernard Harrington was born in Detroit, Michigan, to John and Norah (née Cronin) Harrington; he has two brothers, John and Timothy, and one sister, Irene. His parents were immigrants from Bantry Bay, County Cork, in Ireland.

Harrington studied at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. He graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Master's degree in Education.

On June 6, 1959, Harrington was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

During his priestly ministry, Harrington served as archdiocesan Assistant Superintendent of Schools and pastor of Holy Name Parish[1] in Birmingham, Michigan. From 1977 to 1985, he was rector of Sacred Heart Seminary. He later became director of the Department of Formation, and pastor of St. Rene Goupil Parish[2] in Sterling Heights, Michigan, in 1984.

On November 23, 1993, Pope John Paul II appointed Harrington as Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Uzalis. He was installed and consecrated on January 6, 1994 by Archbishop Adam Maida, with Bishops Dale Melczek and Walter Schoenherr serving as co-consecrators. Harrington chose as his episcopal motto: "Have life more abundantly" (John 10:10).[3]

As an auxiliary to Maida, Harrington served as Vicar of the Office of Pastoral Services for Parishes[4] in the archdiocesan curia, Episcopal Liaison for the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., and regional bishop for Macomb County, Michigan and St. Clair County, Michigan.

On November 4, 1998, John Paul II named Harrington as the seventh Bishop of Winona in Minnesota. He was installed and consecrated on January 6, 1999, on the fifth anniversary of his episcopal consecration.[5]

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Harrington chaired the Committee on Education[6] and sat on the Ad Hoc Committee on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians.[7]

He is also a member of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee[8] and its liaison to the Subcommittee for Lay Ministry.[9]

On April 15, 2008, Harrington commented on the plans of Kathy Redig, a chaplain in the diocese, to undergo an unauthorized ordination. Harrington said that Redig would, in effect, be "self-excommunicating" by this action. [10]

In May 2009, Harrington criticized the University of Notre Dame for inviting President Barack Obama to it commencement ceremonies.[11] Harrington stated that Notre Dame:

...is choosing to defy the bishops of the United States and turn its back on the Catholic community in its continual defense of the right-to-life. The university’s stance is similar to that of Catholic politicians who say that they are pro-life and then support legislation and vote for programs that foster abortion.[11]