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Bill Carmody (priest)

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Lawrence William Carmody
Personal life
Born(1957-09-26)September 26, 1957
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 2016(2016-02-23) (aged 58)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Parent(s)Lawrence W. and Delia Carmody
Religious life
ReligionRoman Catholic

Lawrence William Carmody (September 26, 1957 – February 23, 2016) served as a Roman Catholic priest from the Diocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Biography

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Carmody graduated from Indiana State University in 1981 with a master's degree in athletic training and worked for three years as a high-school athletic trainer in Mission, Texas.

Upon discerning a call to become a Catholic priest, he enrolled in Holy Trinity Seminary at the University of Dallas in 1984, where he studied for two years. He completed his seminary studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1989 by Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen. Shortly after ordination, he was named the first director of the "Respect Life Office" of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

In 1994, as parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish,[1] Carmody introduced the Project Rachel program, which helps men and women suffering from the traumatic effects of abortion. Carmody believed it was important that teaching on abortion was not just about sin, but also about mercy, and this was the focus of Project Rachel. “In order to heal from abortion, you have to recognize the humanity of your child, you have to reconnect,” says Father Carmody. “Part of the coping strategy is denial. In Project Rachel, through God's grace, the denial is broken.”[2]

“That’s the most profound experience I have as a priest – watching people heal from what they believe is an unforgivable sin and find God’s forgiveness,” Carmody told The Colorado Catholic Herald in June 2015, on the occasion of his 26th anniversary as a priest.

In May 1994, Carmody also began celebrating weekly Masses in front of Planned Parenthood, which he continued to do faithfully until November 2015. “For more than 26 years, he was a warrior for the unborn,” said Bishop Michael John Sheridan. “He is known nationally for his work. That is his legacy.”[3] While he was outspoken in his opposition to abortion, he also was outspoken against violence towards members of the abortion industry, including a shooting incident in which three people were killed outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic whose premises he had just left.[4][5] After the clinic re-opened, Carmody abandoned picketing it for some time.[6]

In 2004, in an address to the legislature, Carmody made headlines when he criticized John F. Kennedy for ignoring his faith.[7] Carmody urged legislators to be the antithesis of JFK by incorporating their faith into every aspect of life, including their profession.[8] He told his parishioners not to be Catholic just in their lives and homes, but also when they vote.[9] The Freedom From Religion Foundation vigorously opposed Carmody, filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission opposing Carmody's work on behalf of presidential candidate John McCain in 2008.[10] The FEC eventually ruled that Carmody had violated elections rules in 2011.[11] In November 2004, Carmody was warned for violating open container laws in regards to serving sacramental wine while holding mass outside an abortion clinic.[citation needed] He was identified as the largest campaign donors among priests in Colorado, and second largest in the nation in 2008, when he donated $5,500 to anti-abortion politicians.[12]

In 2011, Carmody state senator Mark Waller worked with Carmody to draft a fetal homicide bill, which was ultimately unsuccessful.[13]

Carmody died of cancer on February 23, 2016.[14] News of his death and praise of Project Rachel was written into the Colorado congressional record on April 21, 2016.[15] In June 2017, Bishop Michael Sheridan dedicated The Hope Monument on the grounds of St. Dominic in Colorado Springs to Father Bill Carmody.[16] So many people came to his funeral that hundreds of extra chairs were brought in.[17] He was posthumously awarded the People of Life award.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Corpus Christi Church | Corpus Christi Catholic Parish".
  2. ^ Pronechon, Joseph (24 August 2003). "The Other Church Abortion Teaching: Mercy". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/1249/ArticleID/2443/Obituary-for-Father-Carmody.aspx[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Rabey, Steve (December 1, 2015). "Anti-Abortion Groups Condemn Planned Parenthood Shooting". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Planned Parenthood shooting antithesis of pro-life movement, says US priest". December 1, 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ^ Turkewitz, Julie (16 February 2016). "Colorado Planned Parenthood Clinic Reopens After Deadly Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Good Shepherds". Lay Witness Magazine. October 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Don't Emulate JFK, Priest Tells Colorado Legislators". April 14, 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Bishops Consider Stance of Catholic Politicians". PBS. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Watchdog Pursues Electioneering Violations by Priest, Catholic Group in Colorado". 13 November 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Informed Catholics actually misinformed". 18 November 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Priests barred from candidate donations". 28 June 2008.
  13. ^ Boven, Joseph (17 March 2011). "Tangled in abortion politics, Waller derails his fetal-homicide bill". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  14. ^ Handy, Ryan Mae (February 24, 2016). "Father Bill Carmody, outspoken Catholic priest in the Colorado Springs area, remembered as champion of youth and faith". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  15. ^ "HONORING FATHER LAWRENCE W. BILL CARMODY". 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  16. ^ Ambuul, Veronica (19 May 2016). "Monument to be erected at St. Dominic in honor of the late Father Bill Carmody". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  17. ^ Steiner, MAtt (5 March 2016). "Father Carmody, uniter of Colorado Springs congregations and pro-life champion, is laid to rest". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Retired respect life director receives national award from bishops". 18 August 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
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