Remembering Bishop Bernard McQuaid

Dear Blog Visitors:

Our local newspaper ran a feature article by Bob Marcotte a few days ago on the late Rochester Bishop, Bernard McQuaid. The article was well-written in that it focused on many of McQuaid's accomplishments during his historic tenure, inclusive of his creating the very first organized Catholic School system in the United States.

An interesting bit of information that was not provided in Bob Marcotte's article is the fact that while Bishop McQuaid was fiercely loyal to Rome, he nevertheless displayed notable independence when his conscience dictated that he do so. A classic example was his decision to abstain from voting on the infallibility of the pope during Vatican I deliberations. (He was only one of two American bishops to abstain.) In retrospect, his decision was correct, for the doctrine of infallibility has only been used once since its inception - namely, the infallible decree that Mary was assumed into heaven.

Many have incorrectly stated that Pope John Paul II declared infallibly that women cannot be ordained. At most, it was a definitive statement, but not infallible. Bishop McQuaid had the insight to realize that popes being human, are subject to possible error. Therefore, papal infallibility continues to be a topic that causes much controversy and debate.

In a video I made last Spring, you are able to see a grand structure erected during the tenure of Bishop Bernard McQuaid. It is the old St. Bernard's Seminary. (The buildings are now used as a senior housing complex.)

My thanks to Bishop McQuaid for being a trailblazer in the history of American Catholicism. Here is the video I made that displays the structure that once housed St. Bernard's seminary. In addition, I have also included a video I made at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, which is adjacent to the grounds of St. Bernard's.