Movers and Shakers of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta: John O'Connor

John Cardinal O'Connor - Archbishop of New York; Rear Admiral and Chief of Navy Chaplains

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John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor, (January 15, 1920 – May 3, 2000) was the eleventh bishop (eighth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, serving from 1984 until his death in 2000. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1985. Background O'Connor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family of Irish descent, and after studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary he was ordained a priest on 15 December 1945. He was initially assigned to St. James High School in Chester, Pennsylvania. He obtained a master's degree in advanced ethics from Villanova University and a doctorate in political science at Georgetown University in 1970 where he wrote his dissertation under future United Nations Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and took classes at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. During his career he also performed the rite of exorcism. He joined the United States Navy in 1952 as a Korean War chaplain, often entering combat zones in order to perform Mass and administer last rites to soldiers. He rose through the ranks to become rear admiral and chief of Navy chaplains. O'Connor was made a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness (monsignor) on 27 October 1966. On 24 April 1979 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and titular bishop of Cursola; O'Connor was personally consecrated to the episcopate on 27 May 1979 by John Paul II, with Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy and Eduardo Martínez Somalo as co-consecrators, in St. Peter's Basilica. He was named Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania on 6 May 1983, and installed in that position on the following 29 June. On 26 January 1984 O'Connor was promoted to Archbishop of New York, and installed on March 19. He was elevated to Cardinal Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paulo the next year, on 25 May 1985. He never had the opportunity to participate in a papal conclave. [...] Ecumenism O'Connor was active in interfaith and ecumenical relations. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs called him, "a true friend and champion of Catholic-Jewish relations [and] as a humanitarian who used the power of his pulpit to advocate for disadvantaged people throughout the world and in his own community."[citation needed] He strongly denounced anti-Semitism, and wrote an apology to Jewish leaders in New York for past harm done to the Jewish community.[citation needed]

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John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor, (January 15, 1920 – May 3, 2000) was the eleventh bishop (eighth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, serving from 1984 until his death in 2000. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1985.

Background

O'Connor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family of Irish descent, and after studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary he was ordained a priest on 15 December 1945. He was initially assigned to St. James High School in Chester, Pennsylvania. He obtained a master's degree in advanced ethics from Villanova University and a doctorate in political science at Georgetown University in 1970 where he wrote his dissertation under future United Nations Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and took classes at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. During his career he also performed the rite of exorcism.

He joined the United States Navy in 1952 as a Korean War chaplain, often entering combat zones in order to perform Mass and administer last rites to soldiers. He rose through the ranks to become rear admiral and chief of Navy chaplains. O'Connor was made a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness (monsignor) on 27 October 1966. On 24 April 1979 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and titular bishop of Cursola; O'Connor was personally consecrated to the episcopate on 27 May 1979 by John Paul II, with Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy and Eduardo Martínez Somalo as co-consecrators, in St. Peter's Basilica. He was named Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania on 6 May 1983, and installed in that position on the following 29 June. On 26 January 1984 O'Connor was promoted to Archbishop of New York, and installed on March 19. He was elevated to Cardinal Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paulo the next year, on 25 May 1985. He never had the opportunity to participate in a papal conclave.

[...]

Ecumenism

O'Connor was active in interfaith and ecumenical relations. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs called him, "a true friend and champion of Catholic-Jewish relations [and] as a humanitarian who used the power of his pulpit to advocate for disadvantaged people throughout the world and in his own community."[citation needed] He strongly denounced anti-Semitism, and wrote an apology to Jewish leaders in New York for past harm done to the Jewish community.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cardinal_O'Connor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Knights_of_Malta

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O'CONNOR-His Eminence John Cardinal. The officers, Board of Councillors, area chairmen and members of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta express their profound sorrow at the passing of their Conventual Chaplain His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor. His dedication to the Order and his work on behalf of the sick and the poor and his dedication to the sanctification of life will be with us always. Our prayers are with the members of his family. O'CONNOR-John, Cardinal. The Pro Life Committee of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta mourn the death of our beloved friend John, Cardinal O'Connor. He was a gentle man of great conviction. A glorious protector of human life from its beginning to its natural end. Lucy Flemming McGrath, D.M. Chairperson

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O'CONNOR-His Eminence John Cardinal. The officers, Board of Councillors, area chairmen and members of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta express their profound sorrow at the passing of their Conventual Chaplain His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor. His dedication to the Order and his work on behalf of the sick and the poor and his dedication to the sanctification of life will be with us always. Our prayers are with the members of his family.

O'CONNOR-John, Cardinal. The Pro Life Committee of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta mourn the death of our beloved friend John, Cardinal O'Connor. He was a gentle man of great conviction. A glorious protector of human life from its beginning to its natural end. Lucy Flemming McGrath, D.M. Chairperson

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?...c=&spon=&pagewanted=all

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In May 1984, when Managua's Cardinal Obando y Bravo was visiting Cardinal John O'Connor in New York, a Grace representative was dispatched to meet with the Nicaraguan to discuss his request for money for his archdiocese's leadership formation programs. No friend of the Sandinistas, the cardinal painted the situation in Nicaragua in the blackest terms, according to a memorandum of the conversation sent to Grace. The memo recommended that funds from the Sarita Kenedy East Foundation, of which Grace had partial control, be used to support the cardinal's programs since they "represent the best organized opposition in Nicaragua." Some $30,000 was reportedly earmarked for the Managua archdiocese, but the plan was ruined by public revelation of the memo and Obando's meeting with a Grace representative. In the end, the aid was limited to a shipment of rosaries that was confiscated by Nicaraguan customs. Although Obando later claimed that he had never solicited money from W.R. Grace, the memorandum from Peter Grace's representative, John Meehan, clearly showed that Obando had hoped to obtain substantial financial support from the Catholic millionaire. O'Connor, who is SMOM's current "Grand Protector," strongly supported Obando and saw nothing untoward in making the archdiocese's offices available for the 90 minute interview with Meehan. As a close associate of the cardinal explained, O'Connor believed in respect for the hierarchy, and he "implicitly trusted" Obando, whereas he felt "total repugnance" for the so called "popular church" that supported the Sandinista government. On the other hand, said his associate, O'Connor was not unaware "of the horror stories about the contras," and he supported the policy of the U.S. bishops" conference in opposing aid to the contras.

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In May 1984, when Managua's Cardinal Obando y Bravo was visiting Cardinal John O'Connor in New York, a Grace representative was dispatched to meet with the Nicaraguan to discuss his request for money for his archdiocese's leadership formation programs. No friend of the Sandinistas, the cardinal painted the situation in Nicaragua in the blackest terms, according to a memorandum of the conversation sent to Grace. The memo recommended that funds from the Sarita Kenedy East Foundation, of which Grace had partial control, be used to support the cardinal's programs since they "represent the best organized opposition in Nicaragua."

Some $30,000 was reportedly earmarked for the Managua archdiocese, but the plan was ruined by public revelation of the memo and Obando's meeting with a Grace representative. In the end, the aid was limited to a shipment of rosaries that was confiscated by Nicaraguan customs. Although Obando later claimed that he had never solicited money from W.R. Grace, the memorandum from Peter Grace's representative, John Meehan, clearly showed that Obando had hoped to obtain substantial financial support from the Catholic millionaire.

O'Connor, who is SMOM's current "Grand Protector," strongly supported Obando and saw nothing untoward in making the archdiocese's offices available for the 90 minute interview with Meehan. As a close associate of the cardinal explained, O'Connor believed in respect for the hierarchy, and he "implicitly trusted" Obando, whereas he felt "total repugnance" for the so called "popular church" that supported the Sandinista government.

On the other hand, said his associate, O'Connor was not unaware "of the horror stories about the contras," and he supported the policy of the U.S. bishops" conference in opposing aid to the contras.

http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/ncrmay891113.html

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WASHINGTON -- The rift between the leadership of the American Association of the Knights of Malta and its membership, which first came to light in November, is widening. Twenty-one of the order's 28 area chairmen have called for the resignation of the New York-based association's president, William Flynn, his board and administration, exacerbating a dispute that was outlined in earlier correspondence obtained by NCR (see NCR Nov. 14, 1997). While Flynn's supporters include the knights' conventual chaplain, New York Cardinal John O'Connor, and the knights' grand master, Andrew Bertie in Rome, the 21 area chairmen represent 85 percent of the American Association's 1,000-plus membership.

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WASHINGTON -- The rift between the leadership of the American Association of the Knights of Malta and its membership, which first came to light in November, is widening.

Twenty-one of the order's 28 area chairmen have called for the resignation of the New York-based association's president, William Flynn, his board and administration, exacerbating a dispute that was outlined in earlier correspondence obtained by NCR (see NCR Nov. 14, 1997).

While Flynn's supporters include the knights' conventual chaplain, New York Cardinal John O'Connor, and the knights' grand master, Andrew Bertie in Rome, the 21 area chairmen represent 85 percent of the American Association's 1,000-plus membership.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n13_v34/ai_20229343

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Perhaps the best of Reagan’s one-liners came after he attended his last ceremonial dinner, with the Knights of Malta in New York City on January 13, 1989. The evening’s m.c., a prominent lay Catholic, was rendered so emotional by wine that he waved aside protocol and followed the President’s speech with a rather slurry one of his own. It was to the effect that Ronald Reagan, a defender of the rights of the unborn, knew that all human beings begin life as “feces.” The speaker cited Cardinal John O’Connor (sitting aghast nearby) as “a fece” who had gone on to greater things. “You, too, Mr. President—you were once a fece!” En route back to Washington on Air Force One, Reagan twinklingly joined his aides in the main cabin. “Well,” he said, “that’s the first time I’ve flown to New York in formal attire to be told I was a piece of shit.”

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Perhaps the best of Reagan’s one-liners came after he attended his last ceremonial dinner, with the Knights of Malta in New York City on January 13, 1989. The evening’s m.c., a prominent lay Catholic, was rendered so emotional by wine that he waved aside protocol and followed the President’s speech with a rather slurry one of his own. It was to the effect that Ronald Reagan, a defender of the rights of the unborn, knew that all human beings begin life as “feces.” The speaker cited Cardinal John O’Connor (sitting aghast nearby) as “a fece” who had gone on to greater things. “You, too, Mr. President—you were once a fece!”

En route back to Washington on Air Force One, Reagan twinklingly joined his aides in the main cabin. “Well,” he said, “that’s the first time I’ve flown to New York in formal attire to be told I was a piece of shit.”

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001100.html
Circumstantial evidence:

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Cardinal Egan, a staunch supporter of the "infallible" Pope's Temporal Power and the Jesuit General's evil Council of Trent, will continue the Great Jesuit Cover-up, even as his predecessors, Cardinals Spellman, Cooke and O'Connor. This power is exercised through New York's Council on Foreign Relations, as both former Presidential candidates, Albert Gore and George W. Bush are under its control. Both candidates were also present (along with former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary) during Cardinal O'Connor's funeral overseen by the Knights of Malta at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

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Cardinal Egan, a staunch supporter of the "infallible" Pope's Temporal Power and the Jesuit General's evil Council of Trent, will continue the Great Jesuit Cover-up, even as his predecessors, Cardinals Spellman, Cooke and O'Connor. This power is exercised through New York's Council on Foreign Relations, as both former Presidential candidates, Albert Gore and George W. Bush are under its control. Both candidates were also present (along with former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary) during Cardinal O'Connor's funeral overseen by the Knights of Malta at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Circumstantial evidence:

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THE KNIGHTS OF BUSINESS In a crop of corporate dramas, Knights of Malta are everywhere When W.R. Grace & Co. Chief Executive J.P. Bolduc sensed a few months ago that his strained relations with Chairman J. Peter Grace were putting his job in jeopardy, he took his case to a rather unorthodox authority: John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. At Bolduc's request, the cardinal asked Grace to patch things up, hoping to avoid the scandals and the corporate upheaval that have since cost both men their jobs.

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THE KNIGHTS OF BUSINESS

In a crop of corporate dramas, Knights of Malta are everywhere

When W.R. Grace & Co. Chief Executive J.P. Bolduc sensed a few months ago that his strained relations with Chairman J. Peter Grace were putting his job in jeopardy, he took his case to a rather unorthodox authority: John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. At Bolduc's request, the cardinal asked Grace to patch things up, hoping to avoid the scandals and the corporate upheaval that have since cost both men their jobs.

http://www.cephasministry.com/nwo_corp_knights.html
Circumstantial evidence:

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Project REACH, a pro-life organization based in midtown Manhattan, began with the vision and fi nancial support of Knight James P. Manning and the late Dame Eileen Manning who sought to address the abortion crisis in New York City, where nearly half of all pregnancies end in abortion. The project was championed by the late John Cardinal O’Connor, who welcomed a fresh coordinated response to the abortion crisis. Funding provided by the Order of Malta has been matched dollar for dollar by the Manning’s to reach abortion-bound women with counseling and materi- al support. A $40,000 grant from Knight John Kaneb helped to launch a challenging semester-long certifi cation program for pregnancy center counselors, to ensure that women considering abortion were given accurate information regarding the risks and alternatives to abortion procedures. The college-level course is now available nation- wide. Project Reach has since been designated as one of the offi cial projects of the New York Area of the Order of Malta.

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Project REACH, a pro-life organization based in midtown Manhattan, began with the vision and fi nancial support of Knight James P. Manning and the late Dame Eileen Manning who sought to address the abortion crisis in New York City, where nearly half of all pregnancies end in abortion. The project was championed by the late John Cardinal O’Connor, who welcomed a fresh coordinated response to the abortion crisis. Funding provided by the Order of Malta has been matched dollar for dollar by the Manning’s to reach abortion-bound women with counseling and materi-
al support. A $40,000 grant from Knight John Kaneb helped to launch a challenging semester-long certifi cation program for pregnancy center counselors, to ensure that women considering abortion were given accurate information regarding the risks and alternatives to abortion procedures. The college-level course is now available nation-
wide. Project Reach has since been designated as one of the offi cial projects of the New York Area of the Order of Malta.

http://www.maltausa.org/files/newsletter_hospitallers_04.pdf (frontpage)
Social Network Diagram:

http://www.namebase.org/cgi-bin/nb06?_OCONNOR_JOHN_CARDINAL
Sources:

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OCONNOR JOHN CARDINAL * Davis,J. Mafia Dynasty. 1993 (237) * Friedman,R. Zealots for Zion. 1992 (100) * Lernoux,P. People of God. 1989 (188-9, 248-52, 294-5) * Lies Of Our Times 1991-12 (14) * Trento,S. The Power House. 1992 (359) * Vistica,G. Fall From Glory. 1997 (150) pages cited this search: 14

http://www.namebase.org/cgi-bin/nb01?_OCONNOR_JOHN_CARDINAL