23 Facts About Lawrence Shehan

Lawrence Joseph Shehan was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Baltimore from 1961 to 1974.

Lawrence Shehan was one of the first Catholic prelates to condemn American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Lawrence Shehan was a strong advocate for building ties with the Protestant and Jewish communities.

Lawrence Shehan was born on March 18,1898, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas Patrick and Anastasia Dames Shehan.

Lawrence Shehan received his early education at St Ann's parochial schools in Baltimore.

In 1911, Lawrence Shehan began his studies for the priesthood at St Charles College, a college seminary in Ellicott City.

On December 23,1922, Lawrence Shehan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Giuseppe Palica at the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome.

Lawrence Shehan ended racial segregation at the St Patrick's school in 1942 and regularly hosted meetings of the Washington branch of the Catholic Interracial Council.

On November 17,1945, Lawrence Shehan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and titular bishop of Lydda by Pope Pius XII.

Lawrence Shehan received his episcopal consecration on December 12,1945, at Saint Patrick's Church in Washington from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Peter Leo Ireton and John Michael McNamara serving as co-consecrators.

Lawrence Shehan formed a diocesan chapter of the Catholic Youth Organization, promoted vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and began parish ministry for the increasing number of Hispanic, Portuguese, and Brazilian immigrants.

In October 1960, Lawrence Shehan convoked the first synod of the diocese to finish organizing the diocese and to establish a uniform code of practice and discipline for the clergy.

When Keough died on December 8,1961, Lawrence Shehan automatically became the next archbishop of Baltimore.

That same year, Lawrence Shehan created a Christian Unity Commission, said to be the first in the United States.

That same year, Lawrence Shehan banned racial segregation in the Baltimore Catholic School System.

Lawrence Shehan participated in the 1963 March on Washington, at which Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1963, Lawrence Shehan addressed the congregation at an Episcopal church in Baltimore and in 1965 did the same for a congregation in Baltimore synagogue.

Lawrence Shehan attended the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965.

Lawrence Shehan refused to obey Shehan's order and moved to New York City.

Lawrence Shehan advocated the abolition of housing discrimination based on race.

Lawrence Shehan resigned as archbishop of Baltimore on April 2,1974, have reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops.

Lawrence Shehan died of cancer in Baltimore on August 26,1984, at age 86.

Lawrence Shehan is interred in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.