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Paul Vincent Dudley (November 29, 1926 – November 20, 2006) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sioux Falls from 1978 to 1995.
Paul Vincent Dudley | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Sioux Falls | |
.jpg) | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Sioux Falls |
| Appointed | November 6, 1978 |
| Installed | December 13, 1978 |
| Term ended | March 21, 1995 |
| Predecessor | Lambert Anthony Hoch |
| Successor | Robert James Carlson |
| Other post(s) | Titular Bishop of Ursona, Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 2, 1951 (priesthood) |
| Consecration | January 25, 1977 by John Roach (bishop), Leo Binz and James Richard Ham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1926 |
| Died | November 20, 2006 (aged 79) St. Paul, MN |
| Buried | Calvary Cemetery, Northfield, MN |
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Early life
Paul Dudley was born in Northfield, Minnesota, the tenth child of Edward Austin and Margaret Ann (née Nolan) Dudley.[1] He studied at Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul before being ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1951.[2] He then served as a curate at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis until 1964, when he was transferred to St. Patrick Church in St. Paul.[3] He became the founding pastor of St. Edward Church at Bloomington in 1967, and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Church at Mound in 1972.[3]
Episcopacy
On November 9, 1976, Dudley was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop of Ursona by Pope Paul VI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1977, from Archbishop John Roach, with Archbishop Leo Binz and Bishop James Richard Ham, M.M., serving as co-consecrators, at the Basilica of St. Mary.[2] In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. James Church at St. Paul from 1977 to 1978.[3]
Following the resignation of Bishop Lambert Anthony Hoch, Dudley was named the sixth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by Pope John Paul II on November 6, 1978.[2] He was the first U.S. appointment of John Paul II, who had been elected that October. Dudley was later installed on December 13, 1978.[2] During his tenure, Dudley developed several ecumenical ministries serving the poor, and fostered many retreat and spiritual renewal programs.[3] He was active in such anti-abortion organizations as Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Total Life Care, and Prolife Across America.[1] He also served as episcopal moderator for Worldwide Marriage Encounter and for Teens Encounter Christ.[3] He became a beloved figure among Catholics in the diocese, and was described as "a holy man" and "a true shepherd."[4] After sixteen years as bishop, Dudley resigned on March 21, 1995.[2] He retired to the family farm in Northfield, and there served as pastor of St. Dominic Church (1995–1997).[1]
Allegations
In 1999 Dudley was accused of sexually abusing two women in the 1960s and 1970s.[5][6] However, the charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.[5] In 2002 he was again accused of molesting an 11- or 12-year-old altar boy on four occasions during the 1950s.[5][7][8] Following this accusation, he declared, "I totally deny these allegations. They are brutally unfounded."[5] He also decided to withdraw from "any priestly ministry" pending the conclusion of an investigation "due to the great publicity given to priests and bishops accused of sexual abuse."[5] An independent investigator hired by the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese later cleared the complaints against Dudley.[9][6] He stated, "While living under the cloud of these accusations has been one of the greatest challenges of my life, I never lost faith and confidence that the truth would prevail."[9]
Later life & death
Dudley was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by St. Paul Seminary in 2006.[10] He died later that year from lung disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, aged 79.[1] He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Northfield.[1]
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