| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Gerald Michael Barbarito | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Palm Beach | |
 Bishop Barbarito in February 2023 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Miami |
| Diocese | Palm Beach |
| Appointed | July 1, 2003 |
| Installed | August 28, 2003 |
| Predecessor | Seán Patrick O'Malley |
| Previous post(s) |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | January 31, 1976 by Francis Mugavero |
| Consecration | August 22, 1994 by Thomas Vose Daily, Joseph Michael Sullivan, and René Arnold Valero |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1950-01-04) January 4, 1950 (age 74) Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Motto | Veritatem facientes in caritate (Professing the truth in love) |
| Styles of Gerald Michael Barbarito | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Gerald Michael Barbarito (born January 4, 1950) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach in Florida since 2003. Barbarito previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in Northern New York from 1999 to 2003 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York City from 1994 to 1999.
Biography
Early life and family
Gerald Barbarito, the son of Anna Marie LaPorte Barbarito and Samuel A. Barbarito, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 4, 1950. He began his studies for the priesthood at Cathedral Prep Seminary in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, graduating in 1967.
Education
Barbarito continued his studies at Cathedral College in Douglaston, Queens, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1971. His theology studies took place at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1975. Before his ordination to the priesthood, Barbarito served as a deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Astoria, Queens, for one year.
Ordination and pastoral work
Barbarito was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop Francis J. Mugavero at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brooklyn on January 31, 1976.
After his 1976 ordination, the diocese assigned Barbarito to St. Helen's Parish in Howard Beach, Queens, in New York City. He remained there until 1981, when Mugavero appointed him assistant chancellor. Barbarito held this position for one year, then went to the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in Washington D.C. for two years. He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1984.
After Barbarito returned to New York, he was named the vice chancellor of the diocese in 1984. He remained in that position until 1992, when Bishop Thomas Vose Daily appointed him secretary. Barbarito served as master of ceremonies for Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Joseph Peter Michael Denning from 1984 to 1990.
Barbarito served on the college of consultors, the priests' personnel board, the presbyteral council and as an appellate judge at the diocesan tribunal. He also served as a consultant to the Canonical Affairs Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn
Barbarito was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1994. He was consecrated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn on August 22, 1994. Bishop Thomas Vose Daily served as principal consecrator, with Bishops Joseph Michael Sullivan and René Arnold Valero serving as co-consecrators.
Barbarito was assigned as regional bishop for Brooklyn Vicariate East as well as vicar for ministry for the diocese. As the vicar for ministry, he assisted with the ongoing formation of priests.
Bishop of Ogdensburg
On October 26, 1999, John Paul II named Barbarito as bishop of Ogdensburg. He filled the vacancy left when Bishop Paul Loverde was appointed the Bishop of Arlington nine months prior.
Bishop of Palm Beach
On July 1, 2003, Barbarito was appointed by John Paul II as the fifth bishop of Palm Beach to succeed Bishop Seán O'Malley who had been named archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. Barbarito was installed on August 28, 2003, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola. In January 2015, Barbarito underwent a successful seven-hour surgery in Miami to remove a benign brain tumor.
In February 2012, Barbarito signed a letter with the other Catholic bishops of Florida asking Florida Governor Rick Scott to stop the execution of Robert Waterhouse, a convicted murderer. Scott allowed Waterhouse to be executed that month.
In 2017, Reverend John Gallagher sued the diocese and Barbarito for defamation. Gallagher said that the diocese had posted a statement on its website calling him a liar and stating that he needed professional assistance. Gallagher said that the diocese was retaliating against him for reporting a visiting priest who allegedly showed pornographic pictures to a teenager.
Barbarito is a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Canon Law Society of America.
Viewpoints
Barbarito considers himself to be a Republican and an opponent of abortion rights for women.
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- "N.Y. bishop to lead Palm Beach Diocese". St. Petersburg Times. July 2, 2003.
- ^ "Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito". Diocese of Palm Beach. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Bishop Gerald Michael Barbarito [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- "Palm Beach Diocese's Bishop Barbarito out of intensive care". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- "PolitiJax: Church leaders ask Gov. Rick Scott to stop execution". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- "After 31 years on Florida's Death Row, twice-convicted murderer is executed". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- Musgrave, Jane. "Priest sues diocese, claiming it punished him for reporting sex abuse". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- Gerald M Barbarito from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | VoterRecords.com
- Living the Truth in Love: Unplanned
- Statement from Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito Regarding Recent Abortion Legislation
External links
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded bySeán Patrick O'Malley | Bishop of Palm Beach 2003–present |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
| Preceded byPaul Stephen Loverde | Bishop of Ogdensburg 1999–2003 |
Succeeded byRobert Joseph Cunningham |
| Preceded by- | Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn 1994–1999 |
Succeeded by- |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach | ||
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| Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg | |
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- 1950 births
- Living people
- Religious leaders from Brooklyn
- Catholic University of America alumni
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
- Roman Catholic bishops of Ogdensburg
- Roman Catholic bishops of Palm Beach
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
- Religious leaders from New York (state)
- Catholic University of America School of Canon Law alumni