Leonard Paul Blair

Leonard Paul Blair (born April 12, 1949) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church serving as the thirteenth bishop and fifth and current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut. He was installed as the Archbishop of Hartford on December 16, 2013.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Leonard Paul Blair
Archbishop of Hartford
ArchdioceseHartford
AppointedOctober 29, 2013
InstalledDecember 16, 2013
PredecessorHenry J. Mansell
Orders
OrdinationJune 26, 1976
by John Francis Dearden
ConsecrationAugust 24, 1999
by Adam Maida, Edmund Szoka, and Dale Joseph Melczek
Personal details
Birth nameLeonard Paul Blair
Born (1949-04-12) April 12, 1949
Detroit, Michigan
Nationality American
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post
MottoPASCE OVES MEAS
(FEED MY SHEEP)
Styles of
Leonard Paul Blair
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Biography

Leonard Blair was born in Detroit, Michigan, and there studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History. He then furthered his studies in Rome, where he earned a baccalaureate and licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

Blair was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1976, and then served as vicar general and chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He taught theology at Sacred Heart Seminary, where he was dean of studies as well. Blair was personal secretary to Edmund Cardinal Szoka and an official of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See from 1994-97, whence he was named pastor of St. Paul Church in Grosse Point Farms, Michigan.

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

On July 8, 1999, Blair was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Voncariana. He received his episcopal consecration on the following August 24 from Adam Cardinal Maida, with Cardinal Szoka and Bishop Dale Melczek serving as co-consecrators.

Bishop of Toledo

Blair was later appointed Bishop of Toledo, Ohio, on October 7, 2003. He was installed on December 4, 2003.[1]

In July 2011, Blair advised parishes and Catholic schools in the Diocese of Toledo against raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, citing concerns that funds contributed to the global anti-cancer foundation may go towards funding embryonic stem-cell research. Blair stated, "As best we can determine, at present the Komen Foundation does not fund cancer research that employs embryonic stem cells. However, their policy does not exclude that possibility. They are open to embryonic stem cell research, and may very well fund such research in the future."[2]

Blair's statement also made reference to Komen's relationship with Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in the United States of America. Because of these factors, Bishop Blair, in conjunction with the Catholic bishops of Ohio, urged Catholic faithful, both corporate and individually, to consider alternate organizations when supporting anti-breast cancer research.

Archbishop of Hartford

Blair was appointed as the fifth Archbishop of Hartford on October 29, 2013 and installed on December 16, 2013.

See also

References
  1. "Vatican Names Archbishop Sartain To Lead Renewal Of LCWR". www.usccb.org.
  2. "404 - Error: 404". April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.

Episcopal succession
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Henry J. Mansell		 Archbishop of Hartford
2013–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
James Robert Hoffman		 Bishop of Toledo
2003–2013		 Succeeded by
Daniel Edward Thomas
Preceded by
-		 Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
1999–2003		 Succeeded by
-
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