Eugene Antonio Marino
Encyclopedia
Eugene Antonio Marino was an American
Catholic
prelate who served as Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia
from 1988 until 1990, becoming the first African American
archbishop in United States of America. He was of both African American and Puerto Rican descent.
He was also the fourth African American to become auxiliary bishop for Washington, D.C.
and the first to be secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. As archbishop of Atlanta, he tackled the conduct of other priests until his resignation after his affair with a lay-minister became public knowledge.
, the sixth of a total of eight children to baker
and Puerto Rican
immigrant Jesús María Marino and Lottie Irene Bradford Marino, a maid. From 1952 to 1956 he attended Epiphany Apostolic College in New York
and went on to St. Joseph's Seminary in 1962 where he was ordained as a priest in the same year. He then went on to continue his education at Loyola University
and Fordham University
in The Bronx
, New York City
, graduating in 1967.
During his education at university, Marino also taught at Epiphany Apostolic College and following his graduation he was the spiritual director at St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, D.C.
from 1968 until 1971, when be became vicar general of the Josephites. From September 12, 1974 until 1988 he was the auxiliary bishop for Washington, D.C., the fourth African American ever to hold this position, as well as becoming the secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1985, the first African American to hold that position. In 1987 he organised a trip for a number of African American Catholics to see Pope John Paul II
, and during a talk with these men and women, he stated:
on May 5, 1988, becoming involved in efforts to address the sexual misconduct of priests, including the conviction of one on child molestation charges.
Following these events, after just two years as archbishop of Atlanta, Marino, who had been in seclusion since June 1, 1990, resigned on 10 July 1990 and cited "spiritual renewal, psychological therapy and medical supervision" as the reason. He then took a six-week long period of counseling. Retaining his title of archbishop, Marino quietly went to Michigan
and took a post as chaplain at the Sisters of Mercy in Alma
up until 1995. From this posting until his death in 2000 he worked in a counseling program at St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison
, New York, counseling on sexual behavior and substance abuse.
acting as a counselor and confidant for the personal problems of fellow priests and nuns, Marino died aged 66. He was discovered in bed by the housekeeper and it was established that he had died of a heart attack. He was buried in Biloxi, Mississippi
. Of his eight siblings, one brother and four sisters survive him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
prelate who served as Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
from 1988 until 1990, becoming the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
archbishop in United States of America. He was of both African American and Puerto Rican descent.
He was also the fourth African American to become auxiliary bishop for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and the first to be secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. As archbishop of Atlanta, he tackled the conduct of other priests until his resignation after his affair with a lay-minister became public knowledge.
Early life
Marino was born in Biloxi, MississippiBiloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
, the sixth of a total of eight children to baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
and Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
immigrant Jesús María Marino and Lottie Irene Bradford Marino, a maid. From 1952 to 1956 he attended Epiphany Apostolic College in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and went on to St. Joseph's Seminary in 1962 where he was ordained as a priest in the same year. He then went on to continue his education at Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
and Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, graduating in 1967.
During his education at university, Marino also taught at Epiphany Apostolic College and following his graduation he was the spiritual director at St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1968 until 1971, when be became vicar general of the Josephites. From September 12, 1974 until 1988 he was the auxiliary bishop for Washington, D.C., the fourth African American ever to hold this position, as well as becoming the secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1985, the first African American to hold that position. In 1987 he organised a trip for a number of African American Catholics to see Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, and during a talk with these men and women, he stated:
Archbishop of Atlanta
Marino went on to become the first African American archbishop in American history when he was installed as Archbishop of AtlantaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southeastern United States. It is composed of the northern counties of the state of Georgia and is led by a prelate archbishop, who is also pastor of the mother church, the...
on May 5, 1988, becoming involved in efforts to address the sexual misconduct of priests, including the conviction of one on child molestation charges.
Sexual scandal
Marino, however, was himself engaged in an affair with a female lay minister during this period, which became public knowledge in 1990. The lay minister, Vicki Long of Riverdale, Georgia, revealed that she had been secretly married to Marino in 1988 and then proceeded to file for divorce as well as attempt suicide. Concurrent with this secret marriage, Long was also involved in an affair with another Atlanta Diocesan priest, Father Michael Woods, who at the time was pastor of Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs. Long had previously alleged through a lawsuit against the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, that she had had a relationship with Father Donal Keohane of Columbus. Her allegation that Father Keohane fathered her daughter, LaDonna, 4, was disproved by blood tests ordered by the court. Father Keohane had provided her with monthly child support of $350, according to court records, always with a disclaimer that he did not admit to being the child's father.Following these events, after just two years as archbishop of Atlanta, Marino, who had been in seclusion since June 1, 1990, resigned on 10 July 1990 and cited "spiritual renewal, psychological therapy and medical supervision" as the reason. He then took a six-week long period of counseling. Retaining his title of archbishop, Marino quietly went to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and took a post as chaplain at the Sisters of Mercy in Alma
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905....
up until 1995. From this posting until his death in 2000 he worked in a counseling program at St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, New York, counseling on sexual behavior and substance abuse.
Death
On the early morning of November 12, 2000, while at St. Ignatius Retreat House on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
acting as a counselor and confidant for the personal problems of fellow priests and nuns, Marino died aged 66. He was discovered in bed by the housekeeper and it was established that he had died of a heart attack. He was buried in Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
. Of his eight siblings, one brother and four sisters survive him.