Frank Joseph Rodimer
Encyclopedia
Frank Joseph Rodimer is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Paterson
from 1977 to 2004.
, New Jersey
, and ordained
to the priesthood
on May 19, 1951. He studied at the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
, from where he obtained his licentiate in theology
in 1951 and doctorate in canon law
in 1954.
In June 1954, Rodimer was appointed Assistant Chancellor
of the Diocese of Paterson and Secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal. During this time, he served as Assistant Pastor to St. Brendan Parish in Clifton
. He was later appointed first Diocesan Director of Sacred Liturgy. He was named Priest-Secretary of Bishop James J. Navagh and attended the sessions of the Second Vatican Council
as Navagh's principal aide. In December 1964, he was appointed Secretary of the Diocesan College of Consultors. In his capacity as Priest-Secretary, Rodimer was present in Rome when Bishop Navagh died in October 1965, and was responsible for returning to New Jersey with the body of the bishop for burial services.
Under his predecessor Bishop Lawrence B. Casey, Rodimer was Administrator of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta from April 1967 to January 1968, at which time he became Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Clifton. He also served as the Diocesan Chancellor, and in that capacity, was elected Diocesan Administrator by the College of Consultors upon Bishop Casey's death in June 1977.
On December 5, 1977, Pope Paul VI
appointed Rodimer the sixth Bishop of Paterson, the first native-born bishop in the diocese. He was ordained bishop on February 28, 1978, with Archbishop
Peter Gerety
of the Archdiocese of Newark as principal consecrator
, and Archbishops Joseph Bernardin of Cincinnati and Peter Poreku Dery of Tamale, Ghana serving as co-consecrators.
As bishop, Rodimer wrote a weekly column for the diocesan newspaper, The Beacon. He also established a $7 million diocesan endowment to support Catholic schools, parishes and other diocesan ministries through fund raising. With corporate leaders, Bishop Rodimer established the Tri-County Scholarship fund which continues to provide scholarships to needy students attending Catholic schools conducted by the diocese and parishes in Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.
During his tenure, Rodimer made public his opposition to capital punishment
and permanent replacements for striking
workers.
Although he once declared, "I fear for a society which deplores but does little or nothing to address the horrible daily realities which many of our children face", Rodimer admitted his "own inadequacy" in failing to prevent at least four of his clerical colleagues, with whom he shared a Long Island
beach house
, from committing sexual abuse.
Furthermore, when a priest in the Paterson
diocese
named William Cramer was accused of having abused children, he transferred him to two other parishes
before Cramer was indicted in 1985. Despite the fact that he pleaded guilty in 1988, Rodimer continued to support him throughout his tenure as Bishop of Paterson.
Rodimer retired as Bishop on June 1, 2004, after twenty-six years of service. He was succeeded by Bishop Arthur Serratelli
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
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...
. He served as Bishop of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
from 1977 to 2004.
Biography
Frank Rodimer was born in RockawayRockaway, New Jersey
Rockaway is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,438.Rockaway was formed as a borough on June 19, 1894, from portions of Rockaway Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 19, 1951. He studied at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
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 where he obtained his licentiate in theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
in 1951 and doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
in 1954.
In June 1954, Rodimer was appointed Assistant Chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Diocese of Paterson and Secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal. During this time, he served as Assistant Pastor to St. Brendan Parish in Clifton
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
. He was later appointed first Diocesan Director of Sacred Liturgy. He was named Priest-Secretary of Bishop James J. Navagh and attended the sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
as Navagh's principal aide. In December 1964, he was appointed Secretary of the Diocesan College of Consultors. In his capacity as Priest-Secretary, Rodimer was present in Rome when Bishop Navagh died in October 1965, and was responsible for returning to New Jersey with the body of the bishop for burial services.
Under his predecessor Bishop Lawrence B. Casey, Rodimer was Administrator of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta from April 1967 to January 1968, at which time he became Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Clifton. He also served as the Diocesan Chancellor, and in that capacity, was elected Diocesan Administrator by the College of Consultors upon Bishop Casey's death in June 1977.
On December 5, 1977, Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed Rodimer the sixth Bishop of Paterson, the first native-born bishop in the diocese. He was ordained bishop on February 28, 1978, with Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Peter Gerety
Peter Leo Gerety
Peter Leo Gerety is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Newark from 1974 to 1986, having previously served as Bishop of Portland...
of the Archdiocese of Newark as principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, and Archbishops Joseph Bernardin of Cincinnati and Peter Poreku Dery of Tamale, Ghana serving as co-consecrators.
As bishop, Rodimer wrote a weekly column for the diocesan newspaper, The Beacon. He also established a $7 million diocesan endowment to support Catholic schools, parishes and other diocesan ministries through fund raising. With corporate leaders, Bishop Rodimer established the Tri-County Scholarship fund which continues to provide scholarships to needy students attending Catholic schools conducted by the diocese and parishes in Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.
During his tenure, Rodimer made public his opposition to capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and permanent replacements for striking
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
workers.
Although he once declared, "I fear for a society which deplores but does little or nothing to address the horrible daily realities which many of our children face", Rodimer admitted his "own inadequacy" in failing to prevent at least four of his clerical colleagues, with whom he shared a Long Island
Long 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...
beach house
Beach house
A beach house is a house on or near a beach, generally used as a vacation or second home for people who commute to the house on weekends or during vacation periods....
, from committing sexual abuse.
Furthermore, when a priest in the Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
named William Cramer was accused of having abused children, he transferred him to two other parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
before Cramer was indicted in 1985. Despite the fact that he pleaded guilty in 1988, Rodimer continued to support him throughout his tenure as Bishop of Paterson.
Rodimer retired as Bishop on June 1, 2004, after twenty-six years of service. He was succeeded by Bishop Arthur Serratelli
Arthur J. Serratelli
Arthur Joseph Serratelli is the current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson in northern New Jersey.-Early life:...
.