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{{Short description|American Catholic bishop (1941–2019)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]], [[The Most Reverend]]
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]], [[The Most Reverend]]
| name = Stephen Edward Blaire
| name = Stephen Edward Blaire
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Bishop of Stockton]]
| title = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Bishop of Stockton]]
| image = Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Stockton, California.jpg
| image = Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Stockton, California.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Bishop Stephen E. Blaire
| caption =
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco|San Francisco]]
| archdiocese =
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Stockton]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Stockton]]
| appointed = January 18, 1999
| appointed = January 18, 1999
| enthroned = March 16, 1999
| enthroned = March 16, 1999
| term_end = January 23, 2018
| term_end = January 23, 2018
| predecessor = [[Donald Montrose]]
| predecessor = [[Donald Montrose]]
| successor = [[Myron Joseph Cotta]]
| successor = [[Myron Joseph Cotta]]
| previous_post = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles|Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles]]
| previous_post = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles|Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles]]<br>1990 to 1999
| other_post =
| other_post = <!---------- Orders ---------->
<!---------- Orders ---------->
| ordination = April 29, 1967
| ordination = April 29, 1967
| ordained_by = [[James Francis McIntyre]]
| ordained_by = [[James Francis McIntyre]]
| consecration = May 31, 1990
| consecration = May 31, 1990
| consecrated_by = [[Roger Mahony]], [[John Ward (Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles)|John Ward]], and [[George Patrick Ziemann]]
| consecrated_by = [[Roger Mahony]], [[John Ward (Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles)|John Ward]], and [[George Patrick Ziemann]]
<!---------- Personal details ---------->
<!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|12|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|12|22}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], United States
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], US
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|6|18|1941|12|22|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|6|18|1941|12|22|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Modesto, California]], United States
| death_place = [[Modesto, California]], US
| buried =
| buried =
| nationality =
| nationality =
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| signature =
| signature =
| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Stephen Edward Blaire.svg
| coat_of_arms =
| motto = ALIVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
| motto = ALIVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
}}
}}


{{Infobox bishopstyles
{{Infobox bishopstyles
| name= Stephen Edward Blaire
| name= Stephen Edward Blaire
| dipstyle=
| dipstyle=
*[[Excellency|His Excellency]]
*[[Excellency|His Excellency]]
*[[The Most Reverend]]
*[[The Most Reverend]]
| offstyle=[[Your Excellency]]
| offstyle=[[Your Excellency]]
| relstyle=[[Bishop]]
| relstyle=[[Bishop]]
Line 47: Line 46:
}}
}}


'''Stephen Edward Blaire''' (December 22, 1941 – June 18, 2019) was an [[United States|American]] [[prelate]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He was the fifth [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Bishop of Stockton]] from March 16, 1999 until January 23, 2018.
'''Stephen Edward Blaire''' (December 22, 1941 – June 18, 2019) was an [[Catholic Church in the United States|American Catholic]] prelate who served as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Bishop of Stockton]] from 1999 to 2018.


==Biography==
==Biography==
⚫
Stephen Blaire was born in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], as the twelfth of fourteen children. He attended local [[Catholic school]]s in the [[San Fernando Valley]], and graduated from [[Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary]] (high school) in 1959. Blaire then entered [[St. John's Seminary (California)|St. John's Seminary College]] in [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]]. He was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priesthood]] by [[James McIntyre (cardinal)|James Cardinal McIntyre]] on April 29, 1967, and then served as associate [[Curate|pastor]] of [http://www.stluketemplecity.org/ St. Luke's Church] in [[Temple City, California|Temple City]] until 1972.


=== Early life ===
⚫
From 1972 to 1986, Blaire worked in Catholic [[secondary education]], initially as a teacher and administrator at [[Bishop Alemany High School]] in [[Mission Hills, California|Mission Hills]] and later as [[Principal (school)|Vice Principal]] at [[Bishop Amat Memorial High School|Bishop Amat High School]] in [[La Puente, California|La Puente]]. He was [[Principal (school)|Principal]] at Bishop Alemany from 1977 to 1986. He then became [[Moderator of the Curia|curial moderator]] and [[Chancellor (ecclesiastical)|chancellor]] of Los Angeles Archdiocese.
⚫
Stephen Edward Blaire was born in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], as the twelfth of fourteen children. He attended local [[Catholic school]]s in the [[San Fernando Valley]], and graduated from [[Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary]] (high school) in 1959. Blaire then entered [[St. John's Seminary (California)|St. John's Seminary College]] in [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]].


=== Priesthood ===
⚫
On February 17, 1990, Blaire was appointed [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] and [[titular bishop]] of [[Lamzella]] by [[Pope John Paul II]]. He received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] the following May 31 from Archbishop [[Roger Mahony]], with Bishops [[John James Ward|John Ward]] and [[George Patrick Ziemann|George Ziemann]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]]. Blaire was made [[vicar general]] of Los Angeles in 1990 and assigned to [[Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region]] in 1995.
He was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angelese by Cardinal [[James McIntyre (cardinal)|James McIntyre]] on April 29, 1967, and then served as associate [[Curate|pastor]] of St. Luke's Parish in [[Temple City, California]], until 1972.


⚫
From 1972 to 1986, Blaire worked in Catholic [[secondary education]], initially as a teacher and administrator at [[Bishop Alemany High School]] in Mission Hills, California and later as vice principal at [[Bishop Amat Memorial High School|Bishop Amat High School]] in La Puente, California. He was principal at Bishop Alemany from 1977 to 1986. He then became [[Moderator of the Curia|curial moderator]] and [[Chancellor (ecclesiastical)|chancellor]] of the archdiocese.
⚫
He was named the fifth Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton|Stockton]] on January 18, 1999, and was installed on March 16 in the Cathedral of the Annunciation.


=== Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles ===
⚫
Within the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], Blaire is the Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, having formerly [[Chair (official)|chaired]] the Pastoral Practices Committee and been a member of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Within the [[California Catholic Conference]] he is the Chair of the Legislation and Public Policy Committee, as well as a member of the Religious Liberty Committee. He also serves on the Ad Hoc Committee on Ecumenical affairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/about/staff-and-location |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630220655/http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/about/staff-and-location |archive-date=2013-06-30 }}</ref>
⚫
On February 17, 1990, Blaire was appointed [[auxiliary bishop]] of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and titular bishop of [[Lamzella]] by [[Pope John Paul II]]. He received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] on May 31, 1990, from Archbishop [[Roger Mahony]], with Bishops [[John James Ward|John Ward]] and [[George Patrick Ziemann|George Ziemann]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]]. Blaire was made [[vicar general]] of Los Angeles in 1990 and assigned to [[Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region]] in 1995.


=== Bishop of Stockton ===
Blaire was an advocate for life issues and the justice due to workers. Recent letters have praised the end of the death penalty in Maryland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usccb.org/news/2013/13-082.cfm|title=Bishop Blaire Welcomes Repeal Of Death Penalty In Maryland|work=usccb.org}}</ref> supported common sense legislation to curb gun violence, and reminded legislators of the need for budget decisions to be addressed based on three criteria:
⚫
Blaire was named the fifth bishop of the Diocese Stockton on January 18, 1999, and was installed on March 16, 1999, in the Cathedral of the Annunciation.
⚫
1.Whether it protects or threatens human life and dignity.
⚫
2.How it affects “the least of these” (Matthew 25): The needs of those who are hungry and homeless, without work or in poverty should come first. The shared responsibility between Government and other institutions to promote the common good of all, especially ordinary workers and families who struggle to live in dignity in difficult economic times.<ref>http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/federal-budget/upload/2013-04-22-letter-to-House-of-Represenatatives-on-President-Obama-s-fy14-budget.pdf</ref>


⚫
Within the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] (USCCB), Blaire was chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, having formerly [[Chair (official)|chaired]] the Pastoral Practices Committee and been a member of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Within the California Catholic Conference, he was chair of the Legislation and Public Policy Committee, as well as a member of the Religious Liberty Committee. He also served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Ecumenical affairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/about/staff-and-location |title=Officers, Staff & Location |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630220655/http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/about/staff-and-location |archive-date=2013-06-30 }}</ref>
⚫
In June 2012, Bishop Blaire, as Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, announced that organization's proposal to draft a message entitled ''Catholic Reflections on Work, Poverty and a Broken Economy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usccb.org/news/2012/12-106.cfm|title=Bishops Vote To Draft Message On 'Work, Poverty And A Broken Economy'|work=usccb.org}}</ref>


In 2001, Blaire learned of allegations that Oscar Pelaez, a priest of the Stockton diocese, had molested a 14-year-old boy at Sacred Heart Church in Turlock in 1997. Blaire immediately suspended Pelaez and sent him to a medical facility on the East Coast. He did not report the incident to civil authorities. Blaire indicated that, because the person alleging the abuse was an adult and declined to report it, responsibility for reporting it did not rest with the diocese. Blaire said his critics "made an issue about not reporting. We had no legal obligation to report."<ref name="past">{{cite web | date = November 28, 2007 | title = Did His Past Come Back to Haunt Him? | work = California Catholic Daily | url = http://calcatholic.web711.discountasp.net/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=de556cee-1cf9-482a-b9c8-c47d9743b938 | access-date = February 5, 2012 }}</ref>
In 2001, Blaire learned of allegations that Oscar Pelaez, a priest of the diocese, had molested a 14-year-old boy at Sacred Heart Church in [[Turlock, California]], in 1997. Blaire suspended Pelaez but did not report the incident. Blaire indicated thatbecause the person alleging the abuse was now an adult and declined to report it, responsibility for reporting it did not rest with the diocese. Blaire said his critics "made an issue about not reporting. We had no legal obligation to report."<ref name="past">{{cite web | date = November 28, 2007 | title = Did His Past Come Back to Haunt Him? | work = California Catholic Daily | url = http://calcatholic.web711.discountasp.net/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=de556cee-1cf9-482a-b9c8-c47d9743b938 | access-date = February 5, 2012 }}</ref>


In November 2007 Blaire was defeated in his bid to win the chairmanship of the U.S. bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.<ref name=past/>
In November 2007, Blaire was defeated in his bid to win the chair of the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.<ref name="past" />


⚫
In June 2012, Blaire, as chair of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, announced organization's proposal to draft a message entitled ''Catholic Reflections on Work, Poverty and a Broken Economy''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bishops Vote To Draft Message On 'Work, Poverty And A Broken Economy' |url=http://usccb.org/news/2012/12-106.cfm |work=usccb.org}}</ref>
⚫
In May, 2013, the [[University of San Francisco]] awarded Blaire an honorary degree and he was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony for the Graduate Students in the College of Arts and Sciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usfca.edu/Graduation/May_2013_Commencement_and_Graduation_Finale/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130626185440/http://www.usfca.edu/Graduation/May_2013_Commencement_and_Graduation_Finale/ |archive-date=2013-06-26 }}</ref>

⚫
In May, 2013, the [[University of San Francisco]] awarded Blaire an honorary degree and he was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony for the Graduate Students in the College of Arts and Sciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usfca.edu/Graduation/May_2013_Commencement_and_Graduation_Finale/ |title=University of San Francisco (USF) - May 2013 Commencement Information |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130626185440/http://www.usfca.edu/Graduation/May_2013_Commencement_and_Graduation_Finale/ |archive-date=2013-06-26 }}</ref>

=== Retirement and legacy ===
On January 23, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Blaire's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Stockton. Stephen Blaire died on June 18, 2019, in [[Modesto, California]].

== Viewpoints ==

=== Capital punishment ===
Citing his opposition to capital punishment, Blaire made this statement in 2013:<blockquote>"We must lift up the dignity of all human life – even for those convicted of the worst crimes, and work to transform our culture so that it respects the inherent dignity and value of all people,"<ref>{{cite web |title=Bishop Blaire Welcomes Repeal Of Death Penalty In Maryland |url=http://www.usccb.org/news/2013/13-082.cfm |work=usccb.org}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Social justice ===
In a 2013 letter to the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]], Blaire said that budget cuts to human services should be evaluated on three criteria:

⚫
* .Whether it protects or threatens human life and dignity
* How it affects “the least of these” (Matthew 25):
⚫
* The needs of those who are hungry and homeless, without work or in poverty should come first.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/federal-budget/upload/2013-04-22-letter-to-House-of-Represenatatives-on-President-Obama-s-fy14-budget.pdf April 22, 2013 Letter to House of Representatives on President Obama's FY14 Budget]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 86: Line 103:


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commonscat}}

*[http://www.stocktondiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton Official Site]
*[http://www.stocktondiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton Official Site]
*[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110824.htm#head3]; discusses an August 2011 [[Labor Day]] statement by Bishop Blaire in his new role as USCCB Chairman on the Committee for Domestic Justice and Human Development, on the link to today's workforce and [[Pope Leo XIII]]'s landmark 1891 [[encyclical]] on capital and the value of labor "[[Rerum novarum]]" ("On New Things").
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110827074243/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110824.htm#head3]; discusses an August 2011 [[Labor Day]] statement by Bishop Blaire in his new role as USCCB Chairman on the Committee for Domestic Justice and Human Development, on the link to today's workforce and [[Pope Leo XIII]]'s landmark 1891 [[encyclical]] on capital and the value of labor "[[Rerum novarum]]" ("On New Things").


==Episcopal succession==
==Episcopal succession==
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[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Clergy from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Stockton]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Stockton]]

Latest revision as of 10:42, 3 August 2024

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Stephen Edward Blaire
Bishop of Stockton
DioceseStockton
AppointedJanuary 18, 1999
InstalledMarch 16, 1999
Term endedJanuary 23, 2018
PredecessorDonald Montrose
SuccessorMyron Joseph Cotta
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
1990 to 1999
Orders
OrdinationApril 29, 1967
by James Francis McIntyre
ConsecrationMay 31, 1990
by Roger Mahony, John Ward, and George Patrick Ziemann
Personal details
Born(1941-12-22)December 22, 1941
Los Angeles, California, US
DiedJune 18, 2019(2019-06-18) (aged 77)
Modesto, California, US
MottoALIVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
Styles of
Stephen Edward Blaire
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Stephen Edward Blaire (December 22, 1941 – June 18, 2019) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Stockton from 1999 to 2018.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Stephen Edward Blaire was born in Los Angeles, California, as the twelfth of fourteen children. He attended local Catholic schools in the San Fernando Valley, and graduated from Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary (high school) in 1959. Blaire then entered St. John's Seminary College in Camarillo.

Priesthood

[edit]

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angelese by Cardinal James McIntyre on April 29, 1967, and then served as associate pastor of St. Luke's Parish in Temple City, California, until 1972.

From 1972 to 1986, Blaire worked in Catholic secondary education, initially as a teacher and administrator at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California and later as vice principal at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California. He was principal at Bishop Alemany from 1977 to 1986. He then became curial moderator and chancellor of the archdiocese.

Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles

[edit]

On February 17, 1990, Blaire was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and titular bishop of Lamzella by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on May 31, 1990, from Archbishop Roger Mahony, with Bishops John Ward and George Ziemann serving as co-consecrators. Blaire was made vicar general of Los Angeles in 1990 and assigned to Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region in 1995.

Bishop of Stockton

[edit]

Blaire was named the fifth bishop of the Diocese Stockton on January 18, 1999, and was installed on March 16, 1999, in the Cathedral of the Annunciation.

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Blaire was chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, having formerly chaired the Pastoral Practices Committee and been a member of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Within the California Catholic Conference, he was chair of the Legislation and Public Policy Committee, as well as a member of the Religious Liberty Committee. He also served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Ecumenical affairs.[1]

In 2001, Blaire learned of allegations that Oscar Pelaez, a priest of the diocese, had molested a 14-year-old boy at Sacred Heart Church in Turlock, California, in 1997. Blaire suspended Pelaez but did not report the incident. Blaire indicated thatbecause the person alleging the abuse was now an adult and declined to report it, responsibility for reporting it did not rest with the diocese. Blaire said his critics "made an issue about not reporting. We had no legal obligation to report."[2]

In November 2007, Blaire was defeated in his bid to win the chair of the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.[2]

In June 2012, Blaire, as chair of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, announced organization's proposal to draft a message entitled Catholic Reflections on Work, Poverty and a Broken Economy.[3]

In May, 2013, the University of San Francisco awarded Blaire an honorary degree and he was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony for the Graduate Students in the College of Arts and Sciences.[4]

Retirement and legacy

[edit]

On January 23, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Blaire's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Stockton. Stephen Blaire died on June 18, 2019, in Modesto, California.

Viewpoints

[edit]

Capital punishment

[edit]

Citing his opposition to capital punishment, Blaire made this statement in 2013:

"We must lift up the dignity of all human life – even for those convicted of the worst crimes, and work to transform our culture so that it respects the inherent dignity and value of all people,"[5]

Social justice

[edit]

In a 2013 letter to the US House of Representatives, Blaire said that budget cuts to human services should be evaluated on three criteria:

  • .Whether it protects or threatens human life and dignity
  • How it affects “the least of these” (Matthew 25):
  • The needs of those who are hungry and homeless, without work or in poverty should come first.[6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Officers, Staff & Location". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  2. ^ a b "Did His Past Come Back to Haunt Him?". California Catholic Daily. November 28, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  3. ^ "Bishops Vote To Draft Message On 'Work, Poverty And A Broken Economy'". usccb.org.
  4. ^ "University of San Francisco (USF) - May 2013 Commencement Information". Archived from the original on 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  5. ^ "Bishop Blaire Welcomes Repeal Of Death Penalty In Maryland". usccb.org.
  6. ^ April 22, 2013 Letter to House of Representatives on President Obama's FY14 Budget
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Stephen Blaire.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Blaire.

Episcopal succession

[edit]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Stockton
1999-2018 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Blaire&oldid=1238335684"