Book of Ryans - The Catholic Church
James Ryan
James Ryan was born in Tipperary near Thurles on June 17, 1848. At the age of seven his parents emigrated to the United States, and located near Louisville, Kentucky. As a young man he attended several Colleges including the seminary in Preston Park, and after receiving his degree in theology was ordained in Louisville in 1871. During his ministry he taught, served in mission churches around Peoria, and eventually became bishop of Alton, Illinois, in 1888. He remained in this capacity until his death in 1923.
James Hugh Ryan
James Ryan was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, December 15, 1886, to John Marshall Ryan and Brigid (Rogers) Ryan, a native of County Cavan, Ireland. He began his academic career at the Roman Academy, and in 1904 continued his studies at the University of Propaganda in Rome. He was ordained into the priesthood by special dispensation because of his youth, and subsequently returned to the United States to perform faculty work at St. Mary-of-the-Woods at Terra Haute, Indiana. It was here that he became professor of psychology from 1911 to 1921, and in 1920 became president of the college. He left Terra Haute in 1921 to assume a new role within the Department of Education - the National Catholic Welfare Conference - in Washington, D.C. as its executive secretary. In Washington he undertook several roles including rector at the Catholic University of America, and in 1933 he was consecrated titular bishop of the See of Modra.
As rector at the Catholic University, he became interested with the school's academic reorganization. One of the measures he introduced was patterning the University after the University of Louvain in Belgium; however, the success of the Belgium college was never fully realized in the United States. He integrated secular and theological functions at the University (against much opposition), and he instituted a policy that only active teachers on the teaching staff could receive academic promotions. His predecessor, Thomas Shahan, began a vigorous building campaign, but Ryan terminated many of these projects to bring the University under sound financial control. Besides being a scholar and a public figure, he was also a controversial individual who strongly opposed state run medical programs which he described as "Hitlerized Medicine"[1] In addition he condemned the American Medical Association's recognition of birth control `which he regarded as a council of gradual extinction.'[2]
Ryan remained at the University of America until 1935, and within a short time he was appointed bishop of Omaha at St. Cecilia's Cathedral. In 1945 he became Omaha's metropolitan archbishop where he continued to be an outspoken critic of medical and scholastic issues. He died November 23, 1947.
John Augustine Ryan
John Ryan was born Hay 25, 1869 in Dakota County, Minnesota. He grew up on a family farm near Vermilion, Minnesota, the oldest son of eleven children born to William Ryan and Mary (Luby) Ryan. Both of his parents were Irish immigrants. He was educated in the local schools around Vermillion, and later attended the Christian Brother's school near St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1887, John Ryan entered seminary school at St. Thomas, later St. Paul's, and was ordained into the priesthood in 1898. After his ordination, he found himself at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and obtained his degree in theology in 1900. Afterwards he returned to St. Paul seminary as a professor of moral theology which he taught for 13 years. Along with his theological duties, father Ryan was also very active in reform issues. He was a dynamic member of the National consumers League, wrote many articles concerning economic issues, and was an active proponent for labor reform. He was also involved in women's rights:
`In 1913 Ryan used those who were working for minimum wage Laws for women, especially in Wisconsin and Minnesota.'[3]
As an eloquent and powerful speaker, he often found himself in lectures and debates. One of his most dramatic debates was against Morris Hillqust, a self-proclaimed socialist. This debate became one of the hallmarks of his speaking career.
In 1913, Father Ryan became a member of the faculty at Catholic University as a professor of political science. Six years later he was elected the dean of the Sacred Theology, and also taught economics and science at another local college in Washington. During this time he founded `The Catholic Charities Review' and was its editor for many years. The Review provided Father Ryan a forum to deliver his thoughts regarding economic legislation, the minimum wage, old-age care, insurance and other issues which he felt were necessary to maintain minimum living standards. These issues were radical then, however, American society now recognizes social responsibility as mainstream thinking. As a promoter for social reform, he frequently found membership among many social and political action groups to promote economic changes. One of the more controversial organizations he claimed membership to was the American Civil Liberties Union of which he was elected to their governing board.
Father Ryan was also very active in politics; and during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first administration, Pope Pius I appointed him as his domestic prelate (in the secular world, his American ambassador). He was appointed to the Industrial Appeals Board for the National Recovery Administration by Roosevelt. He was also a strong advocate for the National Labor Relations Act, and was quoted to say that its passage was
`probably the most beneficial, and far reaching piece of legislation ever enacted in the United States.'[4]
Ryan was fully supportive of the New Deal and was critical of President Hoover's inaction to handle the economic crisis which occurred before Rooseve1t's election. He was a strong supporter for FDR during his four terms, and FDR acknowledged his support by asking him to give the benediction at two of his presidential inaugurations.
F.L. Broderlck noted that on `social and economic questions Ryan more than any other single person brought Catholics abreast of American progressive thought.'[5] There were many American non-Catholics who were afraid to allow papists access to political power as they believed that Catholics, once in power, would restrict the Protestant's freedom to worship. It was his progressive thinking and persuasive arguments which helped many non-Catholics view the Catholic church more favorably, and his sincerity persuaded many Protestants that Catholics had no intentions of restricting anyone's personal freedoms. Father Ryan died in 1945, but he left a legacy of social justice which many priests and laymen continued to pursue long after his death.
Current U.S. Bishops
In recent years other Ryans have attained high ranks within the United States Catholic Church such as Daniel Ryan, bishop of Illinois, and Joseph Ryan, archbishop of Alaska. Of the two, Reverand Joseph Ryan's career is the most distinguished. Bishop Ryan was named the first archbishop of Alaska in 1966, and in 1975 was assigned to the ordinate, while retaining his original title, but adding a new title Coadjutor. He was later assigned to the Military Vicariate which represents a "group of U.S. Catholics who do not belong to a diocese with boundaries, yet, in members their diocese outnumbers every other in the United States except Chicago and Los Angeles."[6] This diocese is served by two archbishops and four auxiliary bishops and has more priests than any diocese except Boston. Its parishes extend into 132 different nations and crosses military and political boundaries. Because of his association with the Military Vicariate, he expressed personal viewpoints regarding military defense, and became an outspoken critic against those who sought the dismantling of the Strategic Defense Initiative;
`None of the arguments presented in the (bishop's) reports against SDI outweigh the obvious argument favoring it, namely, the vehement and implacable opposition to it by the Soviets. If SDI is so unworkable ... why are the Soviets so anxious to derail it?"[7]