Arthur Nicholas Tafoya (March 2, 1933 – March 24, 2018) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo in Colorado from 1980 to 2009. His resignation as bishop was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15, 2009.[1]
Arthur Nicholas Tafoya | |
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Bishop of Pueblo | |
Diocese | Diocese of Pueblo |
Appointed | July 1, 1980 |
Installed | September 10, 1980 |
Term ended | October 15, 2009 |
Predecessor | Charles Albert Buswell |
Successor | Fernando Isern |
Orders | |
Ordination | May 12, 1962 by Edwin Byrne |
Consecration | September 10, 1980 by James Vincent Casey, Robert Fortune Sanchez, and Charles Albert Buswell |
Personal details | |
Born | Alameda, New Mexico, U.S. | March 2, 1933
Died | March 24, 2018 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | (aged 85)
Styles of Arthur Nicholas Tafoya | |
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Reference style | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Religious style | Bishop |
Biography
editArthur Tafoya was born on March 2, 1933, in Alameda, New Mexico. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Edwin Byrne for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe on May 12, 1962.[2]
Bishop of Pueblo
editOn July 1, 1980, Tafoya was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on September 10, 1980, from Archbishop James Casey, with Archbishop Robert Sanchez and Bishop Charles Buswell serving as co-consecrators.[2]
Tafoya was an early critic of the 2003 to 2011 Iraq War, calling it "an unjust war...[that] sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the lives and well-being of people in our nation and world."[3] During the 2004 U.S. presidential election, he expressed his opposition to denying communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights for women, saying that it was not the only issue voters should consider.[4]
Retirement
editWhen Tafoya reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops, he submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo to Benedict XVI. The pope accepted his resignation on October 15, 2009.[2]
Arthur Tafoya died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 24, 2018, at age 85.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Pope Names Bishops For Duluth, Minnesota; Pueblo, Colorado; Auxiliary Bishop For Providence, Rhode Island; Accepts Resignation Of Bishop Tafoya Of Pueblo, Colorado". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2009-10-15.
- ^ a b c d "Bishop Arthur Nicholas Tafoya". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ "Statement of Most Rev. Arthur N. Tafoya". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2003-02-15.
- ^ Eckstrom, Kevin. "Debate grows over banning of pro-choice voters from Communion". The Catholic Voice. Archived from the original on 2004-07-01.