Bernard Joseph Harrington

Bernard Joseph Harrington (September 6, 1933 – August 30, 2025) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Winona in Minnesota from 1998 to 2009 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 1993 to 1998.

Biography

Early life Bernard Harrington was born on September 6, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan, to John and Norah (née Cronin) Harrington; he had two brothers, John and Timothy, and one sister, Irene. His parents were immigrants from Bantry Bay, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland.

Harrington studied at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. He graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Master of Education degree.

Priesthood On June 6, 1959, Harrington was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

As auxiliary bishop, Harrington served as vicar of the Office of Pastoral Services for Parishes in the archdiocesan curia, episcopal liaison for the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., and regional bishop for Macomb County, Michigan and St. Clair County, Michigan.

Bishop of Winona On November 4, 1998, John Paul II named Harrington as the seventh bishop of Winona. He was installed on January 6, 1999.

On April 15, 2008, Harrington commented on the plans of Kathy Redig, a chaplain in the diocese, to undergo an unauthorized ordination. Harrington said that Redig would, in effect, be "self-excommunicating" herself from the Catholic Church by this action. In May 2009, Harrington criticized the University of Notre Dame for inviting US President Barack Obama to its commencement ceremonies. Harrington stated that Notre Dame:...is choosing to defy the bishops of the United States and turn its back on the Catholic community in its continual defense of the right-to-life. The university's stance is similar to that of Catholic politicians who say that they are pro-life and then support legislation and vote for programs that foster abortion.

Harrington died on August 30, 2025, at the age of 91.