Edward Joseph O'Donnell

Edward Joseph O'Donnell (July 4, 1931 – February 1, 2009) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana from 1994 to 2002. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in Missouri from 1983 to 1994.

O'Donnell built a reputation as a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1960s.

Biography

Early life Edward O'Donnell was born on July 4, 1931, in St, Louis, Missouri. He attended Kenrick Seminary in Shrewsbury, Missouri.

O'Donnell was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on April 6, 1956, by Cardinal Joseph Ritter. In 1965, O'Donnell led a contingent from St. Louis to Alabama to participate in the Selma to Montgomery civil rights march.

O'Donnell ran the Radio and Television Apostolate for the archdiocese. He moderated a television programs called “Quiz A Catholic” and appeared on radio in discussions with clergy from other faiths. He also instituted one of the first zero tolerance policies towards child sexual abuse by clergy in the nation.