James Anthony Tamayo

James Anthony Tamayo (born October 23, 1949) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Laredo in Texas from 2000-2026. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas from 1993 to 2000.

Biography

Early life James Tamayo was born on October 23, 1949, in Brownsville, Texas, the son of Antonio P. Tamayo and Guadalupe B. Tamayo. He has a sister, Mercy Barrera of Corpus Christi, Texas. He holds a Master of Theology degree from the University of St. Thomas and attended St. Mary's Seminary, both in Houston, Texas.

Priesthood Tamayo was ordained a priest at Corpus Christi Cathedral in Corpus Christi by Bishop Thomas Drury for the Diocese of Corpus Christi on July 11, 1976. After his 1976 ordination, the diocese assigned Tamayo as associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Corpus Christi along with chaplain to the local branch of the Catholic Daughters of America (Junior Division).

As bishop, Tamayo holds the following posts:

Chaplain for the Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus Texas state chaplain for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas National episcopal advisor for the Cursillo Movement Regional executive board member for Boy Scouts of America Glen S. Jackson of Alexandria questioned Tamayo's opposition to the student center, which he said has caused a "hostile atmosphere" in the Laredo diocese. Jackson had claimed that 99 percent of the clergy in the Laredo diocese favors the project.

On May 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation after reaching and surpassing the madatory retirement age of 75.