John R. McGann

Biography

Early life and education John McGann was born on December 2, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to Thomas and Mary (née Ryan) McGann. His twin sister, who took the name Sr. John Raymond McGann joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Brentwood, Long Island, becoming general superior of the congregation in 1978. A second sibling, Sr. Thomas Joseph, also joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

McGannreceived his early education at the parochial school of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, graduating in 1938. He then began his studies for the priesthood at Cathedral College in Brooklyn, and in 1950 entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York.

Ordination and ministry On June 3, 1950, McGann was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy in Brooklyn. His first assignment was as a curate at St. Anne's Parish in Brentwood, New York, where he served for seven years. McGann cited actions of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Central America during Casey's tenure as director, particularly the CIA clandestine support for the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. McGann remarked: "His conviction about the fundamentally moral purpose of American action, I am sure, made incomprehensible to him the ethical questions raised by me as his bishop, together with all the Catholic bishops of the United States, about our nation's defense policy since the dawn of the nuclear age."

Retirement and death Pope John Paul II accepted McGann's resignation as bishop of Rockville Centre on January 4, 2000.

The Radiology & Imaging Center at Mercy Medical Center is named for McGann, Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School in Riverhead, New York, was named after McGann. Bishop John R. McGann Village is a senior low-income housing apartment in Bay Shore, New York.