Joseph P. McFadden

Joseph Patrick McFadden (May 22, 1947 – May 2, 2013) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Formerly an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, he was installed as bishop of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania on August 18, 2010. He served in that position until his death in 2013.

Early life and education Joseph McFadden was born on May 22, 1947, in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas and Ellen (née Griffin) McFadden. His parents were Irish immigrants, and one of his sisters is a member of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

McFadden received his early education at the parochial school of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Philadelphia. He then attended St. Thomas More High School for Boys in Philadelphia from 1961 to 1965. At St. Thomas, he was a member of the National Honor Society, a player on the varsity basketball team, and the class valedictorian. In addition to his teaching duties, he coached the junior varsity basketball team and served as the school's athletic director. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Laurence Church in Highland Park, where he remained for one year. From 1982 to 1993, he served as administrative secretary to Cardinal Krol.

In 1993, McFadden was appointed as the first president of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his academic and pastoral duties, he served as chaplain to the Serra Club (1987–2001) and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (1986–1995), spiritual director of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and director of the archdiocesan pilgrimages to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Episcopacy

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia On June 28, 2004, McFadden was appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Horreomargum by Pope John Paul II.

Later that year, McFadden expressed his opposition to the holding of a gay rights event at Saint Joseph's University, saying, "While the Church asks that we recognize the unique dignity of every human person, it does not mean supporting a lifestyle that is contrary to the natural law".

As an auxiliary bishop, McFadden headed the Secretariat of Catholic Education in the archdiocesan curia. As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served on the Committee on Catholic Education and the Task Force on Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice.

McFadden died suddenly in Philadelphia on May 2, 2013, while attending a meeting of the Catholic bishops from Pennsylvania.

Removal of name in Diocese of Harrisburg On August 1, 2018, Bishop Ronald Gainer, McFadden's successor as bishop of Harrisburg, announced that the names of every bishop of Harrisburg from 1947 onward—including McFadden's -- will be removed from any building or room in the diocese named in their honor, due to their failure to protect victims from abuse.