Nicholas C. Dattilo

Nicholas Carmen Dattilo (March 8, 1932 – March 5, 2004) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania from 1990 until his death in 2004.

Biography

Early life The oldest of six children, Nicholas Dattilo was born on March 8, 1932, in Mahoningtown, Pennsylvania, to Frank and Emma (née Nocera) Dattilo. He studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Priesthood Dattilo was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on May 31, 1958 in Pittsburgh by Cardinal John Francis Dearden. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Dattilo as a parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Until 1971, also briefly serving at St. Colman Parish in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. He named pastor of Madonna del Castello Parish in Swissvale, Pennsylvania in 1971 and of St. Vitus Parish in New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1981. During Dattilo's tenure, the number of parishes was reduced from 120 to 89, resulting in 23 appeals to the Vatican and years of parishioner protests.