Robert Emmet Tracy

Robert Emmet Tracy (September 14, 1909 – April 4, 1980) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana from 1961 to 1974. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana from 1959 to 1961.

Biography

Early life Robert Tracy was born on September 14, 1909, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Robert Emmet and Margaret Agnes (née Cahill) Tracy. He studied at Saint Joseph Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

Priesthood Tracy was ordained to the priesthood in New Orleans for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on June 12, 1932, by Archbishop John William Shaw. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Tracy as a curate at St. Leo Parish in New Orleans (1932–1946) and archdiocesan director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (1937–1946). He served as chaplain of the Newman Centers at Tulane University in New Orleans (1941–1946) and at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1946–1959). The Vatican elevated Tracy to the rank of papal chamberlain in 1947 and a domestic prelate in 1949. From 1954 to 1955, he was national chaplain of the Newman Club Federation.

Auxiliary Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana On March 13, 1959, Tracy was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana and titular bishop of Sergentza by Pope John XXIII. Tracy received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Louis in New Orleans on May 19, 1959, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops Maurice Schexnayder and Louis Caillouet serving as co-consecrators. In 1972, he established a committee for the regulation of allowing remarried Catholics to receive the sacraments, saying, "The Church has a pastoral responsibility of healing and forgiveness".

Retirement and legacy Pope Paul VI accepted Tracy's resignation as bishop of Baton Rouge on March 21, 1974, after twelve years of service. Robert Tracy died in New Orleans on April 4, 1980, at age 70.