Thomas Bonacum

Thomas Bonacum (January 29, 1847 – February 4, 1911) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln in Nebraska, serving from 1887 until his death in 1911.

Biography

Early life Thomas Bonacum was born January 29, 1847, in Penane, near Thurles, County Tipperary in Ireland, the youngest of four children of Edmund and Mary (née McGrath) Bonacum. While he was still an infant, the family immigrated to the United States in 1848, settling in St. Louis, Missouri.

Bonacum received his early education in St. Louis before attending Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin, from 1863 to 1867. Returning to Missouri, he completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Vincent's Seminary in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Bonacum as assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Edina, Missouri. He was transferred in 1871 to St. Stephen's Parish in Indian Creek, Missouri. In 1874, the archdiocese appointed Bonacum as pastor of St. Peter's Parish in Kirkwood, Missouri. when he was transferred to Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Louis. He greatly impressed the bishops at the council, who nominated Bonacum to be the first bishop of the proposed Diocese of Belleville in Illinois. The official papal document confirming his appointment was dated August 9, 1887, By the time of Bonacum's death in 1911, there was a Catholic population of 37,000 with 84 priests, 135 churches and 65 with resident pastors, and 28 parochial schools.

Egan dispute In October 1888, Bonacum sued Patrick Egan, a prominent Lincoln citizen and later U.S. Ambassador to Chile, for failing to pay a pledge he had made for the improvement of St. Teresa's Pro-Cathedral. It was rumored that Egan, a staunch Republican, had reneged on the pledge because Bonacum had attended a Democratic Party reception. The case went to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled in Bonacum's favor in January 1894, ordering Egan to pay the pledge.

Corbett dispute In 1891, Bonacum brought Reverend Martin Corbett of Palmyra, Nebraska, with whom he had many quarrels, before a diocesan court of five priest. The court dismissed the charges against Corbett. In 1894, Bonacum told Corbett resign his position, which he refused to do. Bonacum then wrote a letter announcing Corbett's suspension to his congregation. In response, Corbett sued Bonacum for libel. The suit was dismissed in 1894. This was the first time a Catholic bishop was brought to criminal court in the United States. When Murphy refused to step down, Bonacum excommunicated him and brought action in court to have him removed from the church property. On June 18, 1909, Bonacum came to Ulysses to evict Murphy from Immaculate Conception Church. However, Murphy had strong support from the congregation and a mob of more than 200 people forced Bonacum to leave.

Death and legacy Thomas Bonacum died from complications of pneumonia and Bright's disease on February 4, 1911, aged 64. Upon his death, Lincoln mayor Don Love issued the following proclamation: "By this sad event we have lost not only a great prelate but a distinguished and public-spirited citizen as well...It would be a fitting tribute to display emblems of mourning along our public streets and to close our offices and places of business during the hour of his funeral."