Most Rev. James Michael Moynihan, JCD,DD

Deceased: 2017-03-06

Diocese: SYRACUSE

Seminary Graduation Year: 1958

CSM Graduation Year: 1961

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Rev. James M. Moynihan, A well-known, retired Syracuse bishop died today, the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, was 84 years old, the diocese said. He was a bishop for 14 years, starting in 1995.

During his time as bishop, Moynihan was the first bishop to lead prayer processions to Planned Parenthood, raised $42 million through his Heritage Campaign — the largest campaign in diocese history — and created the Catholic Education Fund to help people pay for tuition, according to the diocese announcement of his death.

Moynihan, a Rochester native, had significant hurdles to navigated during his tenure, such as the declining number of clergy in the diocese and an early 2000s sex-abuse scandal.

Moynihan told The Post-Standard | Syracuse.com in 2009 as he prepared to leave his job that the sex-abuse scandal was “a time of great pain and humiliation.”

“Everyone was hurting,” he said. “My job was to be there for everyone, the abused and the abusers.”

In 2003 he set up the Diocese Review Board and an Office of Victim Assistance to review abuse claims and run background checks on all employees and volunteers, according to the diocese.

Moynihan oversaw a restructuring plan for the diocese that closed or merged dozens of churches to cope with the decreasing number of priests. This plan — which some opposed — laid the groundwork for the diocese’s current pastoral planning process, the diocese said.

In 2006, Moynihan sent 11 names to Pope Benedict XVI to be elevated to monsignors. They were all approved, marking the first time Syracuse diocese priests had been granted that title in more than 30 years, according to the diocese.

Moynihan retired as bishop when he turned 75 in 2009. He was replaced by Bishop Robert J. Cummingham.