William Robert Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Orange Titular Bishop of Blera | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Orange |
| In office | June 16, 1976 to July 28, 1986 |
| Successor | Norman Francis McFarland |
| Other posts | Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles 1971 to 1976 Titular Bishop of Blera |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 28, 1944 by John J. Cantwell |
| Consecration | March 25, 1971 by Timothy Manning |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 19, 1918 Tonopah, Nevada, US |
| Died | July 28, 1986(1986-07-28) (aged 67) |
| Education | St. John's Seminary Catholic University of America |
| Motto | Caritas Christi (The love of Christ) |
| Styles of William Robert Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
William Robert Johnson (November 19, 1918 – July 28, 1986) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Orange in California from 1976 until his death in 1986. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of theArchdiocese of Los Angeles in California from 1971 to 1976.
William Johnson was born on November 19, 1918, inTonopah, Nevada, to Jorgen and Marie (née O'Connell) Johnson.[1] In the early 1920s, the family moved toLos Angeles,California, where he enrolled at St. Ignatius School.[1] He attended Los Angeles College, theminor seminary of what was then theDiocese of Los Angeles-San Diego, from 1932 to 1938.[2] He completed his theological studies atSt. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California.[1]
Johnson wasordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by ArchbishopJohn J. Cantwell on May 28, 1944 inLos Angeles, California.[3] After several years of pastoral work, Johnson was sent to theCatholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned aMaster of Social Work degree.[2] He was named assistant director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau in 1948, and later succeeded MonsignorAlden J. Bell as director in 1956.[1] Johnson was elected to the board of directors for the National Conference of Catholic Charities in 1960, becoming president in 1964.[1]
The Vatican elevated Johnson to the rank ofpapal chamberlain in 1960 anddomestic prelate in 1965.[1] In addition to his duties as director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau, Johnson served aspastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, the first Catholic parish forAfrican Americans in Los Angeles, from 1962 to 1968.[2] He was pastor of American Martyrs Parish inManhattan Beach, California (1968–71), and becameparochial vicar forSt. Vibiana's Cathedral Parish in 1970.[1]
On February 19, 1971, Johnson was appointedauxiliary bishop of Los Angeles andtitular bishop ofBlera byPope Paul VI.[3] He received hisepiscopalconsecration at St. Vibiana Cathedral in Los Angeles on March 25, 1971, from ArchbishopTimothy Manning, with ArchbishopJoseph T. McGucken and Bishop Alden Bell serving asco-consecrators.[3] He selected as his episcopalmotto:Caritas Christi (Latin: "Charity of Christ").[1] As an auxiliary bishop, he assisted Archbishop Manning for five years.
Johnson was named by Paul VI as the firstbishop of the newly erected Diocese of Orange on March 24, 1976.[3] His installation took place at theCathedral of the Holy Family in Orange, California, on June 16, 1976.[4] He celebratedmass with inmates at the Orange County Jail everyChristmas, and established a Department of Hispanic Ministries in 1979.[2] Johnson described the Catholic Church before theSecond Vatican Council of the early 1960s as "a fairly rigid, centralized structure from the top down to the parish," and declared, "I certainly relish the changes that have occurred in the Church since" the Council.[2] He was an outspoken advocate ofnuclear disarmament, and encouraged Catholics to support the settlement of refugees fromSoutheast Asia.[2]
Johnson suffered fromkidney disease and related illnesses for the last year of his life, eventually forcing him to use a wheelchair.[2] William Johnson died from abacterial infection at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, on July 28, 1986, at age 67.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none | Bishop of Orange 1976–1986 | Succeeded by |
| Ordinaries | .svg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Churches | ||
| Education | ||
| Hospitals | ||
