Brooklyn Bishop Thomas Daily, Known For His Work With Immigrants, Dies Aged 89

DOUGLASTON, QUEENS — Bishop Thomas Daily of the Brooklyn Archdiocese, known for his work renovating the borough's schools and helping immigrants families, died aged 89 Sunday, the diocese announced.

He passed away at the Immaculate Conception Center’s Bishop Mugavero Residence in Douglaston, Queens, after a long illness.

He was appointed Bishop of the Brooklyn Archdiocese in 1990 and served until 2003.

The bishop resigned from his position when he turned 75 in 2003 following criticism of his handling of the church's sexual abuse scandal. A report released by the Massachusetts attorney general had indicated that Daily had worried more about the reputation of the church and its priests than the sexual abuse victims, according to the New York Times. He later expressed regret over his actions.

Daily was born in Belmont, Massachusetts in 1927. After completing his education at Boston College and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, he became a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston in 1952. He was appointed auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston in 1975 and became vicar general of the archdiocese in 1976.

In 1984, he was appointed the first bishop of the new Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, where he led pro-life prayer vigils outside abortion clinics.

He is remembered for the renovations he brought to schools and churches around Brooklyn and Queens, as well as his efforts to help immigrants families who spoke Spanish as their main language.

Following his resignation in Aug. 2003, Daily remained a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the boards of the Society of St. James the Apostle in Boston and the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.

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