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J. Michael Miller

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John Michael Miller, CSB (born July 9, 1946) is a Canadian bishop of the Catholic Church. He is the Archbishop of Vancouver, succeeding to the position in 2009 after serving as its coadjutor archbishop and as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education. Prior to his appointment as bishop, he was a professor and academic administrator at the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston.

His Grace, The Most Reverend

J. Michael Miller

CSB
Archbishop of Vancouver
A man wearing a white chasuble with red ornamentation and a pallium around his neck, with a mitre on his head and a silver crozier in his left hand
Miller in 2012
SeeVancouver
InstalledJanuary 2, 2009
PredecessorRaymond Roussin
Previous post(s)
  • Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (2003–2007)
  • Titular Archbishop of Vertara (2003–2007)
  • Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver (2007–2009)
Orders
OrdinationJune 29, 1975
by Pope Paul VI
ConsecrationJanuary 12, 2004
by Zenon Grocholewski
Personal details
Born
John Michael Miller

(1946-07-09) July 9, 1946 (age 78)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
American
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma mater
MottoVeritati Servire
(English: "To Serve the Truth")
Coat of armsJ. Michael Miller's coat of arms
Ordination history
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byPope Paul VI
DateJune 29, 1975
PlaceSt. Peter's Square, Vatican City
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorZenon Grocholewski (Pref. Cong. de Inst. Cath.)
Co-consecratorsJoseph Fiorenza (Galveston–Houston)
Ronald Peter Fabbro (London)
DateJanuary 12, 2004
PlaceSt. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by J. Michael Miller as principal consecrator
Stephen JensenApril 2, 2013[1]
Joseph Phuong NguyenAugust 25, 2016[2]
Source(s):[3][4][5][6]
Styles of
J. Michael Miller
Reference style
Spoken style
Religious styleArchbishop

Miller was born and raised in Ottawa, where he completed his secondary education. He entered the Basilian novitiate after his first year of studies at St. Michael's College in Toronto. He was ordained a priest in 1975. He completed a licentiate and doctoral degree in dogmatic theology and went on to teach at UST. After a five-year stint in Rome working at the Secretariat of State, he returned to UST and became its president in 1997. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education in 2002 and was consecrated the following year. He was named coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 2007, before assuming the office of archbishop two years later. Miller has been noted for overseeing the construction of the archdiocese's new administrative headquarters and starting its permanent diaconate program. He also appointed the committee that examined historical sex abuse by clergy in the archdiocese and published its findings in a report, purportedly the first in Canada.

Early life

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Miller was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on July 9, 1946.[5][8] He was raised in an interdenominational household. His father, Albert Miller, was a Catholic who first worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and later as a salesman; his mother, Katharine Rob, was a descendant of Scottish Loyalists and was a lifelong member of the United Church of Canada.[4][5] Miller attended St. Joseph's High School in his hometown, where he was chosen as student body president and was classmates with Mary Lou Finlay. He had polio as a child, and the effects of the illness have persisted into adulthood.[4] He consequently opted for non-contact sports and activities like debating, swimming, and school drama productions. One of these productions was Our Town, in which he played George opposite Finlay as Emily.[4]

Miller went on to study at St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto.[4][8] At the end of his first year of studies, he joined the Congregation of St. Basil,[4] completing his noviceship and taking his first vows on September 12, 1966.[9][10] He went back to St. Michael's as a seminarian,[11] obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto in 1969,[9] and was awarded the Governor General's Academic Medal for graduating first in his class.[4] He undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, receiving a master's degree in Latin American studies in 1970.[4][9] He then taught at St. Joseph's High School (his alma mater) for one year,[4][12] before earning a Master of Divinity from St. Michael's in 1974.[11][12] On June 29, 1975, Miller was ordained to the Catholic priesthood at St. Peter's Square by Pope Paul VI, and was one of 359 men ordained by the Pope in the same ceremony.[4][12]

Presbyteral ministry

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After his ordination, Miller continued his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in dogmatic theology in 1976 before being awarded a doctorate three years later (graduating summa cum laude in both instances).[8][13] He then relocated to Houston, where he taught as a professor of dogmatic theology at the University of St. Thomas (UST). He later became the department chair and dean of its School of Theology, before being promoted to vice president of academic affairs in 1990.[9][13] He moved back to Rome in 1992 to work as an assistant in the English-language division of the Secretariat of State.[12][14] He also taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University as an adjunct professor of theology from 1994 to 1996.[10]

Miller returned to UST in 1997, becoming its seventh president on July 1 that year.[12] During his tenure, he initiated a $65 million capital campaign, which was twice the amount of any previous fundraising goal set by the university. The drive raised $67 million and received generous contributions from local non-Catholic philanthropists such as George P. Mitchell and Jack S. Blanton.[4] He appointed Sandra Magie as dean of UST's School of Theology in April 2003, making her one of only a handful of women to lead such a school at a Catholic institution.[15] Miller became a naturalized American citizen in 2002.[13][16] He served as president up until his appointment as bishop,[17] and was succeeded on an interim basis by Joseph McFadden, his immediate predecessor.[18]

Episcopal ministry

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Congregation for Catholic Education (2003–2007)

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Miller was appointed as the Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education on November 23, 2003, as well as vice president of the Pontifical Work of Priestly Vocations.[8][12] He was consequently assigned the titular see of Vertara with the rank of archbishop.[10][19] He was consecrated bishop on January 12, 2004, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica.[5] Zenon Grocholewski, the prefect of the aforementioned congregation, serving as the principal consecrator,[6] with nearly 400 of Miller's friends and family travelling to Rome to be in attendance.[4] During a special audience held the day after his episcopal ordination, Pope John Paul II characterized Miller's episcopal motto, Veritati Servire ("To Serve the Truth"), as "an eloquent summary of the commitment that has marked his priestly life".[11][20]

During his term of office, Miller drafted and co-signed a document titled "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies".[4] Published on November 4, 2005, it affirmed that "the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'".[4][21] While the accompanying letter stressed that the directive "does not call into question the validity of the ordination" of men with "homosexual tendencies" who are priests, it did call for them "not to be appointed as rectors or educators in seminaries".[22] However, Miller was reportedly "very uncomfortable" with the extreme reading of the instruction by Tony Anatrella – who contended that gay men should be excluded from the priesthood altogether – on account of it "lacking balance".[4]

Vancouver (2007–present)

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Miller was appointed coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver on June 1, 2007.[10][23] This was intended to help Raymond Roussin, the ordinary of the archdiocese at the time, who had depression in the preceding years.[16][23] Miller, who was transferred before the expiration of his five-year term as secretary,[4] underscored that the move "wasn't in any way engineered by me".[16] He succeeded Roussin as Archbishop of Vancouver on January 2, 2009,[23] after the latter's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI five years before the mandatory retirement age of 75.[24][25]

Miller established the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese in 2011, with the first candidates of the program ordained four years later.[9][26] He acted as principal consecrator at the episcopal ordination of Stephen Jensen, held in Prince George, British Columbia, on April 2, 2013.[27][28] He also oversaw the construction of the new administrative headquarters of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, which opened in early 2015.[29] Miller served as the principal consecrator at the episcopal ordination of Joseph Phuong Nguyen at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops on August 25, 2016.[2]

After more than 12 years of serving as Archbishop of Vancouver, Miller reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July 2021. Although his resignation was duly received by Pope Francis, Miller was asked to remain in the position for another three years, a request to which he acceded.[30] In April of the following year, he was one of over 80 Catholic bishops to sign a "fraternal open letter" to the German Bishops' Conference, expressing concern over the Synodal Path process being undertaken in Germany at the time.[31][32]

Measures

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Handling of clergy sex abuse

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Miller formed a committee in 2018 to investigate cases of sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Vancouver going back to the 1950s. Its thirteen members consisted of clergy and laity, including four victim-survivors of clergy abuse.[33][34] The committee published its report of its findings in November of the following year, determining that there were 36 such cases – of which 26 involved children – and five priests convicted on criminal charges.[35] According to The Fifth Estate, this marked the first time that a Latin Church diocese in Canada had publicized information about convicted priests.[35] The official newspaper of the archdiocese, The B.C. Catholic, billed it as "the first report of its kind released by any diocese in Canada".[36] In a letter announcing the report, Miller apologized for the past failings of the church, writing:

"I realize that no expression of regret can repair the horror of what happened. For those occasions when we failed to protect you or when we were more concerned with the Church's reputation than with your suffering, I am truly sorry and ask for your forgiveness as I strive to make amends and bind your wounds."[35][36]

Views

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Environmental positions

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The Archdiocese of Vancouver sought and received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for its new administrative headquarters. Miller recounted that this was done "in order to be as environmentally responsible as we could and practice good stewardship in how we use our resources".[29] He later hosted a climate change symposium at the aforementioned headquarters in October 2015 to highlight Laudato si', the encyclical published by Pope Francis earlier that year. It saw the participation of Gregor Robertson, the mayor of Vancouver at the time, as well as other faith leaders and members of charity groups. Miller remarked how "we have a common desire and intention to address the harm we have inflicted on the Earth. We have abused the gifts of God".[37] He added that it was "painfully clear that humans are not meant to have 'dominion' over nature, but to recognize they are 'inter-related' with the Earth".[37]

LGBT issues

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When asked about his opinion of homosexual relationships during a 2014 interview with the Vancouver Sun, Miller stated that the faithful can follow the approach of Pope Francis regarding the matter. He underlined how the church's teaching is "very clear that homosexual persons are always to be respected and accorded the dignity due to everyone. We are all created in God's image and likeness".[5]

Religious liberty

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Miller supported Trinity Western University (TWU) in its efforts to establish a law school, stating that "to attempt to bar faith from the development of those who would practise the law is to undermine the foundations of conscience and integrity that in fact contributed to the modern Western legal system".[38] He conveyed his discontent after the Supreme Court of Canada held in June 2018 that it was "proportionate and reasonable" to restrict the religious rights of TWU because of its admission policies.[39] The law societies of British Columbia and Ontario had refused accreditation to TWU's proposed law school,[39] because its students were obliged to sign a community covenant promising to abstain from all sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage.[40][41] Miller noted that the court had "undermined rights actually written in the Charter in favour of unwritten charter values", observing how the freedom of conscience and religion "is the first freedom guaranteed in the Charter".[42]

Honours

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In addition to being a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Miller is also the Grand Prior of the Order's Lieutenancy of Canada–Vancouver.[9][43] This encompasses British Columbia, Alberta, as well as the territory of Yukon.[44]

Miller received an honorary degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2005.[45] He was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Dallas on May 14, 2006, and delivered the commencement address at that ceremony.[46] He was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Australian Catholic University on August 1, 2007.[47] Miller was also awarded honorary degrees from UST and Saint Michael's College in Vermont.[48]

Published books

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  • Miller, J. Michael (1983). What are They Saying about Papal Primacy?. Paulist Press. ISBN 9780809125012.
  • ——————— (1995). The Shepherd and the Rock: Origins, Development, and Mission of the Papacy. Our Sunday Visitor. ISBN 9780879737351.
  • ——————— (2001). The Encyclicals of John Paul II. Our Sunday Visitor. ISBN 9780879733162.
  • ——————— (2006). The Holy See's Teaching on Catholic Schools. Sophia Institute Press. ISBN 9781933184203.

References

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  1. ^ Burns, Alistair (May 2013). "Bishop to build 'northern gateway' to God's kingdom" (PDF). Northern Catholic News. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Ordination of new Bishop of Kamloops". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "The Archbishop". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Sylvester, Cam (May 1, 2010). "Grace Under Pressure". Vancouver Magazine. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Todd, Douglas (April 20, 2014). "Vancouver archbishop on love, ethnicity, justice and his favorite food". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Archbishop John Michael Miller, C.S.B." Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Antique painting of O.L. of Guadalupe has come to the Cathedral". Holy Rosary Cathedral. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "Pope announces new changes in the Roman Curia, appoints a North American". EWTN. Catholic News Agency. November 24, 2003. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Biography". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d "Rinunce e nomine" [Resignations and Appointments]. Holy See Press Office. Holy See. June 1, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2022. (in Italian)
  11. ^ a b c "Key Vatican Post for St. Michael's Graduate" (PDF). DoubleBlue. Vol. 42, no. 1. University of St. Michael's College. Spring 2004. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Archbishop of Vancouver, B.C. to be quest at Thomas Aquinas College Convocation". Santa Paula Times. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Lescalleet, Cynthia (December 3, 2003). "Pope appoints UST president as new archbishop". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  14. ^ Dooley, Tara (January 3, 2004). "UST's Miller heads to post at the Vatican". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  15. ^ Tenney, Mike (April 15, 2003). "Magie named dean of University of St. Thomas' School of Theology". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Todd, Douglas (June 2, 2007). "Talk of B.C. cardinal". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Kilday, Anne-Marie (December 9, 2003). "When the Vatican calls, he labels it a blessing". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  18. ^ Kilday, Anne-Marie (December 9, 2003). "It's out with the old, in with the past as McFadden returns to school as interim president". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  19. ^ J. Michael Miller (September 14, 2005). The Holy See's Teaching On Catholic Schools (Speech). Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 19, 2022. (At the bottom of the page under "The Author")
  20. ^ "Address of John Paul II to Archbishop Miller and the Basilian Brothers". Holy See. January 13, 2004. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  21. ^ "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders". Congregation for Catholic Education. Holy See. November 4, 2005. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  22. ^ Cooperman, Alan (December 2, 2005). "Letter Advises Against Gay Seminary Teachers". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Hainsworth, Jeremy (January 3, 2009). "Archbishop retires, cites struggle with depression". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  24. ^ Lazaruk, Susan (April 24, 2015). "Obituary: Archbishop Raymond Roussin led parish in Victoria". Times Colonist. Victoria. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  25. ^ "Special ceremony to be held for new archbishop of Vancouver". EWTN. Catholic News Agency. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  26. ^ "Becoming a seafarers' chaplain was not exactly his retirement plan". Crux. Catholic News Service. March 31, 2019. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  27. ^ Santos, Andrew (April 2, 2013). "Canada welcomes a new Bishop". Salt + Light Television. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "Ordination of new Bishop of Prince George". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Catholic Archdiocese bids adieu to downtown Vancouver" (PDF). Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. February 19, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  30. ^ Hurcum, Anastasia (December 31, 2021). "2021 in Review: a return to worship". The B.C. Catholic. Vancouver. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  31. ^ "Archbishop Miller signs letter warning that Germany's 'Synodal Path' could lead to schism". The B.C. Catholic. Vancouver. April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  32. ^ "Full Text: 'Fraternal Open Letter of Correction' Issued to German Bishops". National Catholic Register. April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  33. ^ Lazaruk, Susan (November 18, 2019). "Vancouver Catholic archdiocese set to release details of clergy sex abuse report". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  34. ^ Clementson, Laura; Findlay, Gillian (November 17, 2019). "Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver aware of 36 cases of clergy sex abuse since 1950s, CBC learns". CBC News. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  35. ^ a b c Uguen-Csenge, Eva (November 22, 2019). "Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver names 9 clergymen in sex abuse scandal". CBC News. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  36. ^ a b Ruck, Agnieszka (November 22, 2019). "Archdiocese releases report on Vancouver sexual abuse cases". The B.C. Catholic. Vancouver. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  37. ^ a b Todd, Douglas (October 22, 2015). "Vancouver mayor and Catholic archbishop join to fight climate change". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  38. ^ "Top Roman Catholic official supports Trinity Western law school bid". Vancouver Sun. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  39. ^ a b Harris, Kathleen (June 15, 2018). "Trinity Western loses fight for Christian law school as court rules limits on religious freedom 'reasonable'". CBC News. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  40. ^ "Community Covenant Agreement". Langley: Trinity Western University. June 25, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  41. ^ Stueck, Wendy; Dhillon, Sunny (August 14, 2018). "B.C.'s Trinity Western University drops mandatory covenant forbidding sex outside heterosexual marriage". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  42. ^ "TWU decision 'undermines' freedoms: Archbishop". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. June 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  43. ^ "Canada–Vancouver Lieutenancy". Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  44. ^ "The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem". Lieutenancy of Canada–Vancouver. Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  45. ^ "Our History". Franciscan University of Steubenville. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022. (Under the section "Honorary Degree Recipients")
  46. ^ "The Forty-seventh Annual Commencement University of Dallas" (PDF). University of Dallas. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  47. ^ "Honorary doctorate holders". Franciscan University of Steubenville. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  48. ^ "Biography". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Martin Michael Johnson 		Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver
2007–2009 		Vacant
Preceded by Archbishop of Vancouver
2009–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Archbishop of Vertara
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
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