{{Short description|American prelate}} {{Infobox Christian leader | honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = Thomas Joseph Murphy | honorific-suffix = | archbishop_of = Archbishop of Seattle | image = | caption = | province = | diocese = | see = Seattle | enthroned = August 21, 1991 | ended = June 26, 1997 | predecessor = Raymond Hunthausen | successor = Alexander Joseph Brunett | ordination = April 12, 1958 | consecration = August 21, 1978 | other_post = Bishop of Great Falls-Billings (1978–1987)<br>Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle (1987–1991) | birth_name = | birth_date = October 3, 1932 | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, US | death_date = {{death date and age|1997|06|26|1932|10|03}} | death_place = Seattle, Washington, US | buried = St. James Cathedral<br>Seattle | nationality = | religion = Roman Catholic | education = Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary | motto = ''In Christo gaudium et spes''<br>(In Christ joy and hope) | ordained_by = Samuel Stritch | consecrated_by = Cornelius Michael Power }} '''Thomas Joseph Murphy''' (October 3, 1932 – June 26, 1997) was an American Catholic prelate who served as archbishop of Seattle in Washington State from 1991 until 1997. He previously served as bishop of Great Falls-Billings in Montana from 1978 to 1987 and as coadjutor archbishop of Seattle from 1987 to 1991.<ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bmurphyt|Archbishop Thomas Joseph Murphy|21 January 2015}}{{Self-published source|date=March 2015}}</ref>
==Biography==
=== Early life === Born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 3, 1932, Thomas Murphy attended Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.<ref name="usml" /><ref name=":0" />
Murphy was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary by Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1958. On September 15, 1973, Cardinal John Cody appointed Murphy as rector of Saint Mary Seminary, a post he held until 1978.<ref name="usml" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2014-10-10 |title=Archives of an archbishop: School tells story of Thomas Murphy's life |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/archives-of-an-archbishop-school-tells-story-of-thomas-murphys-life/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Bishop of Great Falls-Billings === On July 5, 1978, Murphy was appointed bishop of Great Falls-Billings by Pope Paul VI; he was consecrated in Great Falls, Montana, by Archbishop Cornelius Power on August 21, 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Archive |url=https://archive.am-hs.org/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=archive.am-hs.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Thomas Joseph Murphy [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmurphyt.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> In 1979, Murphy addressed the National Catholic Education Association on vocations to the priesthood and their on the importance for the local church.<ref name="usml" />{{Failed verification|date=June 2025}}
=== Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle === On May 26, 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Murphy as coadjutor archbishop of Seattle, with immediate right of succession to Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen. Murphy's appointment came after a series of controversies surrounding Hunthausen, first prompted by an apostolic visitation to the archdiocese ordered by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Ratzinger was concerned about Hunthausen violating church doctrine. On December 3, 1985, the pope appointed Reverend Donald Wuerl as auxiliary bishop of Seattle, with authority to overrule Hunthausen in several important areas.<ref name="NYTObit">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=Joseph|title=Thomas Murphy, Archbishop Of Seattle Since '91, Dies at 64|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/27/us/thomas-murphy-archbishop-of-seattle-since-91-dies-at-64.html?src=pm|work=New York Times|access-date=February 4, 2011|date=June 27, 1997}}</ref> After protests from Hunthausen and other American prelates, John Paul II removed Wuerl and appointed Murphy as a coadjutor archbishop with less immediate authority.<ref name="NYTObit" />
=== Archbishop of Seattle === Murphy automatically became archbishop of Seattle upon Hunthausen's retirement on August 21, 1991. As archbishop, Murphy traveled extensively to parishes around the archdiocese and was an advocate for the poor and disenfranchised. He oversaw an extensive renovation of St. James Cathedral in Seattle, which was completed in 1994. Under Murphy's administration the archdiocese saw an increase in registered Catholics, and an increase in outreach and ministries for women, various ethnic groups, and LGBTQ individuals.<ref name="STObit">{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Sally|title=Murphy: Passed Along His Faith And Gave Tirelessly Of Himself -- Archbishop Gave His Attention To Priests, The Poor, Teens|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970627/2546715/archbishop-thomas-murphy-1932-1997|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=February 4, 2011|author2=Bartley, Nancy |date=June 27, 1997}}</ref>
In 1992, Murphy opened Elizabeth House in Seattle, which provided medical and job training for pregnant teens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Thomas Murphy 1932-1997 -- Murphy: Passed Along His Faith And Gave Tirelessly Of Himself -- Archbishop Gave His Attention To Priests, The Poor, Teens |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970627&slug=2546715 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=archive.seattletimes.com}}</ref> For small Washington towns that were suffering from cutbacks in the timber industry, Murphy provided $500,000 to assisting starting small businesses. To help offset the declining numbers of priests, he provided financial support to a Seattle University program to train lay people in assist in some parish duties.
==Death and legacy== Murphy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December 1996. He was undergoing chemotherapy when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Thomas Murphy died at Providence Medical Center in Seattle on June 26, 1997.<ref name=STObit/><ref name=ergobt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cE1WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6781%2C6745087 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Seattle archbishop Murphy, 64, dies of brain hemorrhage |date=June 27, 1997 |page=7B}}</ref><ref name=amuobt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ALhhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6415%2C451549 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Archbishop Murphy dies |date=June 26, 1997 |page=4A}}</ref> He is interred in the episcopal crypt beneath the main altar of St. James Cathedral.
In 1999, Holy Cross High School in Everett, Washington was renamed Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School in his honor.<ref name=usml>[https://usml.edu/rector/archbishop-thomas-j-murphy/ "Archbishop Thoms J. Murphy", University of Saint Mary of the Lake]</ref> In 2000, a new organ in the apse of St. James Cathedral was named the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Millennium Organ. The "Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Memorial Parish Stewardship Award" is named in his honor.<ref>[https://blessedsacramentwichita.com/about/archbishop-thomas-j-murphy-award "Archbishop Thomas J Murphy Memorial Parish Stewardship Award", Blessed Sacrament Church, Wichita, Kansas]</ref>
In 2006, the archdiocese dedicated the Archbishop Murphy Courtyard on the south side of the cathedral. It contains a fountain and pool, a marker stone and a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virtual Tour {{!}} Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Courtyard |url=https://www.stjames-cathedral.org/tour/courtyard.htm |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=www.stjames-cathedral.org}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.am-hs.org/] - official site *[http://archive.am-hs.org/]-interactive timeline of his life
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{succession box | title=Bishop of Great Falls-Billings | before=Eldon Bernard Schuster | after=Anthony Michael Milone | years=1978–1987 |}} {{succession box | title=Archbishop of Seattle | before=Raymond Hunthausen | after=Alexander Joseph Brunett | years=1991–1997 |}} {{s-end}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings}} {{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Thomas Joseph}} Category:1932 births Category:1997 deaths Category:Clergy from Chicago Category:Archdiocese of Chicago Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Great Falls–Billings Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Seattle Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the United States Category:Religious leaders from Illinois Category:Catholics from Illinois Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI Category:20th-century American people