Cardinal Egan, hero of 9/11, dies at 82

Cardinal Egan of New York has died. Egan, 82, passed away yesterday afternoon in New York as a result of cardiac arrest. Cardinal Egan is well regarded in New York, particularly after his work in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Cardinal Edward Egan has passed away at age 82 from cardiac arrest at a New York hospital. Egan served as archbishop in New York, appointed by Pope John Paul II in 2000. He served for nine years before being replaced by Cardinal Dolan. His tenure swung between periods of popularity and controversy, but today he is well remembered as a man who was unafraid to speak the truth.

Egan was born in Chicago in 1932, suffered from polio as a child and lived with a pacemaker in later life. He was known as an expert on Church law during his tenure as bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport. He embarked on a personal mission to recruit more men into the priesthood.

Light a candle in memory of Cardinal Egan and all the departed. May they rest in peace.

Not long after his installation in New York, the 9/11 terror attacks took place and he rushed to Ground Zero with then mayor Rudy Giuliani and gave last rites to many of the victims. He then presided over the funerals of many fallen police and firefighters. This made him popular in the city who accepted him as a spiritual leader.

Yet Egan had his entire tenure before him and he would bring controversy to the public news media. Egan soon reviewed the books of the archdiocese and made cuts to schools and other programs that were badly under performing. The moves were fiscally responsible but unpopular since they required the closure of some schools and institutions.

Egan also spoke blatantly against sin and vice, and he compared abortion to the holocaust. Despite the accuracy of his comparison, it sparked controversy. When his friend Rudi Giuliani took communion during Pope Benedict's Mass at St. Patrick's in 2008, Egan criticized the behavior since Giuliani was divorced.

It was his willingness to speak the truth that gained him respect, even if not affection.

When he became aware that several priests in the Diocese of Bridgeport were being sued for sexual crimes, he made a point to speak out and apologize.

Egan retired in 2009 at age 75 and was replaced by Cardinal Dolan.

Despite the controversies, Cardinal Egan is still highly regarded by Catholics across New York. Catholics across the city are paying respects to Egan today and funeral arrangements are still being made.

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