Adam Joseph Maida was born in East Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, on 18 March 1930 and ordained a priest for Pittsburgh on 26 May 1956. A canon lawyer, he was vice-chancellor and general counsel of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for eighteen years (1965–83), president of the Canon Law Society of America, editor of The Tribunal Reporter (1970), and author of Church Property, Church Finances and Church-Related Corporations (1983). Appointed Bishop of Green Bay in November 1983 (consecrated 25 January 1984 by Archbishop Laghi), he became Archbishop of Detroit on 28 April 1990, installed 12 June.
John Paul II created him a cardinal on 26 November 1994, with the title of Santi Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio e Protasio. He founded and led the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, served as first superior of the Cayman Islands mission (2000–09), and during the 2008 auto crisis stood publicly with Detroit's workers and industry. He retired on 5 January 2009. His motto is Facere omnia nova — “to make all things new.”
Consequential Quotes
Bishops may have different understandings of what we have agreed to do. But our policy — and anyone can read it — is zero tolerance.
With one voice, we wish to stand in solidarity with all who are suffering loss of jobs or homes, and all those who are anxious about what will happen with the future of the automobile industry in Metro Detroit.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Detroit
Nineteen years in Motor City.
The canon-law books
The Tribunal Reporter and the Church-property handbook.
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
Founder and president of the Washington centre.
Controversies
The Gumbleton removal (2007)
In January 2007 Maida relieved Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Thomas Gumbleton of his pastoral duties at St Leo Parish. Gumbleton said he was being punished for his outspoken views on clergy abuse; Maida said he was following Church rules on the retirement of bishops (New York Times, 26 January 2007).