Edwin Frederick O'Brien was born in the Bronx on 8 April 1939 and ordained for New York by Cardinal Spellman on 29 May 1965. He served as an Army chaplain (1970–73) — Fort Bragg and a tour in South Vietnam in 1971–72 — then took a doctorate in moral theology at the Angelicum, his dissertation on the moral theology of Paul Ramsey. He was rector of St Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers (1985–89, 1994–97), and of the Pontifical North American College in Rome (1990–94).
Appointed auxiliary bishop of New York in February 1996 (consecrated 25 March by Cardinal O'Connor), he became coadjutor Archbishop for the Military Services in April 1997 and succeeded that August, serving the armed forces until 2007. In July 2007 Benedict XVI named him Archbishop of Baltimore. He coordinated the Vatican's 2005–06 visitation of US seminaries, initiated the canonization cause of Korean War chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun in 1993, and as Baltimore's archbishop publicly demanded the Legion of Christ's abolition “be on the table.” In August 2011 he became Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and Grand Master from March 2012 to December 2019. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 18 February 2012, with the deaconry of San Sebastiano al Palatino. His motto is Pastores dabo vobis — “I will give you shepherds.”
Consequential Quotes
I guess that's one thing I take from the military. When you're given an order, you accept.
Our nation must honestly assess what is achievable in Iraq using the traditional just war principles of 'probability of success'… Our troops should remain in Iraq only as long as their presence contributes to a responsible transition.
Major Works & Initiatives
Grand Master of the Holy Sepulchre
Led the Order guarding the Holy Land's shrines.
Archbishop for the Military Services
A decade serving US forces worldwide.
The Kapaun cause
Initiated the canonization cause of the Korean War chaplain.
Controversies
The “Warrior Cardinal” criticism
O'Brien has been criticized by opponents of the Iraq War for his 2003 address to West Point cadets telling them they were “bound in conscience to obey the orders of your Commander-in-Chief,” distancing himself from Pope John Paul II's and the US bishops' position. He is sometimes called the “Warrior Cardinal.”