Early life and education
Robert McManus was born on July 5, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Edward and Helen (née King) McManus. He grew up in the Providence area, graduating from Blessed Sacrament School and Our Lady of Providence Seminary high school in Warwick, Rhode Island. [1]
After graduating from high school, McManus entered Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., obtaining a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. He then attended the Toronto School of Theology of the University of Toronto, earning a Master of Divinity degree. [2] After his ordination as deacon and earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, McManus served for a year as deacon at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. [2] [3]
Priesthood
On May 27, 1978, McManus was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence by Bishop Kenneth Anthony Angell. [4] Following his ordination, the diocese assigned McManus as temporary assistant chaplain at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Providence along with a posting as associate pastor at St. Matthew Parish in Cranston, Rhode Island. He was moved to Providence in 1981 to serve as associate pastor at St. Anthony Parish. McManus also worked as the chaplain at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) during this period. [2] [3]
In 1984, the diocese sent McManus to Rome, where he earned a licentiate and Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University. [5] In November 1987, McManus returned to Rhode Island; Bishop Louis Edward Gelineau appointed him as vicar for education and director of the office of ministerial formation. In July 1987, McManus was appointed pastor of St. Luke Parish in Barrington, Rhode Island. In 1990, the diocese appointed McManus as a consultant and editorial writer for The Providence Visitor newspaper. [2]
McManus was elevated to the title of monsignor on February 28, 1997, by Pope John Paul II. In June 1998, McManus left St. Luke after Bishop Robert Edward Mulvee named him as rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary. During this time, McManus also provided pastoral coverage at St. Margaret Parish in Rumford, Rhode Island. [2]
Bishop of Worcester
On March 9, 2004, John Paul II appointed McManus as bishop of Worcester. He was installed on May 14, 2004, succeeding Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly, who retired. [5] [4]
In 2007, McManus criticized the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester for renting out "sacred space" to the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy for workshops. He said that the Alliance taught subjects that violated the teachings of the Catholic Church. On October 10, 2007, McManus stated that the college might lose its designation as a Catholic institution. Holy Cross President Michael C. McFarland said that the college had contractual obligations to the Alliance and would not cancel its agreement. [6]
In April 2012, McManus asked Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, to rescind an invitation to attorney Victoria Kennedy to speak at its commencement ceremony, citing her views on abortion rights for women and same sex marriage. [7] On May 4, 2012, the college agreed to disinvite Kennedy, but also rescinded its commencement invitation to McManus, stating that his presence at the ceremony would be a "distraction". [8]
On August 25, 2020, Pope Francis appointed McManus as apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts while continuing as bishop of Worcester. The diocese had become "vacant" with the appointment of Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski as archbishop of St. Louis. [3] [9] McManus's term as apostolic administrator ended on December 14, 2020, with the installation of a new bishop in Springfield. [10]
On October 1, 2020, McManus and the Diocese of Worcester were named in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by a former parishioner. [11] The plaintiff alleged that Reverend Thomas E. Mahoney had groomed and abused him and other boys in the early 1970s at various locations in Worcester and Boylston, Massachusetts. The lawsuit accused the diocese of failing to stop Mahoney's alleged crimes. After the lawsuit was filed, McManus suspended Mahoney, who had already retired, from any ministerial duties. [11]
McManus was arrested on May 4, 2013, in Narragansett, Rhode Island, for drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical sobriety test. At 10:30 pm, McManus had been involved in a crash with another vehicle, then fled the scene. The other driver followed him and called the police. They arrested McManus 20 minutes later at his family home in Narragansett. [12] McManus, a Rhode Island native, shares a family home with his siblings in Narragansett. He later stated:
I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner. There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action. More importantly, I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence. [13] [14]
On April 9, 2022, McManus announced that he would not attend the Holy Cross College commencement ceremony. An online petition at the college denouncing McManus's actions against Nativity School and accusing him of bigotry gained hundreds of signatures. [15]
