Given that bishops are typically chosen from priests who vow not to get married, Thomas Gumbleton didn’t have a wife.
Thomas John Gumbleton was an American social activist and former Catholic bishop.
Key Takeaways
- Thomas Gumbleton clarified that people don’t ask why they aren’t married when they are priests.
- He was the fifth of nine children to his parents, Vincent and Helen Steintrager Gumbleton.
- Thomas Gubleton didn’t even read the whole thing when his brother wrote a letter about coming out of the closet because his sister had already warned him.
In the 1960s, Thomas John Gumbleton rose to national prominence as a religious figure.
Activist priests encouraged him to speak out against the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.
He worked as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1968 to 2006.
Thomas Gumbleton Had Counseled Husband And Wife
Once, the bishop, Thomas Gumbleton, clarified that people don’t ask why they aren’t married when they are priests.
Even though he hasn’t experienced married life, he counsels many spouses.
Once, he spoke with an elderly couple who had a son coming out of the closet.
The wife, feeling upset, expressed that she couldn’t receive communion anymore because of their church’s views on some issues.
Gumbleton believed that matters like these are deeply personal and depend on one’s conscience.
Thomas Gumbleton Grew Up In A Large Family
The Bishop, Thomas Gumbleton, was the fifth of nine children to his parents, Vincent and Helen Steintrager Gumbleton.
Growing up in Epiphany Parish on Detroit’s west side, he came from a humble, working-class Catholic background.
Many in his family were deeply involved in serving the church.
Three of his brothers studied in the seminary, three aunts were nuns in the Sisters, and one of his cousins was a priest in the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan.
Thomas Gumbleton Was Startled To Find Out His Brother’s Secret
When Gumbleton’s brother came out, he had to face his feelings differently.
The Bishop questioned whether he should reject his brother or think badly of him because of his identity.
Thomas Gubleton didn’t even read the whole thing when his brother wrote a letter about it because his sister had already warned him.
It was a selfish reaction partly because he was a bishop, and having him felt like a conflict.
With time and haste, Bishop learned and accepted the differences in the individual’s orientation.
However, Gumbleton’s brother tied the knot and welcomed 4 kids after 15 years of married life.
FAQs
What was Thomas Gumbleton’s age?
Born in 1930 in Detroit, MI, Thomas Gumbleton was 94 years old.
Where did Thomas Gumbleton attend high school and college?
Thomas Gumbleton enrolled in Sacred Heart in Detroit for his high school and college education. Then, he transferred to the now-closed St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, to finish his studies.
When was Thomas Gumbleton ordained as a priest?
Thomas Gumbleton was ordained as a priest on June 2, 1956, at Detroit’s Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament by Cardinal Edward A. Mooney.
