Paul Vincent Dudley

Paul Dudley was born in Northfield, Minnesota, the tenth child of Edward Austin and Margaret Ann (née Nolan) Dudley.{{cite news|date=2006-11-22|work=Northfield.org|title=Dudley, Bishop Paul V.|url=http://northfield.org/node/2369}} He studied at Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul before being ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1951.{{cite news|work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|title=Bishop Paul Vincent Dudley|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdudley.html}} He then served as a curate at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis until 1964, when he was transferred to St. Patrick Church in St. Paul.{{cite news|date=January 2007|work=The Bishop's Bulletin|title=Bishop Paul V. Dudley|url=http://www.diocese-of-sioux-falls.org/communication/bulletin/2007/january/2007JanuaryBishopsBulletin.pdf}} He became the founding pastor of St. Edward Church at Bloomington in 1967, and pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Church at Mound in 1972.

On November 9, 1976, Dudley was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop of Ursona by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1977, from Archbishop John Roach, with Archbishop Leo Binz and Bishop James Richard Ham, M.M., serving as co-consecrators, at the Basilica of St. Mary. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. James Church at St. Paul from 1977 to 1978.

Following the resignation of Bishop Lambert Anthony Hoch, Dudley was named the sixth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by Pope John Paul II on November 6, 1978. He was the first U.S. appointment of John Paul II, who had been elected that October. Dudley was later installed on December 13, 1978. During his tenure, Dudley developed several ecumenical ministries serving the poor, and fostered many retreat and spiritual renewal programs. He was active in such anti-abortion organizations as Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Total Life Care, and Prolife Across America. He also served as episcopal moderator for Worldwide Marriage Encounter and for Teens Encounter Christ. He became a beloved figure among Catholics in the diocese, and was described as "a holy man" and "a true shepherd."{{cite news|date=2006-11-22|work=Argus Leader|title=Beloved Former Bishop Dies at 79| last=Callison|first=Jill}} After sixteen years as bishop, Dudley resigned on March 21, 1995. He retired to the family farm in Northfield, and there served as pastor of St. Dominic Church (1995–1997).

In 1999 Dudley was accused of sexually abusing two women in the 1960s and 1970s.{{cite news|date=2002-05-08|work=Star Tribune|title=Retired Bishop Accused of Abuse |last=Kumar|first=Kavita}}{{cite news|date=2003-02-13|work=Star Tribune|title=No Proof of Abuse Is Found against Bishop| last=Wolfe|first=Warren}} However, the charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence. In 2002 he was again accused of molesting an 11- or 12-year-old altar boy on four occasions during the 1950s.{{cite news|date=2002-05-08|work=St. Paul Pioneer Press|title=Minnesota Man Accused Retired Bishop of Abuse |last=Scott|first=Stephen}}{{cite news|date=2002-05-08|work=Argus Leader|title=Church Investigates Claim against Dudley| last=Williams|first=Lee}} Following this accusation, he declared, "I totally deny these allegations. They are brutally unfounded." He also decided to withdraw from "any priestly ministry" pending the conclusion of an investigation "due to the great publicity given to priests and bishops accused of sexual abuse." An independent investigator hired by the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese later cleared the complaints against Dudley.{{cite news|date=2003-02-12|agency=Associated Press|title=Church Probe Says Evidence Doesn't Support Allegation against Retired Bishop| last=Grant|first=Ashley H.}} He stated, "While living under the cloud of these accusations has been one of the greatest challenges of my life, I never lost faith and confidence that the truth would prevail."

Dudley was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by St. Paul Seminary in 2006.{{cite news|work=University of St. Thomas|title=Distinguished Alumni Award (2006)|url=http://www.stthomas.edu/SPSSOD/alumni/awards/distinguished2006.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516160014/http://www.stthomas.edu/spssod/alumni/awards/distinguished2006.html|archivedate=2008-05-16}} He died later that year from lung disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, aged 79. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Northfield.

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{{succession box |

title=Bishop of Sioux Falls |

before=Lambert Anthony Hoch |

after=Robert James Carlson |

years=1978–1995|}}

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{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls}}

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Category:1926 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:People from Northfield, Minnesota

Category:University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni

Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Sioux Falls

Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States

Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States

Category:Religious leaders from Minnesota

Category:Catholics from Minnesota