Former Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly Dies

The former leader of the Archdiocese of Louisville has died.Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly retired in 2007 after 25 years leading the Archdiocese.Kelly joined the Dominican order sixty years ago and was ordained in 1958. He served in New York early in his career, working with the order as well as with the Archdiocese of New York tribunal and the Legion of Decency.He later served a five-year term as general secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and was an auxiliary to the Archbishop of Washington D.C.His appointment to the Archdiocese of Louisville came from Pope John Paul II. Kelly helped produce the first long-range strategic plan for the archdiocese in 1989 and launched the restoration of the Cathedral of the Assumption.Kelly is also credited with helping persuade the Presbyterian Church USA to move to Louisville.He was 80 years old.Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer released the following statement about Kelly. “Archbishop Kelly was a compassionate leader whose influence extended beyond the pews and into Louisville and the broader society. His value for all people, his belief in the goodness of humanity and his deep commitment to inclusion inspired many people,” Fischer said. “His dedication to interfaith practices contributed to the founding of the globally-recognized Festival of Faiths, and the renovation of the Cathedral of the Assumption under his watch has left a lasting legacy for our city.”