NEW YORK
Washington Post
By David Gibson | Religion News Service
March 5
NEW YORK — Cardinal Edward Egan, who served as archbishop of New York through the trauma of the 9/11 terror attacks and the clergy sex abuse scandal but was best known for administrative acumen that helped solidify the finances of the sprawling archdiocese, died on Thursday (March 5). He was 82.
Egan suffered a heart attack right after lunch at his apartment and was rushed to NYU Langone Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m., said Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
“Join me, please, in thanking God for his life, especially his generous and faithful priesthood,” Dolan said in a brief statement.
Egan was appointed archbishop in May 2000, shortly after the death of the legendary Cardinal John O’Connor. When Egan retired in February 2009 — making way for Dolan — he was the first archbishop of the city to leave office while still living. …
Egan also faced intense criticism for his track record in fighting claims of clergy sexual abuse.
But if Egan was never beloved by priests or parishioners the way other archbishops were, he also had a tough job to do.
When he took over, the 3 million-member Archdiocese of New York reportedly had a $20 million annual operating deficit and an outdated, outmoded infrastructure that needed a serious overhaul.
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