Anthony O'Connell

Anthony J. O'Connell (born 10 May, 1938) was the third Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida. He offered his resignation as Bishop on March 8, 2002 and his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on March 13, 2002. His early resignation was after he was accused of sexual abuse of boys. O'Connell was born in Lisheen, County Clare, Ireland and studied at Mount St. Joseph College in Cork and at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland. Emigrating to the United States at age 20, he entered Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. On March 30, 1963, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri. Following ordination, he was assigned as Director of Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Hannibal, Missouri. He was named Spiritual Director in 1968 and appointed Rector in 1970. Bishop O'Connell served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Jefferson City from 1969 to 1988. He was a member of the Diocesan Commission for Personnel and President of the Priests' Senate. He was serving as Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas when he was appointed first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Knoxville on June 7, 1988. On September 8, 1988, O'Connell was ordained and installed as the first bishop of Knoxville. Pio Cardinal Laghi served as Principal Consecrator with Bishop James Niedergeses and Bishop Michael McAuliffe serving as Principal Co-Consecrators. On November 12, 1998, O'Connell was appointed the third Bishop of Palm Beach.