Kenneth Angell

Early life One of three children, Kenneth Angell was born on August 3, 1930, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Henry and Mae (née Cooney) Angell. His brother was the television producer David Angell. After attending public elementary schools in East Providence, Rhode Island, he studied at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick, Rhode Island and at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. He then served as parochial vicar at St. Mark Parish in Jamestown, Rhode Island, and at Sacred Heart Parish in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. After serving at St. Mary's Parish in Newport, Rhode Island, Angell then received his first pastorate at St. John's Parish in Providence. Angell testified in a 1990 lawsuit that he did not take allegations against another priest, Reverend William O'Connell, seriously. He also consolidated St. Cecilia and St. Frances Cabrini Parishes in East Barre, Vermont, and closed Our Lady of the Lake Parish in St. Albans, Vermont. After the death of his brother David on September 11, 2001, during the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11, Angel remarked. "Our family was devastated, and yet in times of such crisis you get strength that's rather incredible. You don't really know where it comes from. It comes ultimately from God, but it comes through many people who are supportive. It comes from one's faith and the belief that the Lord takes care of us, and that his will must be done." Angell was criticized for his management of sexual abuse allegations during his tenure as auxiliary bishop in Providence, which announced a $13.5 million settlement in 36 different lawsuits in 2002. Records showed that Angell allowed six accused priests to remain in active ministry in the diocese. He said, "People have been so shocked by all of this and it's a wonderful compliment to us really, in the sense that they expect so much more of us than anyone else and we shouldn't fail them. It's been very difficult and difficult for these priests too [who] have been in trouble. The victims first and foremost have my concern. After that I think of the priests how because of one, one little lapse or something, something terrible happened. I can't help but feel sorry for them. I decry what they did." On reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Angell submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI in August 2005. The pope accepted his resignation on November 9, 2005. == Viewpoints ==

Iraq invasion In response to the American invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Angell said, "Our hopes of avoiding war were quashed today, but our prayers for peace will not end until this war does.... We pray for the safety and deliverance of the innocent citizens in Iraq, that they be protected from harm and freed from oppression. We pray their terror will be of short duration and that their rewards will be a new country based on freedom and democratic principles, supported by a united international community." Capital punishment In 2001, Angell wrote to the Vermont General Assembly to express his opposition to capital punishment, saying, "We must not perpetuate the crime of murder by becoming a society that kills for retribution.... We must not promote or justify a culture of vengeance. We cannot hope to teach that killing is wrong by killing." Same-sex marriage A strong opponent of same-sex marriage, he unsuccessfully campaigned against H.B. 847 in the Vermont General Assembly, which granted civil unions to same-sex couples with the same rights and privileges accorded to married couples in 2000. Speaking to the Vermont House of Representatives, he said, "Do not let the court or anybody else push you around. You have no duty, moral or constitutional, to weaken the institution of marriage. If the court thinks otherwise, then let the people overrule the court. This is the United States of America. We are not ruled by kings, whether on a throne or in the courtroom." ==References==