Joseph Peter Michael Denning (January 4, 1907 – February 12, 1990) was an American
prelate
A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...
of the
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
who served as
auxiliary bishop of the
Diocese of Brooklyn
The Diocese of Brooklyn is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the U.S. state of New York. It is headquartered in Brooklyn and its territory encompasses the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. T ...
, New York from 1959 to 1982.
Biography
Born in
Flushing, Queens
Flushing is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City. Downtown Flushing is a major commercial and retail area, and the ...
, Denning was ordained to the priesthood on March 21, 1953, for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
On February 24, 1959, Denning was named titular bishop of Mallus and auxiliary bishop of the Brooklyn Diocese and was consecrated bishop on April 22, 1959.
He retired on April 13, 1982.
Joseph Peter Michael Denning
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On May 19, 1962, Denning's car accidentally struck the drum and bugle corps of St. Rita's RC Church in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Denning had been on the way to officiate at a confirmation ceremony at the church. The band had assembled to march to the church before the service. Denning stopped his car behind the band, and several people asked him to join the procession. As he stepped out of the car, it started to roll forward. Denning attempted to brake the car, but he claimed that he must have stepped on the gas pedal causing the car to lurch forward, striking the band and injuring 19 children. Three children were seriously injured, including two who were trapped under the car and were dragged several feet.
References
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1907 births
1990 deaths
People from Flushing, Queens
20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
Catholics from New York (state)
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