Religion Roman Catholic | ||
Born September 26, 1957
Denver, Colorado, U.S. ( 1957-09-26 ) Parents Lawrence W. and Delia Carmody Died 23 February 2016, Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | ||
Lawrence William "Bill" Carmody (September 26, 1957 – February 23, 2016) served as a Roman Catholic priest from the Diocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Biography
Carmody graduated from Indiana State University in 1981 with a master's degree in athletic training and worked for three years as a high-school athletic trainer in Mission, Texas.
Upon discerning a call to become a Catholic priest, he enrolled in Holy Trinity Seminary at the University of Dallas in 1984, where he studied for two years. He completed his seminary studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1989 by Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen. Shortly after ordination, he was named the first director of the "Respect Life Office" of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.
In 1994, as parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, Carmody introduced the Project Rachel program, which helps men and women suffering from the traumatic effects of abortion.
“That’s the most profound experience I have as a priest – watching people heal from what they believe is an unforgivable sin and find God’s forgiveness,” Carmody told The Colorado Catholic Herald in June 2015, on the occasion of his 26th anniversary as a priest.
In May 1994, Carmody also began celebrating weekly Masses in front of Planned Parenthood, which he continued to do faithfully until November 2015. “For more than 26 years, he was a warrior for the unborn,” said Bishop Michael John Sheridan. “He is known nationally for his work. That is his legacy.”