Presidential Biography

The Most Reverend James A. Griffin

James Anthony Griffin was born June 13, 1934, in Fairview Park, Ohio, the fifth of seven children born to Thomas Anthony Griffin and Margaret Mary Hanousek. Bishop Griffin attended St. Angela Merici Elementary School, Fairview Park, Ohio and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.

After graduation, he attended St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland, and was ordained into the priesthood by John Cardinal Krol in 1960 in St. John Cathedral in Cleveland.

Bishop Griffin spent one year as Associate Pastor at St. Jerome Parish in Cleveland. In 1961, he was sent to Rome to pursue graduate studies in Church Law. After receiving his Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L., magna cum laude) from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome in 1963, he returned to the Cleveland Diocese, and served as Secretary-Notary of the Marriage Court of the Cleveland Diocese for two years. He was appointed to the Chancery Staff in 1965, and served as Associate Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. During that time, he earned his Doctorate in Civil Law (J.D., summa cum laude) in 1972. He passed the Ohio Bar and became a licensed attorney. He then served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Cleveland from 1973 until 1978.

In January 1978, he was appointed by Bishop James Hickey as Vicar General of the Cleveland Diocese and Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Cathedral in Cleveland.  After serving as pastor of St. William Parish in Euclid, Ohio, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, in June 1979.

Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Griffin the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus on February 7, 1983, and he was installed as Bishop of the Diocese on April 25, 1983.

Under Bishop Griffin’s leadership, the number of Catholics in the 23-county diocese grew from 199,000 to 240,000. During his tenure as Bishop, he established the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus; initiated the Legacy of Catholic Learning and Challenge in Changing Times – two campaigns to meet the educational and future needs of the diocese that together, raised more than $53 million.

Also while Bishop, he helped to initiate the community-wide, faith-based task force, “Breaking the Silence,” that continues to work to reduce family violence. Bishop Griffin served on a number of committees of the United States Conference of Bishops and was President of Catholic Relief Services, from 1991 to 1995. He traveled to 50 countries representing the worldwide organization, including Yugoslavia and areas of Africa devastated by AIDS.

Bishop Griffin served a term on the board of governors of the North American College in Rome, and also chaired that board for a term.

For 22 years, Bishop Griffin served as vice chancellor of the Pontifical College Josephinum.

In addition to his remarkable career as a pastoral leader, Bishop Griffin is a distinguished scholar. He has authored 12 books, including They Were There and Easter Joy.

In October 2004, Bishop Griffin announced his retirement from the Diocese of Columbus, and was succeeded by Bishop Frederick F. Campbell of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

In June 2005, Bishop Griffin joined Ohio Dominican University as a Distinguished Faculty member, Professor of Theology.  He serves on the board of trustees of the Center for Dominican Studies.