A Latino priest, who was once described as “the father of US Latino religious thought,” was found dead at his home in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday night. He was 80 years old.
Medical examiners said Father Virgilio Elizondo, a professor at the University of Notre Dame, died due to a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities said the priest’s manner of death was suicide.
“I join the priests of the Archdiocese of San Antonio as we are deeply saddened and stunned by the news,” said Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller in a statement.
In 2015, Elizondo was accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy 30 years ago. He denied all accusations.
The priest was the son of immigrant parents, a professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at Notre Dame, and worked on behalf of underpaid Mexican-American laborers in the San Antonio archdiocese during the early 1970s.
Elizondo was the recipient of numerous awards, including the
- John Courtney Murray Award for outstanding theological contributions from the Catholic Theological Society of America,
- Johannes Quasten Award for excellence and leadership in theological development from the Catholic University of America,
- Humanitarian Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and
- Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, which is considered one of the most prestigious awards for US Catholics.
Elizondo was named one of Time magazine’s spiritual innovators for the new millennium and had received six honorary doctorates. He authored numerous books, including “Guadalupe: Mother of the New Creation” and “Virgilio Elizondo: Spiritual Writings.” He was the co-author of “San Fernando Cathedral: Soul of the City.”
Sources
National Catholic Reporter
Latin Times
San Antonio Express News
Image: San Antonio Express News