1981
Citation:
His Eminence John Cardinal Dearden has been the spiritual leader of nearly 1.2 million Roman Catholics during his 22 years as Archbishop of Detroit. He was named Archbishop in 1959, succeeding the late Edward Cardinal Mooney. During the next two decades, he was a consistent, reasoned and reassuring voice to hundreds of Catholics who both welcomed and resisted the changes recommended by Vatican I and II. Ordained in 1932, he began his career as an assistant to the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Painesville, Ohio. In a relatively short time he became Bishop of Pittsburg, and then a few years later, Archbishop of Detroit. He was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in April 1969. He has been a member of the conclaves which have elected two Popes and has worked diligently to promote human rights world-wide through the Liberty and Justice For All Program, which he initiated.
Award was presented at the President's Cabinet Fourteenth Annual Awards Dinner, May 1, 1981.