Posted on 10/10/2006 5:53:57 AM PDT by NYer
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Roman Catholic priest from Pennsylvania died in a car accident while vacationing in Italy with another priest and the archbishop of Baltimore, both of whom were injured, church officials said Monday.
The men were driving Saturday through the city of Terni, about 60 miles outside of Rome, when a car struck the passenger side of their vehicle, Baltimore archdiocese spokesman Sean Caine said.
Father Bernard Quinn, 78, a retired priest from the Diocese of Harrisburg, was riding in the back seat and was killed, Caine said.
Monsignor Thomas Smith, 75, a pastor of St. Joseph parish in Lancaster, Pa., was driving, and Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, 75, was in the front passenger seat, Caine said. Smith broke several ribs, and Keeler suffered a broken ankle. Both remain in a hospital near the crash scene, Caine said.
The three priests were friends and vacationed together often, and they usually drove themselves, Caine said. Keeler is a former bishop of Harrisburg.
"They've known each other for many, many years and basically, when they took vacations, they took them together, so this would be an annual or a semiannual thing," Caine said.
Funeral arrangements for Quinn have not been announced. Information about the accident was not released until Monday so Quinn's relatives could be notified.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Harrisburg called for prayers for Quinn and his family and for the quick recovery of Keeler and Smith.
"It really was very tragic news for me and for all the priests in the Diocese of Harrisburg," the bishop said of Quinn's death.
The bishop was in Hunt Valley attending an annual workshop for Diocese of Harrisburg priests.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord!
Sad....they should have blessed the rental car.
Eteranl peace grant unto him and let your perpetual light shine upon him.
My parents were in Italy recently -- many of the drivers there make Atlanta drivers look like quiet little old ladies . . .
Prayers up.
Thanks NYer, didn't know. I have to get masses said.
I'll pray for you.
My father probably would have had dozens of wrecks had he not had his cars blessed also.
Prayers for all of them as well as their families.
I know a former new car dealer...He had his business blessed...Within a year, he went bankrupt...
A blessing of a car is a good thing, but it is not a guarantee that there won't be an accident.
Catholics must remember not to be superstitious about these things. Prayers are always heard, but not always answered in the way we expect or desire. God's Will is often mysterious, but we can rest assured that He always has our best welfare in mind.
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