NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

RESOLUTION 84

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 805

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE, SERVICE AND MEMORY OF THE MOST REVEREND VINCENT S. WATERS, D.D., BISHOP OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RALEIGH.

Whereas, Bishop Vincent Stanislaus Waters, D.D., of the Diocese of Raleigh, one of North Carolina's most distinguished citizens and renowned religious leaders, died December 3, 1974, the General Assembly, in recognition of his contributions to his own Church and his concern for the needs of all North Carolinians of whatever religious affiliation, spiritual condition and racial or ethnic origin, desires now to honor his life, service and memory; and

Whereas, Bishop Waters, born in Roanoke, Virginia, August 15, 1904, began his priestly studies at Belmont Abbey in Gaston County, North Carolina, attended the North American College in Rome, Italy, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, in Rome on December 8, 1931, was appointed Bishop of Raleigh on March 10, 1945, and was consecrated Bishop of Raleigh on May 15, 1945, exactly 30 years ago this day; and

Whereas, at the time of his appointment and consecration as Bishop of Raleigh said diocese comprised all of the State of North Carolina with the exception of Gaston County and later also included Gaston County, excepting the actual grounds of Belmont Abbey, until January 12, 1972, when the Diocese of Charlotte was established to include 46 western North Carolina counties; and

Whereas, when the Diocese of Raleigh included the entire State, the North Carolina Catholic Layman's Association, the North Carolina Catholic, the Catholic Historical Society of North Carolina, and numerous other means of serving his co-religionists and all residents of North Carolina were established by Bishop Waters; and

Whereas, under his guidance the North Carolina Catholic Layman's Association and the North Carolina Catholic were dedicated from their inception to the recognition and support of the dignity of all persons regardless of race, creed or color; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Catholic received in 1949 the top editorial award of the Catholic Press Association of the United States for an editorial decrying racial discrimination entitled "Civil Wrongs" and the Diocese of Raleigh desegregated its parochial school system in 1953, the year before the United States Supreme Court decision with respect to racial segregation in public schools; and

Whereas, Bishop Waters, always an example of Christian living and leadership according to his convictions, became a legend in his own time and will be long remembered for his service in North Carolina;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

Section 1.  That the General Assembly honors the memory of the Most Reverend Vincent S. Waters, D.D., late Bishop of Raleigh, and expresses the gratitude and appreciation of the people of the State for his years of service to North Carolinians.

Sec. 2.  That a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of State to Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, D.D., successor to Bishop Waters as Bishop of Raleigh.

Sec. 3.  That this resolution shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of June, 1975.