Has a priest ever been named a bishop after he died?

[JS_Cortez]

We hear about soldiers and police being given a promotion in rank after death due to heroic action. Has there ever been a case where a priest was given the honor of the title bishop after he died due to extraordinary service to his flock, perhaps in a missionary area or something like that? Or has the title of bishop always been reserved to when a living priest is consecrated a bishop?

 

[Genesis315]

Bishop is not an honorary title, it is a degree–the fullness–of sacramental orders. You can’t ordain a dead person. “Monsignor” is an honorary title that allows some honorary elements related to bishops (like certain elements of clerical dress). I guess theoretically one might be named a monsignor after death, but I’ve never heard of it.

 

[TomH1]

We hear about soldiers and police being given a promotion in rank after death due to heroic action. Has there ever been a case where a priest was given the honor of the title bishop after he died due to extraordinary service to his flock, perhaps in a missionary area or something like that? Or has the title of bishop always been reserved to when a living priest is consecrated a bishop?

I have never heard of a member of the armed forces or a police office being posthumously promoted. I know certain awards can be made posthumously. Those I understand because they can be given to the deceased’s family.

Of course, being a bishop requires you to be consecrated as one by those already bishops. This cannot happen to a dead priest: The sacraments are strictly for the living. So posthumous elevation to bishop is not possible.

 

[whatistrue]

I have never heard of a member of the armed forces or a police office being posthumously promoted

I cannot speak to police officers, but George Washington was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies of the United States on March 13, 1978 with effective date of July 4, 1976. Some sources (Wikipedia among them) assert that posthumous promotions of military members who died in combat were common up through the Vietnam era (but I have so far not found any lists or similar articles).

 

[TomH1]

I cannot speak to police officers, but George Washington was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies of the United States on March 13, 1978 with effective date of July 4, 1976. Some sources (Wikipedia among them) assert that posthumous promotions of military members who died in combat were common up through the Vietnam era (but I have so far not found any lists or similar articles).

Perhaps then that is something unique to the USA. It’s not something I’ve ever encountered in the UK.

I do not know what is achieved by posthumously promoting him 180 years after he died. I do understand why the effective date was chosen.

 

[whatistrue]

Perhaps then that is something unique to the USA. It’s not something I’ve ever encountered in the UK.

I do not know what is achieved by posthumously promoting him 180 years after he died. I do understand why the effective date was chosen

I don’t know if it is unique to the US or not, but I do know of one that did happen, albeit inadvertently, in the Royal Navy. Captain Sir John Franklin was promoted Rear Admiral of the Blue in October 1852, five years after hid death on his final expedition, but his death was not confirmed until well after. But wasn’t that during the time when promotion to flag rank in the Royal Navy was based on seniority as a Captain? Makes sense that such could happen if he reached the top of the list before his death was confirmed.

As to why promote Washington, there is a tradition (possibly even a law) that he will forever outrank all other officers, and John Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies in 1919 while he was still alive. Washington’s promotion was partly publicity for the obvious reasons, and also to ensure that here was no doubt of who was senior between he and Pershing.

Oh, the odd things we Yanks do…

 

[JS_Cortez]

This might be an American thing, and I am an American so that is my point of reference on deceased soldiers sometimes getting promotions, though I haven’t heard much about it with the current wars. I heard about it mostly during WWII really.

 

[johnnykins]

The only other recorded instance of someone be named “General of the Armies” or effectively a 6 star general, was Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing. Although the rank had been created for Washington, there was no indication that he was actually promoted to it. The thinking was that since it was actually awarded to Pershing, it was only proper to formally award it to Washington, too.

 

[dochawk]

and John Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies in 1919 while he was still alive.

There were just two many four star generals and admirals running around during the war, and struggling over precedence and seniority.

At the same time, our allies had both four star (full generals), and field marshals on top of that. Congress authorized two five stars of each, General of the Army and Admiral of the Navy, to deal with this. It was a temporary authorization, and none have been authorized since WWII (or needed), but the rank still exists in law.

Washington was posthumously appointed to this level for obvious reasons.

And as a side note: Washington is the only US president to go into the field leading troops during his term of office (although he didn’t;'t stay long, running it over to generals).

The only other recorded instance of someone be named “General of the Armies” or effectively a 6 star general,

more the senior of the five stars than a sixth–he already had the rank, and was still living, so Congress didn’t want to make him junior to them.

 

[Digitnomy]

Washington is the only US president to go into the field leading troops during his term of office

Was that during the Whiskey Rebellion?

I’m still confused why in the late 70s it was thought to be urgent to promote Washington, and make it effective two years prior.

Did people feel Ford had snubbed our first president by not doing this during the Bicentennial in the first place?

 

[Digitnomy]

Bishop is not an honorary title, it is a degree–the fullness–of sacramental orders. You can’t ordain a dead person. “Monsignor” is an honorary title…

For a long time there was debate as to whether the episcopacy was really a sacramental order or just an office in the Church.

However, the laying on of hands by other bishops has always been a tradition, so it seems unlikely this would ever happen to the deceased.

Then again, they once dug up the body of a former pope and put him on trial…

 

[dochawk]

Was that during the Whiskey Rebellion?

if memory serves, yes.

I’m still confused why in the late 70s it was thought to be urgent to promote Washington, and make it effective two years prior.

It was the bicentennial, and the notion of other generals holding higher rank than the one who won the revolution was grating. Also, within a military rank, date of appointment to the rank determines precedence (and who takes command when something goes wrong), so the dating of his appointment to 1776 was significant.

 

[TomH1]

Rear Admiral of the Blue

This is something of which I am unaware. I am also not sure what you mean by ‘… of the Blue’, unless it’s he name of a ship. If it is that’s something new to mean because I understood a rank wasn’t attached to a ship, battalion, regiment, etc.

Oh, the odd things we Yanks do…

I was not saying that.

I simply pointed out that I have never heard of this before. As the only example anyone could give was the promotion of Washington I wondered if only Americans did this. I know things are awarded posthumously. Examples would range from medals for valour to the conferment of degrees. In a way I understand those because something can be given to the family of the deceased. I don’t understand what promoting a dead person achieves.

 

[whatistrue]

I am also not sure what you mean by ‘… of the Blue’, unless it’s he name of a ship.

It was part of the RN system of flag officer promotion/seniority until some time in the 1800s. A new flag officer would be a Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron (informally, the “Squadron” was omitted). Their next promotion would be to Rear Admiral of the White, then Rear Admiral of the Red. Next would be Vice Admiral of the Blue and so on up to Admiral of the Red then possibly Admiral of the Fleet (if the rank was active at the time).

I was not saying that.

No, that was all me. I am fully aware that we do things that make absolutely no sense to many others, but I also know that the reverse is true - every culture has its quirks.

I don’t understand what promoting a dead person achieves.

The best I can figure is another form of honor for outstanding service. On the practical side, survivor’s benefits can be based on rank of the service member, so that can make a difference to a widow or minor child.

 

[Fuerza]

This is a very common way of honoring those who have died in the line of duty. For example, three NYS Court Officers who died trying to save people in the WTC were posthumously promoted To sergeant. There are hundreds if not thousands of other examples in the US.

 

[OrbisNonSufficit]

I think there were posthumous Cardinals (or at least Cardinal’s hat conferred on someone nearing death) but Google search didn’t really help me…

 

[AHapka]

I don’t understand what promoting a dead person achieves.

It’s really just a way of honoring someone. For the founder of our country, it just wouldn’t seem “right” in the eyes of many people that he is outranked. I think it’s more of American culture and our patriotism that it was done. For me, I’m totally for it. He’s basically one of our nations biggest heros and I think we should respect that by giving him proper rank. I can see how that might not be seen in other countries.

The exact wording of the law:

“Whereas it is considered fitting and proper that no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That . . . The President is authorized and requested to appoint George Washington posthumously to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States, such appointment to take effect on July 4, 1976.”

 

[JS_Cortez]

On the practical side, survivor’s benefits can be based on rank of the service member, so that can make a difference to a widow or minor child.

At least in the US military, pay is based on rank (plus any extras agreed to on signing), so a promotion for the deceased would aid any survivors who get benefits based on the deceased pay grade.

I think there were posthumous Cardinals (or at least Cardinal’s hat conferred on someone nearing death) but Google search didn’t really help me…

It would be interesting if there was a Cardinal who was promoted for honor. It might be something that occurred in the early and medieval church when you didn’t need to be a bishop to be Cardinal. The Church had plenty of Deacon Cardinals for a while.

 

[phil19034]

They can’t be named a bishop after their death.

However, the Pope COULD announce to the public that “I was about to make Father X a bishop before his death”

 

[TomH1]

I can understand wanting to honour someone who died in the line of duty, but surely there are other ways.

I always think about something my mother says: ‘When I’m dead don’t send flowers to my funeral if you never sent them to me when I was alive’. Flowers will mean nothing to her when she’s dead. She’s loves to get flowers so sees it as a form of hypocrisy for someone to only send her floral tributes once she’s dead. She’d much rather have received them whilst alive and able to appreciate them.

I’m sure the guys you refer to would have been happy to be promoted whilst alive. It means nothing once they’re dead. If they weren’t worthy of promotion while they were alive it serves no purpose to promote them posthumously.

I understand: Those who are responding to me think this is a thing that should be done. I simply do not understand it.

I’m considering muting this thread - not to shut anyone down but because I think I’m just going round in circles.