Good Bishop

Phyllis Theroux;

Walter F. Sullivan retired in 2003 after twenty-nine years as bishop of the Richmond, Virginia diocese. One of a generation of bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI, Sullivan became famous for his pastoral leadership, and in the 1980s he acquired a national reputation as one of the leading “peace bishops,” standing up against the climate of cold war and warning against the global nuclear threat—not the most popular of positions. As Sullivan himself notes, “I am a loyal son of the church. It is my home, but I am not a company man.” 

Guiding his flock through the tumultuous post-Vatican II years, Bishop Sullivan brought a human touch to his role, crossing boundaries to foster a spirit of ecumenism, encouraging the gifts of the laity, and reaching out especially to prisoners and those on the margins. Yet, Sullivan also struggled as many of his brother bishops did in dealing straightforwardly with the clergy sexual abuse crisis. 

In this biography by renowned author Phyllis Theroux, Bishop Sullivan emerges as a complex human being, one who has tried faithfully to lead the church with integrity, compassion, and love.