Paul Moore Jr. has died at age 83

Christian Century, May 31, 2003

While Episcopal bishop of New York from 1972 to 1989, Moore was a leader in the movement to ordain women clergy and was an early supporter of permitting openly gay clergy to enter the priesthood. Outspoken, Moore took on politicians and religious leaders alike. "Paul Moore was a great man, who lived his whole life fighting for justice and for the rights of the oppressed," said Mark Sisk, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, following Moore's death on May 1 after a long battle with cancer.

Moore clashed with the late Cardinal John O'Connor over gay rights, and with Edward Koch, then mayor of New York City, on issues related to housing and homelessness. A tall man often described as having a commanding presence, Moore mounted the pulpit of New York's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for one last time on March 24, issuing a stinging rebuke of the war in Iraq and President George W. Bush. A fervent advocate of peace who organized protests against the Vietnam war, Moore was the recipient of such military honors as the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross and the Silver Star, gained while serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II.