U.S. Catholic Organization Honors Retired O.C. Bishop
Retired Bishop Norman F. McFarland was honored Saturday in Anaheim by a national Catholic organization that promotes family values and anti-communism.
The St. Louis-based Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation, named after a Hungarian cardinal imprisoned by that country’s communist government in 1948, recognizes Catholic figures who have excelled in upholding the principles of faith, family and freedom, foundation officials said.
About 200 foundation members and local Catholics assembled at the Sheraton Hotel in Anaheim to honor McFarland, who served as bishop of the Diocese of Orange from 1986 to 1998, when he retired.
McFarland, who said he met Mindszenty when the cardinal visited the United States in 1974, urged those gathered to follow in the footsteps of the late Hungarian activist.
“The word ‘martyr’ means witness, and that’s what he was,” the 80-year-old bishop said.
And quoting a 19th century English essayist, McFarland said “the greatest thing a soul can do is see something and tell clearly what it saw.”
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