John Roach, 81; Archbishop of Minneapolis, St. Paul

Archbishop John Roach, 81, former head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who also served as president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops / United States Catholic Conference from 1980-83, died Friday in St. Paul.

Roach, the first Minnesota native to head the Twin Cities’ archdiocese, had had heart and lung problems for some time. The exact cause of death was not reported.

Born in Prior Lake, Roach attended Nazareth Hall Seminary in St. Paul. He was ordained a priest in 1946, ordained a bishop in 1971 and appointed archbishop in 1975. He held that post until 1995.

Roach was outspoken on social issues, including access to housing and health care, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday.

“Early on, I became convinced that the church could not function totally as a church if it was not involved in social issues. The role of the church in the public order has been a major preoccupation of mine,” he said upon his retirement.