Charbonneau, Joseph
CHARBONNEAU, JOSEPH
Archbishop; b. Lefaivre, Ontario, Canada, July 31, 1892; d. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Nov. 19, 1959. He studied at the Sulpician College and at the Grand Seminary, Montreal, where he was ordained June 24, 1916. He continued his studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and later at the Canadian College, Rome, receiving the degrees of D.D.C., Th.D., and Ph.D. He was appointed superior of the major seminary at Ottawa, Ontario, and served as vicar-general of the Ottawa diocese. He was consecrated first bishop of Hearst, Ontario (Aug. 15, 1939), and named titular archbishop of Amorio and coadjutor with the right of succession to Abp. Georges Gauthier of Montreal (May 18, 1940); he succeeded to the see (Aug. 31, 1940). As archbishop of Montreal he was renowned for his work in welfare, education, and immigration. He came into conflict with the provincial government, the Union Nationale, headed by Premier Maurice duplessis, especially in 1949 when the archbishop opposed the labor legislation on the grounds that it was deficient in social justice. In the same year he threw his support to the laboring class in the famous strike at Asbestos. On Feb. 9, 1950, he resigned his see "for reasons of health," was appointed titular archbishop of Bosphorus by Pius XII, and retired to the convent of the Sisters of St. Anne, Victoria, British Columbia, where he died.
[j. t. flynn]