Floyd Lawrence Begin (February 5, 1902 – April 26, 1977) was the Bishop of Oakland from 1962 until his death in 1977. He was the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Oakland which was formed in 1962.
Begin was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied for the priesthood in Rome, then returned to Ohio. While serving in Cleveland, he advocated for more acceptance of African Americans. In 1954, he tried to get a Knights of Columbus charter for an interracial council. When they refused, he said, "The only reason they're being kept out is their color. Anyone who denies that is a pussy-footing liar." 1
Death and Burial
Bishop Begin died April 26, 1977. He was originally buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. In 2008, his remains were re-interred in the mausoleum at Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland.
In his honor, a small park near the site of the former Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales was named Bishop Floyd L. Begin Plaza.
Links and References
- Floyd Lawrence Begin on Wikipedia
- Bishop Floyd Lawrence Begin on catholic-hierarchy.org
- Begin, Floyd L. on Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
