James Patrick Carroll (3 December 1908 – 14 January 1995) was an Australian bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney for more than 30 years and was given the title of Archbishop in 1965.
When he returning to Sydney in 1935, he was appointed assistant priest at Balmain. He then transferred to Darlinghurst before being appointed to professor of philosophy at St Columba's College, Springwood in 1937. He then moved to St Patrick's Seminary, Manly where he served until 1942. He was appointed parish priest of Chatswood in 1943 and then parish priest of Enmore in 1944.[5] In 1947, he became the chief judge of the matrimonial tribunal of the Archdiocese of Sydney.[6]
In April 1949, Carroll was appointed a Domestic Prelate and given the title of Monsignor.[7] Following his elevation, he accompanied Cardinal Norman Thomas Gilroy on overseas trips to Japan, India, New Zealand and Philippines through the early 1950s.[8]
In 1958, he was appointed parish priest of Woollahra where he would serve for more than three decades.[11]
On 15 October 1965, he was promoted to be a titular Archbishop by Pope Paul VI.[12]
As a bishop, he formed strong ties with the Australian Labor Party, holding close counsel with Premier Joseph Cahill and Reg Downing, Attorney General of New South Wales.[13] He was a key contributor to Catholic education and was a key figure in helping to negotiate Government support for private schools.[14]
Carroll rarely took holidays although he often attended cricket and football matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and attended ballet and opera performances.[15]
Retirement and Death
On 23 July 1984, Carroll retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney but continued as parish priest of Woollahra until 1991.
Carroll died on 14 January 1995 following a stroke in the Woollahra presbytery the day before. His funeral at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney was attended by the governor-general, current and former prime ministers and premiers, ministers for education, and other community leaders.[16]
