Cardinal Edwin Frederick O’Brien, a former Archbishop for the U.S. Military Services and ex-grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, is known for his strong stances on various issues, including abortion, capital punishment, and just war theory.

Born on April 8, 1939, in the Bronx, New York, O’Brien was raised in a family with two brothers and attended St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, where he earned his Bachelor’s, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts degrees.

Ordained priest on May 29, 1965, O’Brien began his ministry as a civilian chaplain at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later joined the U.S. Army as a chaplain, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and completing a tour of duty in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1st Cavalry Brigade.

After his military service, O’Brien pursued doctoral studies at the University of St Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, completing his dissertation on moral theology in 1976. Returning to New York, he served in various roles within the archdiocese, including vice-chancellor and communications director.

O’Brien’s leadership in the Church continued to grow as he served as rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary and later the Pontifical North American College in Rome. In 1996, he was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of New York.

His experience with the military led to his appointment as Archbishop for the Military Services in 1997, where he ministered to 1.5 million Catholics in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed O’Brien as the 15th Archbishop of Baltimore, where he focused on vocations, fostering respect for human dignity, and strengthening the bonds of faith among Catholics.

In 2011 O’Brien was appointed Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The following year, in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals.

Throughout his career, Cardinal O’Brien has been known for his strong stances on various issues, including abortion, capital punishment, and just war theory. He has also been a vocal critic of the Legion of Christ, calling for greater transparency and accountability within the organization.

After serving as Grand Master for eight years and at the age of 80, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal O’Brien’s resignation in December 2019, five years after he had submitted his mandatory resignation letter upon turning 75.