Thomas Joseph Tobin

Thomas Joseph Tobin (born April 1, 1948) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Thomas Tobin was born on April 1, 1948, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He studied at St. Mark Seminary High School and Gannon University, both in Erie, Pennsylvania.

He then entered St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1969.

Tobin went to study at Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome.

He also pursued his graduate studies at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome.

Tobin was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vincent Leonard for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on July 21, 1973.

After his ordination, Tobin served as an assistant pastor at St. Vitus Parish in New Castle, Pennsylvania, for six years.

In 1979, he was appointed assistant pastor at St. Sebastian Parish in Ross Township. Pennsylvania, serving there until 1984.

Tobin was named administrative secretary to Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua, then associate general secretary of the diocese in 1987, and vicar general and general secretary in 1990.

On November 3, 1992, Tobin was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Novica by Pope John Paul II.

He received his episcopal consecration on December 27, 1992, from then bishop Donald Wuerl, with Bishop Anthony Bosco and Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo serving as co-consecrators.

John Paul II appointed Tobin as bishop of Youngstown on December 5, 1995.

Tobin previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown in Ohio from 1996 to 2005 and as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania from 1992 to 1995.

Tobin has upheld Catholic teaching on abortion and same-sex marriage.

He was installed on February 2, 1996.

In 1997, Tobin received an honorary doctorate from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

He was bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 2005 to 2023.

John Paul II appointed Tobin as bishop of Providence on March 31, 2005.

He was installed on May 31, 2005.

Tobin was a board member of Providence College in Providence and of Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.

He also maintains a column for his diocesan newspaper, Without a Doubt.

These columns have been published in two volumes: Without a Doubt: Bringing Faith to Life and Effective Faith: Faith that Makes a Difference.

Tobin is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and displays a Steelers banner on his residence during each game day.

Tobin said he had written Kennedy in confidence in 2007 and never intended a public discussion, adding: "'At the same time, I will absolutely respond publicly and strongly whenever he attacks the Catholic Church, misrepresents the teachings of the Church, or issues inaccurate statements about my pastoral ministry.'"In August 2013, Tobin announced that he had changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican, citing the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights as his primary motivation.

In November 2009, US Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy said Tobin told him not to take communion in the diocese because of his support for abortion rights for women.

Later in 2013, he criticized Pope Francis on multiple occasions.

After the pope reprimanded Catholics who "obsess" over abortion, Tobin, without mentioning the Pope by name, called the abortion issue "a very important obsession".

"It’s one thing for him to reach out and embrace and kiss little children," Tobin said.

"It would also be wonderful if in a spiritual way he would reach out and embrace and kiss unborn children."

He added that he was "a little disappointed in Pope Francis."

Many Rhode Island lawmakers criticized Tobin for his words, both on abortion and homosexuality, with one alleging that his tone was "not very Christian-like."

Many publicly stated that they preferred Francis's less dogmatic approach.

Tobin later defended himself, referring to his comments as "little concerns," adding that he had said "a lot of nice things" about Francis.

On a separate occasion, he asked, "Is an ‘easy’ church, devoid of any moral imperatives or challenge, being faithful to its mission?"

When President Barack Obama announced support for same-sex marriage, Tobin said it was "a sad day in American history".

He teaches that voting for an abortion rights supporter, feminist, or pro-LGBTQ candidate is morally unacceptable.

When the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on Sexual Abuse detailed sexual abuse in the Diocese of Pittsburgh during Tobin's tenure as auxiliary bishop, Tobin said he "became aware of incidents of sexual abuse when they were reported" but did not report them to local authorities or to parishioners.

Tobin explained that he was "...not primarily responsible for clergy issues … Issues involving clergy were handled directly by the Diocesan Bishop with the assistance of the clergy office”. He also said that he carried out "other administrative duties such as budgets, property, diocesan staff, working with consultative groups".

Pope Francis accepted Tobin's resignation as bishop of Providence on 1 May 2023.