February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Though the entire story of his work behind the scenes on behalf of Irish immigrants to the U.S. is only partially known, those that know enough of it agree that Murray was perhaps the most crucial figure over the last 20 years in the task of elevating the plight of undocumented immigrants to the status of national issues on both sides of the Atlantic.
His rank in the Catholic church and his position at the very heart of one of the church’s most powerful seats, that of the archdiocese of New York, presented Murray with a rare opportunity to tackle an issue that, on the surface, seemed entirely political and social in nature, but that, in truth, also carried a strong moral component.
Murray did not shrink from the opportunity.
His work as executive director of Catholic Charities, an agency that oversees and supports over 130 individual church agencies, covered a multitude of issues and affected people of just about every nationality.
But his work on behalf of the Irish, and Ireland itself, stands out in particular relief. Project Irish Outreach, Catholic chaplains serving the Irish in U.S. cities, and immigration working committees working out of Irish diplomatic missions are just the more evident examples of Murray’s interest and commitment.
His behind the scenes activity, however, is another story.
Murray, a soldier and a lawyer before he became a priest, was every bit the politician himself when it came to dealing with political leaders in several capitals.
Murray had the confidence of the late Cardinal O’Connor and played a key role in focusing the cardinal’s attention on the plight of the undocumented Irish to the point that O’Connor made personal contact with President Reagan on the issue.
Murray also raised the awareness of the Irish government, and then Taoiseach Charles Haughey, with regard to the plight of thousands of young Irish who were landing in America each year during the 1980s and yet were being shunned by the nation’s immigration laws.
Murray, whose own parents were themselves immigrants and whose Irish roots were in Tyrone and Donegal, did not have to dig deeply to raise his passions, and those of others, on the issue of aiding the undocumented.
Just a few days before his death, Msgr. Murray was the health care honoree at the annual Al Smith dinner in New York. He was praised at the event by both Cardinal Egan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell for his work on behalf of those in need.
It was fitting praise indeed for a man whose own work required the skills of earthly executive and diplomat and, in the final measure, those of a man of God.