The Good Bishop

An inspiring portrait of a bishop renowned for his qualities as a pastor, a leader, and a human being.

Walter F. Sullivan retired in 2003 after twenty-nine years as bishop of the Richmond, Virginia diocese. As one of the great generation of bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI, he was famous for his pastoral leadership and his prophetic role as a champion of peace and social justice. Guiding his flock through the tumultuous post-Vatican II years, he brought a human touch to his role, reaching across boundaries to foster a spirit of ecumenism, encouraging the gifts of the laity, and reaching out to prisoners and those on the margins. In the 1980s he acquired a national reputation as one of the leading peace bishops, standing up against the climate of cold war and warning against the nuclear threat. In this biography by renowned author Phyllis Theroux, Bishop Sullivan emerges as a complex human being, who struggled faithfully to lead the church with integrity, compassion, and love.

About the Author Phyllis Theroux is an essayist, columnist, teacher, and acclaimed author whose books include California and Other States of Grace, The Book of Eulogies, and The Journal Keeper. She lives in Ashland, Virginia.