James Carney, Vancouver Archbishop

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Archbishop James Carney has died at his home after a 14-month battle with cancer. He was 75.

He was appointed head of the 300,000-member Vancouver Roman Catholic archdiocese in 1969. Following church policy, he submitted his resignation to Pope John Paul on his 75th birthday in June, but at the time of his death Sunday, it had not been accepted.

Earlier this month, Archbishop Carney was the lone Canadian invited by the pope to a bishops' synod later this month in Rome, but he declined because of his failing health.

Archbishop Carney was born in Vancouver on June 28, 1915, and ordained in 1942.

He began his career at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, where he became chancellor of the archdiocese and editor of the B.C. Catholic newspaper. He was ordained a bishop Feb. 11, 1966, and was named archbishop of the Vancouver diocese in 1969.

He is survived by two brothers, John and Bernard, and a sister, Sister Josephine.