Edward Doody

Edward John Doody (15 December 1903 − 9 April 1968) was an Australian Roman Catholic bishop.

Born in Brisbane, Doody was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on 12 March 1927, and was later parish priest of Nambour.^[1] Doody was named bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Armidale, Australia in 1948 and died in 1968 while still in office.^[2]

He worked to improve conditions for local Aborigines. From 1958, he received debutantes at an annual Aboriginal Ball.^[3] He publicly opposed the discrimination precluding Asians migrating to Australia.^[4]

In the 1950s, he was a strong supporter of B. A. Santamaria's fight against Communism.^[5] He was also a supporter of the New England New State Movement,^[4] and a member of its executive council, from 1949.^[6]

He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965 and contributed to discussions on clerical celibacy and tradition.^[7]