James J. Norris (1907-1976)

Today marks the death of James J. Norris, the only layperson to participate in the debates of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Born in New Jersey, he joined the Trinitarian community at a young age and left just before ordination. He worked in the business world before beginning foru decades of working for the Church. He started off working at an orphanage on Staten Island and became involved in street-preaching. At the start of World War II, he joined the staff of the newly organized National Catholic Community Services, the Catholic branch of the USO. During war, he served in the Navy. After the war, Norris was named European director for War Relief Services (later Catholic Relief Services). Fluent in four languages, Norris founded 19 offices that processed some 120,000 refugee emigrants to the United States. At the request of Pope Pius XII, he participated in the debates that led to the formation of the International Catholic Migration Commission. Norris was honorary president of the commission from 1951 to 1974. In 1959 he returned to the United States to served as executive assistant to Bishop Edward Swanstrom, the executive director of CRS. During Vatican II, Norris was named one of the lay auditors and he delivered a speech in Latin on “World Poverty and the Christian Conscience.” In 1968, he represented the Holy See at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1971 he was named a founding member of the Pontifical Commission on Justice and Peace. Shortly before his death in 1976, he became the first American recicipient of the Nansen Medal.