Retired Syracuse Catholic Bishop Dies At 84

The retired ninth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has passed away.

Reverend James Moynihan died on Monday at the age of 84.  Moynihan served as bishop of Syracuse from 1995 to 2009.

During his tenure, Moynihan spoke out often against abortion, oversaw one of the most successful fundraising campaign in the diocese's history and championed Mother Marianne Cope's cause for sainthood.

He told  Syracuse "The Post-Standard" in 2009 an early decade sex scandal involving Catholic priests was a time of "great pain and humiliation."  In 2003, Moynihan set up an office of victims assistance to review abuse claims.

Moynihan's funeral will take place on Saturday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.