Early life

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Murphy attended Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary by Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1958. On September 15, 1973, Cardinal John Cody appointed Murphy as rector of Saint Mary, a post he would hold until 1978.^[2][3]

Bishop of Great Falls-Billings

On July 5, 1978, Murphy was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings by Pope Paul VI; he was consecrated by Archbishop Cornelius Power on August 21, 1978.^[4][5] In 1979, Murphy addressed the National Catholic Education Association on vocations to the priesthood and their on the importance for the local church.^[2]

Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle

On May 26, 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Murphy as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle, with immediate right of succession to Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen. Murphy's appointment came after a series of controversies surrounding Hunthausen, first prompted by an apostolic visitation to the archdiocese ordered by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Ratzinger was concerned about Hunthausen violating church doctrine. On December 3, 1985, the pope appointed Reverend Donald Wuerl as auxiliary bishop of Seattle, with authority to overrule Hunthausen in several important areas.^[6] After protests from Hunthausen and other American prelates, Pope John Paul II removed Wuerl and appointed Murphy as a coadjutor archbishop with less immediate authority.^[6]

Archbishop of Seattle

Murphy automatically became archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle upon Hunthausen's retirement on August 21, 1991. As archbishop, Murphy traveled extensively to parishes around the archdiocese and was an advocate for the poor and disenfranchised. He oversaw an extensive renovation of St. James Cathedral, which was completed in 1994. Under Murphy's administration the archdiocese saw an increase in registered Catholics, and an increase in outreach and ministries for women, various ethnic groups, and LGBT individuals.^[7]

In 1992, Murphy opened Elizabeth House in Seattle, which provided medical and job training for pregnant teens.^[8] For small Washington towns that were suffering from cutbacks in the timber industry, Murphy provided $500,000 to assisting starting small businesses. To help offset the declining numbers of priests, he provided financial support to a Seattle University program to train lay people in assist in some parish duties.