John Joseph Swint (December 15, 1879 – November 23, 1962) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling in West Virginia from December 1922 until his death in 1962. He was auxiliary bishop of the same diocese from May to December 1922.
Swint was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 1904.[3] After studying at the Apostolic Mission House in Washington, D.C. for a year, he returned to West Virginia and served as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Hinton from 1905 to 1908.[1] Swint was named as head of the Diocesan Apostolate in 1908, then became pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Weston, West Virginia, in 1914.[1]
Nicknamed "God's Bricklayer," Swint established twenty-five parishes, seven missions, two hospitals, two nursing homes, Sacred Heart Children's Home, and Catholic Charities.[4] He held the seventh (1923) and eighth (1933) diocesan synods.[4] He laid the cornerstone for a new cathedral in May 1924, dedicating the structure in April 1926.[5] He also invited the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the Pallottine Missionary Sisters into the diocese.[4] He was named an assistant at the pontifical throne in 1929.[1]
In 1948, Swint threatened to excommunicate any Catholic women from the diocese who participated in the state competition for the Miss America pageant. He called the pageant "pagan" and stated that if "nakedness" were removed from the pageant, it would "fall to pieces".[6] Two women withdrew from competition, but one contestant, Mariruth Ford, ignored his ban and participated, winning the title of queen for West Virginia.[7]
In July 1952, Swint condemned the planned opening of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Parkersburg, West Virginia, that would provide contraception services to women. He said it was part of a national plan by doctors to break the Catholic Church's ban on birth control.[8] Swint was given the personal title of archbishop by the Vatican on March 12, 1954.[3]
John Swint died in Wheeling on November 23, 1962, at age 82.
