William Francis Murphy (born May 14, 1940) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York, from 2001 to 2016 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in Massachusetts from 1995 to 2001. Biography Early life William Murphy was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 14, 1940. He received his secondary education at Boston Latin School in Boston, then attended Saint John's Seminary in Boston, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961. He was then sent to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Priesthood Service in Rome Murphy was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City by Bishop Francis Reh on December 16, 1964. Murphy would remain in Rome until 1987, studying, teaching and serving in papal agencies. Murphy received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1965 from the Gregorian University. In 1972, he was appointed as a lecturer in theology at the Gregorian and in 1974 received his Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the University. Murphy in 1974 also became an official in the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He became a lecturer in theology at University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1976, teaching there for the next four years. He was named chaplain of his holiness by the Vatican in 1979. In 1980, Murphy was appointed as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He would hold that post until 1987, when returned to Boston after 23 years in Rome. Service in Boston After returning to Boston in 1987, Murphy was appointed as secretary of community relations for the archdiocese, director of the Office of Social Justice and director of the Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, Murphy would hold all three positions until 1993. In 1987, he was named a prelate of honor by the Vatican. He also lectured on social ethics at St. John’s Seminary. In 1993, Murphy was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese. In this role, he was the principal assistant to Cardinal Bernard Law, responsible for clergy. Auxiliary Bishop of Boston Pope John Paul II appointed Murphy as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston on November 21, 1995. He was consecrated on December 27, 1995 by Cardinal Law. Bishop of