Cullen, Paul (1803-1878), became the first cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland in 1866. He served as archbishop of Dublin, Ireland, from 1852 to 1878. Cullen was active in reforming the Irish educational system to provide better education for Roman Catholics. He called for the separation of church and secular (nonreligious) schools. Cullen worked for reform but instructed his priests not to become involved in political matters. He supported the doctrine of papal infallibility at the Vatican Council in 1870. Papal infallibility means that the pope is incapable of error when he speaks for the whole church on matters of faith and morals.
Cullen was born on April 29, 1803, in Ballitore, County Kildare, Ireland. He was ordained a priest in 1829. Cullen became archbishop of Dublin in 1852 and was made a cardinal in 1866. He died on Oct. 24, 1878.
