Joseph Thomas Dimino (January 7, 1923 – November 25, 2014) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services USA from 1991 to 1997. Dimino previously served as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese from 1983 to 1991 and as a chaplain in the US Navy from 1953 until 1977.
Dimino attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Religious Education degree in 1962. After retiring from the Navy in 1977, he was appointed chancellor of the vicariate for the military chaplains. While chancellor, he participated in the creation of the Archdiocese of the Military Services to replace the vicariate.[1][4]
While archbishop, Dimino added his support to a campaign started by Pope Paul II to eliminate the use of land mines.[7] He made this statement:
Military necessity and the need to protect one's troops...are not the only or even the overriding considerations in judging the morality of the continued use of antipersonnel landmines...A renunciation of U.S. use of landmines...could contribute to efforts to achieve an international ban on these weapons.[7]
Retirement
Pope Paul II accepted Diminos resignation as archbishop of the military services for health reasons on August 12, 1997.[2] He went to live in a community run by the Little Sisters of the Poor order in Washington, D.C. Joseph Dimino died on November 25, 2014, in Washington.[4]