LIMERICK priests have chosen former diocesan secretary Fr Tony Mullins as temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Limerick, following the resignation as bishop of Dr Donal Murray. Fr Mullins will also continue as parish priest of Dromin-Athlacca until a new Bishop of Limerick is appointed, a process that could take up to a year.
A native of Ardagh, Fr Mullins worked closely for many years with Dr Murray as diocesan secretary. He has been parish priest in Athlacca for four years.
Fr Mullins was chosen as Administrator following a meeting this week of the College of Consultors, a group of senior priests of the Diocese.
There had been speculation a bishop from a neighbouring diocese, such as Dr Willie Walsh in Killaloe or Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Cashel and Emly, would take over on an interim basis.
"Ordinarily, somebody is appointed externally but the Holy See deemed it appropriate in this case to authorise the College of Consultors to elect a priest of the diocese," said diocesan secretary Fr Paul Finnerty.
This, he added, could be seen as "a vote of confidence" from the Vatican on Dr Donal Murray's sound administration of the Diocese.
Dr Murray's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict last week after the bishop came in for heavy criticism in the Murphy Report on child sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin, where Dr Murray served as auxiliary bishop in the 80s and 90s.
Dr Murray spent Christmas in the United States with his brother.
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