This
article was first published a week before Christmas 2006, reviewed in February 2010, and now, as then, it's aim is to look
at when the retirements of the hierarchy was due to
take place and now (in red) the current status of each Ordinary certainly
reflects in 4 very troubled years the gravity of what has happened in
Ireland's Purple Parliament.* * * * *
Now that Benny XVI has well and truly ensconced himself in the Throne of Peter, he will no doubt have to look towards Ireland and start appointing successors in the following dioceses (now done):
Achonry - Bishop Brendan Kelly (since 2007)
Ossory - Bishop Seamus Freeman (since 2007)
2010
Ardagh & Clonmacnoise - Bishop Colm O'Reilly...(still in situ until mid-2011)
Clogher - Liam McDaid (enthroned 25th July 2010)
Killaloe - Kieran O'Reilly...(enthroned August 29th 2010)
2011
Cloyne - Sede Vacant - Oversight from Archbishop Clifford (Cashel & Emly)...(Bishop John Magee stood down pending CSA investigations in 2009 - not expected to return)
Elphin - Bishop Christopher Jones...(still in situ - expected retire in early 2011)
Kerry - Bishop William Murphy...(still in situ - turns 75 in June)
2012
Kildare & Leighlin - Administrator...(resigned in December 2009 due to improper handling of Child Sex Abuse allegations in Dublin - appointment expected early 2011)
2013
Clonfert - Bishop John Kirby
2014
Cashel & Emly - Archbishop Dermot Clifford
Armagh - Archbishop Brady (may well yet be gone under that term 'medical reasons' for failure and incompetence in relation to CSA)
Cork & Ross - Bishop John Buckley
2015
Derry - Bishop Hegarty
Limerick - Administrator...(resigned
in December 2009 due to improper handling of Child Sex Abuse
allegations in Dublin whilst Auxiliary Bishop there, as outlined in the
Murphy Report appointment due in early to mid 2011)
Meath - Bishop Smith
Raphoe - Bishop Boyce
2016
Waterford & Lismore - Bishop Lee
Providing Benny XVI doubles up on the time of his namesakes, by 2016 he will have appointed 20 new bishops to a total of 26 Irish dioceses averaging 2 appointments every year.
The current junior backbenchers of the Purple Parliament are as follows:
Galway - Drennan b.1944...(resignation being sought)
Kilmore - O'Reilly b.1944
Dublin - Martin b.1945
Auxiliries Walsh & Field...(resigned in December 2009 due to improper handling of Child Sex Abuse allegations in Dublin whilst Auxiliary Bishop there, as outlined in the Murphy Report)
Auxiliries Walsh & Field...(resigned in December 2009 due to improper handling of Child Sex Abuse allegations in Dublin whilst Auxiliary Bishop there, as outlined in the Murphy Report)
Ferns - Brennan b.1945
Tuam - Neary b.1946
Killala - Fleming b.1948...(expected to replace +Murray in Limerick)
Dromore - McAreavey b.1949
Interesting
times ahead, and considering our little vocations crisis to the
priesthood, there will be yet hopefully more pastoral appointments to
the frontbenches in Maynooth...only time will tell and the upcoming
appointments as mentioned above will certainly give an indication of the
mind of Benny XVI.....
....at the end of 2010, the dioceses of Clogher and Killaloe have received new bishops but those dioceses whereby resignations have occurred due to the Murphy Report, namely Kildare & Leighlin and the diocese of Limerick are still awaiting appointments...
...the diocese of Cloyne is also awaiting an appointment but this will be some time as the Murphy Report into this diocese has only been submitted to Irish Government this week.... Merging of Dioceses
In time to come, given the current position and opportunity now presenting itself, word is going round that the following may occur with some of the Irish Diocesan boundaries:
* Killala (+Fleming to Limerick to replace +Murray) & Achonry to merge with +Kelly in charge of the united dioceses
* Cloyne (currently administered by +Clifford) & Cork & Ross to merge with +Buckley to be in charge of these united dioceses
* Diocese of Clonfert to be divided amongst Archdiocese of Tuam, Diocese of Galway and also Diocese of Elphin or in what would be more considered is to merge it into Diocese of Killaloe in totality
* Ardagh & Clonmacnoise could be subsumed into the surrounding Dioceses of Kilmore, Elphin and Achonry
Watch this space!!
In time to come, given the current position and opportunity now presenting itself, word is going round that the following may occur with some of the Irish Diocesan boundaries:
* Killala (+Fleming to Limerick to replace +Murray) & Achonry to merge with +Kelly in charge of the united dioceses
* Cloyne (currently administered by +Clifford) & Cork & Ross to merge with +Buckley to be in charge of these united dioceses
* Diocese of Clonfert to be divided amongst Archdiocese of Tuam, Diocese of Galway and also Diocese of Elphin or in what would be more considered is to merge it into Diocese of Killaloe in totality
* Ardagh & Clonmacnoise could be subsumed into the surrounding Dioceses of Kilmore, Elphin and Achonry
Watch this space!!