THE Vatican is believed to be meeting resistance from Irish archbishops to its plans to cut the number of dioceses by up to a half — meaning the country would need fewer bishops.
The plan to reduce dioceses gathered pace during the Vatican’s apostolic visitation, according to the Irish Catholic newspaper.
It has been reported that the Vatican is considering reducing the number of dioceses by as many as 15, leaving the country with 11.
It has been reported that the Vatican is considering reducing the number of dioceses by as many as 15, leaving the country with 11.
In the 1980s, it eradicated up to 100 dioceses in Italy, leaving the diocese of Milan with a population the size of Ireland.
The Irish Catholic reports that an Irish committee met in Maynooth in September to consider a plan to remove smaller dioceses by setting a minimum limit of 100,000 Catholics per diocese.
Such a move could see Cashel and Emly, Achonry, Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Clogher, Clonfert, Dromore, Elphin, Killala, Kilmore, Ossory and Raphoe amalgamating with other dioceses.
There are a number of bishoprics vacant and more due to become vacant due to retirement, meaning seven dioceses would be without bishops.
Last night, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dermot Clifford — who is also the apostolic administrator of Cloyne Diocese — refused to comment on the archbishops’s reaction to the proposed reduction.
The Irish Catholic reports that an Irish committee met in Maynooth in September to consider a plan to remove smaller dioceses by setting a minimum limit of 100,000 Catholics per diocese.
Such a move could see Cashel and Emly, Achonry, Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Clogher, Clonfert, Dromore, Elphin, Killala, Kilmore, Ossory and Raphoe amalgamating with other dioceses.
There are a number of bishoprics vacant and more due to become vacant due to retirement, meaning seven dioceses would be without bishops.
Last night, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dermot Clifford — who is also the apostolic administrator of Cloyne Diocese — refused to comment on the archbishops’s reaction to the proposed reduction.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin would not comment in advance of the inquiry’s publication next spring.
However, priests have confirmed that "the fact that bishops posts are not being filled is leading to an air of uncertainty".
However, priests have confirmed that "the fact that bishops posts are not being filled is leading to an air of uncertainty".
One priest also added that there "were dioceses in the West of Ireland with a lower population than the bigger satellite towns outside the cities of Cork and Dublin."