Incoming Bishop of Cloyne to Restore Confidence

Evening Echo
December 3, 2012

http://www.eveningecho.ie/2012/12/03/incoming-bishop-of-cloyne-to-restore-confidence/


The incoming bishop of Cloyne has been hailed as a “man of real courage” who will restore the trust of the people in the diocese.

Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who took over the running of the Diocese of Cloyne following the resignation of Dr John Magee in 2010, told the Evening Echo that bishop-elect Canon William Crean from Cahersiveen in Kerry, would restore people’s confidence because of his warm and gentle demeanour, as well as his steely determination and dignity.

Archbishop Clifford was speaking at the official opening of Whitechurch National School’s new school building.

He added that Canon Crean was known for his engagement with people and predicted they would take him to their hearts.

Canon Crean will become bishop of Cloyne in early 2013 following a difficult period in the history of the diocese due to its failure to deal with child sexual abuse.

Bishop Magee resigned in March 2010 after coming in for heavy criticism over his dealing with child sex abuse claims in the diocese.

The Cloyne Report, published in July 2011, was highly critical of the actions of Magee and his second in command, Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan.

The report also criticised the Vatican and said it “effectively gave individual Irish bishops the freedom to ignore the procedures which they had agreed”.

Archbishop Clifford, who is bishop of Cashel and Emly, said: “Canon Crean is a descendant of the great explorer Tom Crean and significantly, I have full confidence in his ability to navigate the future of Cloyne as a diocese.

“Just like Tom Crean, he is a man of great courage. He is a very warm and open man. He would have been under serious consideration for the job in the Diocese of Kerry, which is also vacant, yet he accepted this job. That shows great integrity and it will serve the people of Cloyne well.”

Archbishop Clifford said he would miss the people of Cloyne after getting to know so many of them in the past two years.