Diplomat to Lead Scandal-hit Diocese

The Tablet
July 24, 2013

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5531

Mgr Leo Cushley is to become the next archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, succeeding Cardinal Keith O'Brien who resigned in February amid revelations of sexual misconduct, the Vatican announced this morning.

Glasgow-born Mgr Cushley, 52, was ordained in 1985 and spent eight years as an assistant priest serving in the Diocese of Motherwell before he was called to Rome to be trained as a diplomat at the prestigious Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

His first posting in 1997 was to the troubled central African nation of Burundi. In 2001 he was sent to Portugal and in 2004 he moved to work at the Vatican's diplomatic mission at the United Nations for three years. After a posting at the nunciature in South Africa he was asked back to work in the Vatican, where he has been head of the English-speaking section of the Secretariat of State.

In 2010 he accompanied Pope Benedict XVI to Britain, as well as on his trips to Malta and Cyprus. On the Scottish leg of the UK visit, at Bellahouston, Mgr Cushley presented his family to Pope Benedict.

Mgr Cushley has a keen interest in liturgy but has never shown an interest in the Tridentine Rite.

Since February the archdiocese has been overseen by Glasgow Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, whom the Vatican moved swiftly to appoint as apostolic administrator.

The archdiocese, which O'Brien led for 28 years, is still reeling from the scandal and there are concerns that more allegations could follow.

Commenting on his appointment, Mgr Cushley said he wanted to bring "reconciliation and healing" to the diocese. "I know it's a delicate moment and that there is a lot to be done," he said.

Cardinal O'Brien is understood to want to return there for his retirement.