Scotland: New bishop opts to live in housing estate

Independent Catholic News
April 15, 2014

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=24562

Bishop John Keenan

The new Bishop of Paisley, Bishop John Keenan,  has decided not to move into the detached sandstone villa used by his predecessors, and move instead to a church property in Greenock's east end, Herald Scotland reports.

In his first wide-ranging interview since being installed last month, Bishop Keenan has told of his concern that those in destitution have been "abandoned by society and the church", adding he would reflect "a church out on the street not one that's comfortable in the chapel".

Echoing Pope Francis, the 49-year-old said there were still structures within the church restricting its ability to reach out to those on the margins of society. Bishop Keenan said: "Exclusion is a scandal for a country that calls itself Christian."

He has also spoken of the need to strip some power and responsibility in the church away from the clergy and hand it to lay members, adding he supported the Pontiff's call for a "new reformation" within Catholicism.

Some senior clergy in recent years have attracted criticism for their rather upmarket choice of accommodation.  The former Bishop of Motherwell Joe Devine attracting controversy in 2008 for demolishing his home to build a new residence at an estimated cost of £650,000.

Bishop Keenan, who grew up in a high rise council flat,  said: "I've just come from living in a university chaplaincy with a dozen students so I've been living surrounded with the buzz of life and fun. When I was thinking about becoming a bishop I was keen to take as much of that into my new life, finding people who could form a family with me and support me... Priests in Paisley found me a place in St Laurence's, Greenock.

"I am living with the parish priest, Father Gerry McNellis, lots of parishioners come in and out of the house and it has the sound of laughter that makes me feel at home. I celebrate the parish Mass and am getting to know the people and that's perfect for me."

Read the full story in the Herald Scotland here: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/new-catholic-bishop-chooses-to-live-in-deprived-housing-scheme.23937263