IRELAND
Irish Independent
Sarah McDonald
PUBLISHED
01/08/2016
Pope Francis surprised the Irish Church when he announced the resignation of two Irish bishops.
Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Bishop Seamus Freeman of Ossory both cited health concerns as their reason for stepping down three years early. The announcements were made last Friday.
While Bishop Drennan’s decision to retire appears to have been unexpected, there had been mounting disquiet in the diocese of Ossory over Bishop Freeman’s leadership in the face of a financial crisis linked to the spiralling costs of a renovation programme at St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny.
Disagreements and concerns over the management of the project had caused some members of the diocesan finance committee to resign last year.
Last January, Bishop Freeman instigated a listening process within the diocese in a bid to allow all sides to be heard.
However, the process is believed to have exacerbated tensions, with some clergy voicing strong criticism of Bishop Freeman’s stewardship.
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