Saturday, November 24, 2012

Crean appointed Bishop of Cloyne

Canon William Crean, parish priest of Caherisveen, Co Kerry, has been appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Cloyne by Pope Benedict XVI.

Former bishop of Cloyne John Magee resigned in March 2010 after the Cloyne report, which investigated how clerical child sex abuse allegations were handled in the diocese between 1996 and 2009, detailed a catalogue of failures on the part of church authorities.

It laid the blame squarely with the former bishop and Msgr Denis O’Callaghan.

The diocese has a Catholic population of over 150,000 people in 46 parishes with 107 churches and encompasses most of Co Cork.

Canon Crean served as parish priest in Castlegregory/Cloghane (1999 - 2006) and in Cahirciveen since 2006. He also served on the executive of the National Conference of Priests of Ireland for three years in the 1980s.

Archbishop Dermot Clifford has been apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne since March 2009.

Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady congratulated Canon Crean on his appointment.
Speaking from Rome, Cardinal Brady said: "On this the feast of Saint Colman, patron saint of the Diocese of Cloyne, I warmly welcome the news that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has named Canon William Crean, Parish Priest of Cahirciveen, Bishop of Cloyne."

"I am confident that his ability and experience will greatly benefit the pastoral life of the diocese and, in addition, to the Irish Bishops’ Conference."