Desmond Connell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Church positions | |
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| See | Dublin |
| Title | Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin |
| Period in office | 6 March 1988 — 26 April 2004 |
| Successor | Diarmuid Martin |
| Previous post | University lecturer in Philosophy |
| Created cardinal | 21 February 2001 |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | 24 March 1926 |
| Place of birth | Dublin |
Desmond Connell (born 24 March 1926) is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.
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[edit] Early life and education
Educated at St. Peter's National School, Phibsboro and the Jesuit Fathers' second level school, Belvedere College, Desmond Connell studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe. He studied Arts at University College Dublin (UCD) and graduated with a BA in 1946; he was awarded an MA the following year. Between 1947 and 1951, he studied theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. This led to the award of a Bachelor of Divinity degree.
[edit] Ordination and early work
Desmond Connell was ordained priest by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid on 19 May 1951 and continued his studies at the Pontifical University of Leuven, Belgium, where he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy in 1953.
He then returned to Ireland, and took up a teaching post at the Department of Metaphysics in University College Dublin, where he was to enjoy a distinguished career. He was appointed Professor of General Metaphysics in 1972 and in 1983 became the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology. In 1981 he was awarded a D.Litt. by the National University of Ireland. The College's Department of Metaphysics was abolished after Connell left it and merged into other departments.
[edit] Archbishop of Dublin
| Styles of Desmond Connell |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Dublin (Emeritus |
Connell was unexpectedly appointed Archbishop of Dublin by the Holy See in early 1988. The Papal Nuncio, Gaetano Alibrandi, had actively sought support for the appointment of Monsignor Michael Ledwith, the president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth for this position.[citation needed] Connell was consecrated in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin on 6 March 1988. He was created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II at the Consistory in Rome on 21 February 2001 with the Titulus S. Silvestri in Capite. Archbishops of Armagh, who hold the higher title of Primate of All Ireland, are more frequently appointed Cardinal than Archbishops of Dublin. The last Archbishop of Dublin to have been a cardinal was Cardinal Edward McCabe, who was appointed in 1882.
[edit] Tenure tarnished by clerical sex abuse
Connell's tenure as Primate was marked by recurring and unchecked episodes of child sex abuse by priests and other religious personnel in the Archdiocese of Dublin. His oversight of this issue is being examined by the Commission of Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese set up by the Irish Government. Connell gave evidence to the Commission in late 2006.
On 31 January 2008, Cardinal Connell's legal team successfully sought an interim injunction in the High Court to prevent the Commission from examining some documents which were supplied to the Commission by the Cardinal's successor, Archbishop Martin. However, the Cardinal later dropped this legal action. It had received much adverse publicity.
[edit] Retirement as Archbishop
On 26 April 2004, Desmond Connell retired as archbishop, handing the diocese over to the co-adjutor Diarmuid Martin. All bishops submit their resignation to the Pope on their 75th birthday. Connell's was accepted shortly after he turned 78.
[edit] Connell and Benedict XVI
Connell was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. Desmond Connell would be considered quite close to Pope Benedict, both theologically and personally, both having served together on a number of congregations.
Connell had been a supporter of the Holy Office's declaration Dominus Iesus in 2000, aplauding its opposition to relativism. [1]
| Preceded by Kevin McNamara |
Archbishop of Dublin 6 March 1988-26 April 2004 |
Succeeded by Diarmuid Martin |
[edit] Published works
Cardinal Connell has had a number of works published on philosophical or pastoral issues.
These include:
- Essays in metaphysics, Four Court Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1996 ISBN 1-85182-228-3
- Christian integrity: does it matter? : pastoral letter for Lent 1992, Veritas, Dublin, 1992 ISBN 1-85390-205-5
- Christ our life: pastoral letter 1993, Veritas Publications, 1993 ISBN 1-85390-286-1
- Christ our life: pastoral letters, 1988-95, Four Courts Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin ISBN 1-85182-207-0
There was also one work published in his honour:
- At the heart of the real: philosophical essays in honour of Dr Desmond Connell, Archbishop of Dublin edited by Fran O'Rourke, Irish Academic Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1992 ISBN 0-7165-2464-3 .
[edit] Episcopal motto
His episcopal motto, Secundum Verbum Tuum (According to Thy Word) is taken from Mary's response to God's call at the Annunciation, "Be it done unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38.)
[edit] See also
- Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
- Ivan Payne
- Ferns Report, on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns, Ireland
- Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses
- Crimen sollicitationis
- Pontifical Secret
- Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film)
- Sex Crimes and the Vatican (Panorama Documentary Episode)
- Barbara Blaine founder of SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests)
