Joseph Toal

Last updated


Joseph Anthony Toal
Bishop of Motherwell
Church Roman Catholic Church
Diocese Motherwell
Appointed29 April 2014
Installed23 June 2014
Predecessor Joseph Devine
Previous post(s) Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
(2008–14)
Orders
Ordination10 July 1980
by  Colin MacPherson
Consecration8 December 2008
by  Keith O'Brien
RankBishop
Personal details
Born (1956-10-13) 13 October 1956 (age 68)
NationalityScottish
Education St Mary's College, Blairs
Alma mater Royal Scots College, Valladolid
Motto Latin: Humiliter ambulare cum Deo
Coat of arms Coat of arms of Joseph Anthony Toal.svg

Joseph Anthony Toal (born 13 October 1956) is a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop. On 29 April 2014 he was named by Pope Francis as the fifth Bishop of Motherwell, having served as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles since 2008. [1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Roy Bridge, Inverness-shire, Scotland on 13 October 1956. Educated locally at Roy Bridge Primary School he proceeded to train for the priesthood at St Vincent's College, Langbank, St Mary's College, Blairs and the Royal Scots College in Valladolid, Spain.

He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles at St Columba's Cathedral in Oban on 10 July 1980. [2]

After ordination Toal served in Daliburgh and Ardkenneth on South Uist, Campbeltown and Benbecula before being appointed spiritual director at the Royal Scots College in Salamanca, Spain, in 1999. He was then vice rector before becoming rector of the College.[ citation needed ]

Toal was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles by the Holy See on 16 October 2008 and consecrated to the episcopate on 8 December 2008. The principal consecrator was Keith Cardinal O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain and Bishop Ian Murray, Bishop Emeritus of Argyll & the Isles. [2]

Toal has been given the names of complainants who allege Keith Cardinal O'Brien committed predatory sex against them. Toal stated to The Observer newspaper, "It's been hard listening to what's being said, but it's important we hear what they're saying and the gravity of the situation. If I can help in some way, I will." [3]

On 29 April 2014, Toal was appointed by Pope Francis as the fifth Bishop of Motherwell. He was installed on Monday 23 June 2014 in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, Motherwell.

Controversy

Matthew Despard complained about what he called a culture of homosexual bullying within the Catholic Church and alleged that higher-ranking clergy ignored or facilitated abuse. Toal arranged for letters to be given to Despard's parishioners strongly critical of Despard and later suspended him. Toal condemned Despard for questioning his authority. The overwhelming majority of parishioners walked out during a Mass which Toal held in Despard's former church. Parishioner, Geraldine Penches who was loudly applauded by others in the congregation described Matthew Despard as, "a very honest man" adding, "This is more scandal to rock the Catholic church which has to be hushed up. Because Father tells the truth he is removed from his priestly duties. We the people are the church, not the bishops." [4] There are complaints that Despard was disciplined without being represented and a petition calling for his reinstatement got over 1,000 signatures. [5]

Toal maintained the accusations Despard made were false and defamatory. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

The Bishop of Motherwell is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell in the Province of Glasgow, Scotland.

The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Scotland

The Archdiocese of Saint Andrews & Edinburgh is an archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in Scotland. It is the metropolitan see of the province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, consisting of the additional suffragan sees of Aberdeen, Argyll and the Isles, Dunkeld, and Galloway. The archdiocese is led by Archbishop Leo Cushley, and its cathedral is St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith O'Brien</span> Scottish Catholic cardinal (1938–2018)

Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien was a senior-ranking Catholic prelate in Scotland. He was the Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh from 1985 to 2013.

Joseph Devine was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Scotland

The Diocese of Motherwell is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Paisley</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Scotland

The Diocese of Paisley is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Erected on 25 May 1947 from the Archdiocese of Glasgow, the diocese covers the historic county of Renfrewshire and is 580 km2 (220 sq mi) in area making it the smallest diocese by area in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Winning</span> Archbishop of Glasgow

Thomas Joseph Winning was a Scottish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Glasgow from 1974 and President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland from 1985 until his death. Winning was elevated to the cardinalate in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Scotland

The Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Scotland, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow</span> Latin Catholic archdiocese in Scotland

The Archdiocese of Glasgow is the Latin Catholic metropolitan see of the Province of Glasgow in central Scotland. The episcopal seat of the developing diocese was established by Saint Kentigern in the 6th century AD. It is one of two catholic metropolitan archdioceses of the Catholic Church in Scotland: the only archdioceses in Scotland. It is the elder of the two bishoprics. Innocent VIII first raised Glasgow a metropolitan archbishopric in 1492. The Metropolis has the dioceses of Motherwell and Paisley as suffragans within the Ecclesiastical Province.

Roderick Wright was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1990 to 1996.

Bishop Ian Murray, was a Scottish divine, the ninth Bishop of Argyll & the Isles after the restoration of the hierarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Francis Burke</span> Irish-born prelate (1845–1923)

Maurice Francis Burke was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming (1887–1893) and as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Joseph in Missouri (1893–1923).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas John McDonnell</span>

Thomas John McDonnell, D.D., was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling in West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Douglas (bishop)</span> Scottish Catholic bishop

Edward Wilson Douglas was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Bishop of Motherwell from 1948 to 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Cushley</span> Scottish Catholic prelate

Leo William Cushley is a Scottish Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 2013. He previously served as head of the English language section of the Vatican Secretariat of State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Nolan (bishop)</span> Scottish prelate

William Nolan is a Scottish prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Archbishop of Glasgow since February 2022. He was previously Bishop of Galloway from 2015 to 2022.

Brian McGee is the 11th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Andrew Bartosic</span> American priest of the Catholic Church

Mark Andrew Bartosic is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois since 2018.

Francis Dougan is a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop. He was appointed Bishop of Galloway on 22 December 2023.

References

  1. Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Motherwell Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 "Bishop Joseph Anthony Toal". Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  3. Cardinal Keith O'Brien still a danger, say abuse accusers
  4. "Mass walkout during service", eveningtimes.co.uk; retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. "1300-strong petition fights for suspended priest", heraldscotland.com; retrieved 23 January 2016.
  6. "Shamed Cardinal urged to tell life story by former Irish leader", heraldscotland.com; retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. "Parish fury as Catholic Church suspends rogue priest over 'sexual bullying' exposé", heraldscotland.com; retrieved 23 January 2016.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Motherwell
2014 - present
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
2008 – 2014
Succeeded by