Michael Neary (bishop)

Last updated

The Most Reverend, Dr.

Michael Neary

HDip D.D. KC*HS
Archbishop Emeritus of Tuam
Church Roman Catholic
Archdiocese Tuam
Appointed17 January 1995
Installed5 March 1995
Term ended10 November 2021
Predecessor Joseph Cassidy
Successor Francis Duffy
Other post(s)Member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
President of Action Tuam
Patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association
Chair of the Council for Doctrine and the Theological Committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
Orders
Ordination15 June 1971
by  Joseph Cunnane
Consecration13 September 1992
by Joseph Cassidy
Personal details
Born (1946-04-16) 16 April 1946 (age 77)
Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Previous post(s) Auxiliary bishop of Tuam
Titular bishop of Quaestoriana
Professor and Lecturer at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
Spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College
Teacher at Holy Rosary College and Presentation College Headford
MottoFidelis et misericordis
(Faithful and merciful)
Coat of arms Coat of arms of Michael Neary.svg

Michael Neary KC*HS (born 15 April 1946) is an Irish prelate in the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Tuam between 1995 and 2021.

Contents

Early life and education

Neary was born in Castlebar, County Mayo on 15 April 1946, and grew up in the Blackfort area of the town. [1] He attended primary school at St Patrick's Boys National School, Castlebar and secondary school at St Jarlath's College, Tuam, before studying for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, completing a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a Bachelor of Divinity. [2]

Neary was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Tuam on 15 June 1971. [2]

Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Neary completed a Doctorate of Divinity in 1975, before returning to the Archdiocese of Tuam for his first pastoral appointment, as curate in Belclare, during which time he completed a higher diploma in education from University College Galway. The following year, he was appointed teacher at Presentation College Headford. [1]

Neary undertook further postgraduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, between 1978 and 1981, completing a licentiate in sacred scripture. It was during this time that he also served as spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College. Neary returned to the Archdiocese of Tuam in 1981, where he was appointed teacher at Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, during which time he also served as curate in Moylough. [1]

The following year, Neary was appointed lecturer in sacred scripture at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and subsequently professor of New Testament theology in 1991. [1]

Episcopal ministry

Auxiliary Bishop of Tuam

Styles of
Michael Neary
Coat of arms of Michael Neary.svg
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Grace
Religious style Archbishop

Neary was appointed auxiliary bishop of Tuam and titular bishop of Quaestoriana by Pope John Paul II on 20 May 1992. He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Tuam, Joseph Cassidy, on 13 September in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, Knock. [1]

Archbishop of Tuam

Following Cassidy's resignation on health grounds on 28 June 1994, Neary was appointed Archbishop of Tuam by Pope John Paul II on 17 January 1995, and subsequently installed on 5 March in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tuam. [3] [2]

Within the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, he chaired the Council for Doctrine and the Theological Committee. [4] He also served as patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association and the president of Action Tuam. [5]

Neary was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 6 July 2010. [6]

Clerical sexual abuse

In a statement on 21 May 2009, Neary described the Ryan Report as "sad and disturbing reading", and offered on behalf of the Catholic Church his unreserved apologies "for our failure to protect children". [7]

He added that had lay people been more involved in the Church, the response to clerical child sex abuse allegations "would have been different". [8] In a letter to the priests of the Archdiocese of Tuam following a meeting held between Pope Benedict XVI and Irish bishops from 15 to 16 February 2010, Neary said that "in the discussions [Pope Benedict XVI] asked for the forgiveness of the victims", adding that "the need for co-operation with civil authorities, the HSE and Gardaí, and the complete implementation of the Church’s own norms and procedures were seen as central to the safeguarding of children". [9]

He also acknowledged that while the problem of clerical sexual abuse was not one "which is peculiar to Ireland or to the English-speaking world, or the church, nevertheless its impact is intensified in the church, damaging its credibility in a number of areas, for example, its teaching on marriage and the family, on sexual morality, and on the church’s role in education and Catholic schools". [8]

In a homily given on Reek Sunday 2010, Neary said that "the truth of past pain is certainly coming to the surface. But this is good news. We should embrace the truth even though this can be a painful task". However, he also asked for awareness "of the dangers contained in what some have called a 'culture of blame'. We seek out the negligence of doctors, the health service, bankers, the Church or the school. Maybe this makes it easier to deal with our own shortcomings, the neglect and indifference of others and the tyranny of blind chance. Christ did not encourage us to imprison people by their human failings. Instead he taught us the way of forgiveness." [10]

Apostolic visitation

On 6 October 2010, Neary, along with the Archbishops of Armagh, Cashel and Emly and Dublin, engaged in high-level talks with heads of Vatican congregations over the organisation of an apostolic visitation to Ireland, in the wake of the Murphy and Ryan reports. While in Rome, the four archbishops met the four apostolic visitors appointed by Pope Benedict to examine the four Irish archdioceses and "some other as yet unspecified dioceses":

The state of Irish seminaries was investigation by the Archbishop of New York, Timothy M. Dolan.

Child protection

Neary was praised for his actions in a review into the handling of clerical sexual abuse allegations in the Archdiocese of Tuam that published on 30 November 2011. The report stated that while serious harm was done to children by a few priests of the archdiocese, Neary met allegations "with a steadily serious approach, taking appropriate action under existing guidelines, and rapidly assimilating the lesson of the necessity for the removal of the priest, where there is a credible allegation, pending investigation". [11]

The report also stated that it is clear from the "excellent records" that a genuine effort was made to gather evidence from victims and their families during the Church inquiry stage and such "thoroughness is to be commended". The report added that "[it was] also a fair reflection to say that the archbishop has met resistance in asking a priest to step aside from public ministry", and that it was "to his credit that in spite of opposition, [Neary] has maintained his authority and kept some men out of ministry where there is evidence to suggest that they should be viewed as dangerous and should not have access to young people." [11]

Neary called the report "an enormous tribute to all working in this area", added that it was "very encouraging to see that their work has been recognised, affirmed and appreciated in the report". [11]

Bon Secours mother and baby home

In a homily given on 5 March 2017, Neary expressed his upset at the publication of the findings of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation two days earlier, adding that he was also "greatly shocked [...] to learn of the extent of the numbers of children buried in the graveyard at the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam" and describing the news as a "body blow". [12] [13] On 12 March, he expressed "an urgent need for an enquiry to examine all aspects of life at the time, broadening the focus from one particular religious congregation, and instead addressing the roles and interrelationships between Church, State, local authorities and society generally", and hoped "that the Report of the Commission will enable that truth to surface in a clear and objective manner". [14] [15] [16]

In a statement welcoming the publication of the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation on 13 January 2021, Neary referred to the findings as "a cause for shame", acknowledging that the Church "failed in its responsibility to love and cherish those who were thus diminished" and that when "the Church is not serving with compassion, it is failing". He went on to acknowledge and humbly ask "forgiveness for the abject failure of the Church for the pain and suffering visited on those women and their children in the Mother and Baby Homes nationally". [17] [18]

Retirement

In accordance with Canon law, Archbishop Neary submitted his episcopal resignation to the Dicastery for Bishops on his 75th birthday on 15 April 2021, but was expected to remain in the see until a successor was appointed. [19] [20] [21]

He subsequently remained in the see until the appointment of his successor, Francis Duffy, on 10 November 2021. [22] [23]

Neary currently resides in Castlebar, County Mayo. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York</span> Archdiocese of the Catholic Church

The Archdiocese of New York is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the State of New York. It encompasses the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island in New York City and the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester to the north of the city. It does not include Brooklyn and Queens, which are part of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore</span> Archdiocese of the Catholic Church; premier see of the United States

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is the archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in northern and western Maryland in the United States. It is the metropolitan see of the Ecclesiastical Province of Baltimore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diarmuid Martin</span> Former Archbishop of Dublin

Diarmuid Martin is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland from 2004 to 2020. From 1976 to 2003 he held a variety of positions in the Roman Curia and in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, representing the Holy See at the United Nations in Geneva and many international conferences. He became a bishop in 1999 and an archbishop in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy M. Dolan</span> American cardinal of the Catholic Church

Timothy Michael Dolan is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current archbishop of New York, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford</span> Latin Rite Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Connecticut, USA

The Archdiocese of Hartford is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Connecticut in the United States. It is a metropolitan see.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln</span> Diocese of the Catholic Church in USA

The Diocese of Lincoln is a Latin Church diocese in Nebraska, United States, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. It is a suffragan see to the archdiocese of Omaha. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. Bishop James D. Conley is the current ordinary of the Diocese. The Cathedral of the Risen Christ is the cathedral parish of the diocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Minnesota, USA

The Diocese of Saint Cloud is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in central Minnesota in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Collins (cardinal)</span> Canadian Catholic cardinal (born 1947)

Thomas Christopher Collins is a Canadian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was the Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto from 2007 to 2023, the Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta from 1997 to 1999, and Archbishop of Edmonton from 1999 to 2006. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on February 18, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora</span> Catholic diocese in Ireland

The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the west of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The deanery of Kilfenora, previously a diocese in its own right, lies in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. The ordinary is Bishop Michael Duignan who was appointed on 11 February 2022.

Joseph Cassidy was Bishop of Clonfert from 1982 to 1987 and Archbishop of Tuam from 1987 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dermot Clifford</span>

Dermot Clifford,, was the Catholic Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in Ireland from 1988 to 2014. From 7 March 2009 to 27 January 2013, he also served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne. He was a founding board member of Bothar.

Raymond W. Field KC*HS is an Irish former Roman Catholic prelate who served as auxiliary bishop of Dublin between 1997 and 2019.

James Moriarty was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin between 2002 and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher J. Coyne</span> Roman Catholic bishop in the United States

Christopher James Coyne is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He serves as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford in Connecticut and the administrator of the Diocese of Burlington. Coyne previously served as the bishop of Diocese of Burlington from 2015 to 2023 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Indiana from 2011 to 2015.

From the late 1980s, allegations of sexual abuse of children associated with Catholic institutions and clerics in several countries started to be the subject of sporadic, isolated reports. In Ireland, beginning in the 1990s, a series of criminal cases and Irish government enquiries established that hundreds of priests had abused thousands of children over decades. Six reports by the former National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church established that six Irish priests had been convicted between 1975 and 2011. This has contributed to the secularisation of Ireland and to the decline in influence of the Catholic Church. Ireland held referendums to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015 and abortion in 2018.

Éamonn Oliver Walsh is an Irish former Roman Catholic prelate who served as auxiliary bishop of Dublin between 1990 and 2019.

Joseph Walsh (1888–1972) was an Irish clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Tuam from 1940 to 1969.

The apostolic visitation to Ireland was announced on 20 March 2010 in the pastoral letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to Irish Catholics after the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports on Catholic Church sexual abuse of children in Ireland in 2009. The visitation to the dioceses was carried out in the four metropolitan sees during the first few months of 2011. In addition, Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York was appointed to conduct visits to four seminaries to review their formation programs. Members of religious institutes were appointed to visit various congregations. The visitation was essentially pastoral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Duffy (bishop)</span> Irish Catholic prelate (born 1958)

Francis Duffy is an Irish Catholic Church prelate who has served as Archbishop of Tuam since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fintan Monahan</span> Bishop of Killaloe

Fintan Monahan KC*HS is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Killaloe since 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archbishop Micheal Neary celebrates golden jubilee of his ordination". Connaught Telegraph. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Micheal Neary celebrates golden jubilee of his ordination". Galway Bay FM. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Archbishop Cassidy (retired)". Archdiocese of Tuam. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Archbishop Michael Neary reflects on Church life and COVID19: "Do you believe?"". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Archbishop Eamon Martin pays tribute to Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam on his retirement and congratulates Archbishop-elect Francis Duffy". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Rinunce e nomine". Holy See Press Office. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Statement by Archbishop Michael Neary in response to the Ryan Report". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 McGarry, Patsy (23 February 2010). "Prelate regrets lay absence in abuse response". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on 23 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Letter from Archbishop Michael Neary to priests of the diocese following the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  10. ↑ McGarry, Patsy (25 July 2010). "Bishop warns on blame culture". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Cassidy, Luke; Siggins, Lorna (30 November 2011). "Report praises Tuam archbishop". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Archbishop of Tuam 'horrified' by discovery at mother and baby home". RTÉ. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Homily of Archbishop Neary for First Sunday of Lent on Mother & Baby Homes". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Homily of Archbishop Neary for Second Sunday of Lent on Mother & Baby Homes". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Tuam babies: Archbishop Michael Neary wants broad focus inquiry". BBC News. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Mulvaney, Frances (13 March 2017). "Catholic church finally responds to Tuam baby scandal". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Statement by Archbishop Michael Neary on the publication of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Abp of Tuam: Mother and Baby Report a cause for shame - Vatican News". Vatican News. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  19. 1 2 Ryan, Áine (27 April 2021). "Archbishop Michael Neary confirms intention to retire". The Mayo News. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  20. ↑ Brady, Chai (2 September 2021). "Speculation grows about new Archbishop of Tuam". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "Tuam Archbishop Michael Neary tenders resignation to Pope Francis". Galway Bay FM. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  22. ↑ Holliman, Siobhán (10 November 2021). "Bishop Francis Duffy will be new Archbishop of Tuam". Tuam Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  23. ↑ Neary, Archbishop Michael (11 November 2021). "Archbishop Michael Neary: The person of faith sees the bigger picture of life". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Tuam
1995–2021		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.